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Extractions / Impactions / Third Molar 

 

An impacted tooth is one that fails to erupt into the dental arch within the expected developmental window.

 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE AN IMPACTED WISDOM TOOTH?

An impacted tooth is a tooth that gets blocked as it is pushing through the gum into your mouth (erupting). Wisdom teeth often are impacted. Wisdom teeth usually begin to come in between the ages of 17 and 21. Dentists call these teeth Third Molars.

 

WHY DO THESE TEETH CAUSE PROBLEM?

Frequently there is not enough space for them to erupt in the mouth, as they are the last teeth to erupt which results their growth in unwanted direction: they grow toward the cheeks, towards tongue causing pain, horizontally towards neighbouring tooth.
Being the corner most teeth they are not easily cleansable; leading to food collection between the gums and wisdom tooth, followed by decay, dental infection and dental pain.

 

CLASSIFICATION OF IMPACTED TOOTH

While there may be no symptoms of a fully impacted tooth, symptoms of a symptoms of a partially impacted tooth may include:

  • Bad breath

  • Difficulty opening the mouth (occasionally)

  • Pain or tenderness of the gums or jaw bone

  • Prolonged headache or jaw ache

  • Redness and swelling of the gums around the impacted tooth

  • Swollen lymph nodes of the neck (occasionally)

  • Unpleasant taste when biting down on or near the area

  • Visible gap where a tooth did not emerge

  • Before removing a wisdom tooth, your dentist will give you a local anaesthesia to numb the area where the tooth will be removes

 

 

 

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR IMPACTED WISDOM TOOTH?

If the wisdom tooth is fully erupted and without symptoms then it should be properly cleaned like any other tooth , if there is decay in fully erupted tooth root canal treatment  (RCT) can be done.

But most of the times removal of wisdom tooth is the only permanent long lasting solution.

 

PROCEDURE FOR REMOVAL OF WISDOM TOOTH

The surgery will be done under local anaesthesia (LA) so the patient is in awakening state but the entire procedure will be painless.

To remove the wisdom tooth, your dentist will open up the gum tissue over the tooth and take out any bone that is covering the tooth followed by separating the tissue connecting the tooth to the bone and then removing  the tooth. Sometimes the dentist will cut the tooth into smaller pieces to make it easier to remove.

After the tooth is removed, you may need stitches. Some stitches dissolve over time and some have to be removed after a few days. Your dentist will tell you whether your stitches need to be removed. A folded cotton gauze pad placed over the wound will help stop the bleeding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IF NOT REMOVED THE WISDOM TOOTH MAY CAUSE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS

  • Dental infection of neighbouring skin –gum tissue

  • Dental decay of wisdom tooth posing threat to the neighbouring teeth

  • Crowding of the front teeth due to pressure from the wisdom tooth

  • Possible spread of infection upwards to the side of face, ear and surrounding tissue.

 

PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN AFTER EXTRACTION

  • Do take the prescribed medications properly and report if any allergy or side effects encountered. Bite on the gauze piece kept at the surgical area for minimum of half hour to 45 mins.

  • After the surgical removal of wisdom tooth, patient is advised following precautions before he leaves the clinic.

  • For the first 24 hours cold or room temperature semi solids /liquids are to be consumed.

  • No forceful spitting/gargling to be done, normal rinsing can be carried out. Ice application to be done on the side of face from where tooth has been removed with the help of some handkerchief for the first 24 hours to reduce the swelling

 

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER EXTRACTION?

  • Pain and swelling in your gums and tooth socket where the tooth was removed.

  • Bleeding that will stop within 24 hours.

  • Slight Difficulty or pain from opening your jaw (trismus).

  • Slow-healing gums.

  • Damage to existing dental work, such as crowns or bridges, or to roots of a nearby tooth.

  • A painful inflammation called dry socket, which happens if the protective blood clot is lost too soon.

  • Numbness in your mouth and lips which wears off after the local anaesthesia wears off.

  • Rare side effects includes numbness in the mouth or lips that does not go away, a fractured jaw if the tooth was firmly attached to the jaw bone or an opening into the sinus cavity when a wisdom tooth is removed from the upper jaw.

If you wish to fix an appointment for dental consultancy at Sneha Dental Care (contact us); you may call the reception and fix an appointment. If you wish to know more details about Extraction/Impaction/Third Molar surgery procedures and in particular to your condition feel free to call us at: +91-9429284575 or mail us your queries on doctor.sneha21@gmail.com and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

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