subject: Rochester Mn Dentist - Provides World Class Dental Care [print this page] Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars which are the wide grinding teeth at the back of the mouth. Wisdom teeth are the last to erupt and normally come in between ages 17 to 25. Some people have no problems with their wisdom teeth, but most people do not have enough space for them to grow normally. These become impacted when they do not have enough room to erupt (emerge from under the gum line).
Some wisdom teeth will partially erupt so that you can see only part of the tooth while the rest remains below the gum. Some never erupt at all. Sometimes the teeth are not aligned up and down and are trying to grow sideways toward the rest of your teeth or toward the back of the mouth.
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause damage to other teeth by pushing against the teeth crowding the rest of the teeth and making them more vulnerable to infection. A partially erupted wisdom tooth is particularly prone to tooth decay because they are difficult to clean. The wisdom tooth normally grows in a sac which when impacted, can fill with fluid and form a cyst. The cyst can damage the jaw, teeth and surrounding tissues.
Surgical extraction is usually an outpatient procedure which means you get to go home when it is over. However, it sometimes involved a sedative or anesthesia which may prevent you from driving home and you will need to arrange for transportation. During the procedure, an cut is made so that the impacted tooth can be removed. Once it is out, stitches are placed to close the area and it is packed with gauze. The gauze helps form a protective blood clot. If the clot is dislodged a complication called 'dry socket' develops and can be painful.
Other possible complications include infection, damage to nerves in the face or jaw, or weakening of the lower jawbone.
Impacted wisdom do not always cause symptoms, but when you experience symptoms of pain, swelling, or bleeding gums it's time to see your dentist. Normal dental checkups and X-rays will assure you of the state of your wisdom teeth. Normally, impacted wisdom teeth are removed by dentist or oral surgeons in a procedure called surgical extraction.
by: Mark Bell
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