When it comes to your mouth,
there are fewer things more painful than impacted wisdom teeth. We always
thought the pain of teething was reserved for early childhood, where we
wouldn’t really remember it when we were adults. But sadly, nature has
conspired to save some of that pain for our early adult life, as well. Not only
that, but it’s one of the worst things that can happen to your teeth naturally.
But what are wisdom teeth, and why do they become impacted in the first place?
Why Do Wisdom
Teeth Become Impacted?
Despite it being an incredibly
painful experience and a complex treatment, wisdom teeth become impacted for a
very simple reason. You see, all of the other teeth in your mouth tend to
develop around the same time, and all arrange themselves in your mouth
naturally. Sometimes they will be quite tight, other times there will be gaps,
but usually, they will sort themselves out (sometimes with
a bit of help!). But your wisdom teeth don’t come in with the rest of your
teeth. Instead, they develop much later in your life, usually in your late
teens or early twenties. This causes a lot of problems, as 4 new, fairly big
teeth try to force their way into an already packed jaw. Usually wisdom teeth
will grow without problems, but sometimes there is just no room in your mouth
for them to grow through the gums (also known as ‘erupting’), and so they grow in
at an angle, sideways or even get stuck below the gum line.
Symptoms Of
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
There are a few different things
that happen when your wisdom teeth become impacted. The most common symptom is
pain in your jaw, particularly in the areas around your gums where the teeth
are trying to break through. You might also get headaches that settle at the
back of your head or at the sides, which can indicate problems with your wisdom
teeth. A few people also experience problems chewing normally, struggling to
open and close their mouths as they would usually. Changes in your mouth like
reddening of the gums, swelling in your jaw, sudden bleeding gums and even
newly occurring bad breath can also point towards impacted wisdom teeth. In
short, if you start to notice changes in your mouth or experiencing jaw-based
pain, it’s worth checking out.
Complications
With Impacted Wisdom Teeth
When your wisdom teeth become
impacted it can cause a lot of problems. The most common is overcrowding of the
mouth, which is where wisdom teeth have to force their way up through existing
teeth and push them aside. This can cause angular growth and compression, or
even infection in some cases. There are also varying degrees of impacted wisdom
teeth, from a minor compression to a sideways growth and infection, which can
be difficult to deal with. Some wisdom teeth will manage to erupt through the
gum line and a crown will be visible, while others lie beneath the gum line and
are classed as ‘fully impacted’. If these teeth are left as they are, it can
cause a number of complications for you. This includes things like permanent
damage to the adjacent teeth, eroding enamel, pushing teeth out of their root
or developing an infection in some areas. It can also be a secondary cause of
gum disease and tooth decay, as these areas prove difficult and painful to
clean properly. Perhaps the most severe complication of impacted wisdom teeth
is the development of dental cysts. These happen because the wisdom teeth grow
in a special sack located inside the jaw, and if the tooth becomes infected
this can fill with fluid, leading to uncomfortable and painful cysts that can
cause permanent nerve damage. If left untreated, these complications can lead
to more serious issues, so it’s important you get them checked out as soon as
possible.
Impacted wisdom teeth are never
pleasant, and almost every one of you reading will know someone who has had
issues with them. Wisdom tooth removal is one of the most common dental
procedures carried out in the UK, with cavity treatments coming in first place.
The warning signs for impacted wisdom teeth start quite subtly, but they
escalate quickly, and the best way to catch them is with routine dental check-ups.
If you’re not sure what your symptoms mean, always book an appointment with
your dentist and describe your symptoms. For more advice on wisdom teeth or to
book your check-up consultation, just get in touch with
the Appledore team today.
To transform your smile, contact Appledore Dental Clinic Milton Keynes and you will start smiling more
- Call now on 01908 230 209
- smilesmk@appledore.co.uk
- Online booking is available from our website, click here to go to our website
- Please click here to go to our facebook page Dentist Milton Keynes At Appledore - please take the time to 'like us' - thank you
- Smile success stories here - http://cosmeticdentistmk.co.uk/index.php/success-stories-dentist-milton-keynes
No comments:
Post a Comment