Impacted Wisdom Teeth & What You Should Do
When Wisdom Teeth Cannot Erupt Properly
Wisdom teeth (third molars) are the last teeth to erupt (emerge) usually when people reach their late teens or early twenties. Wisdom teeth are the last teeth in the mouth, on the top and the bottom. The name “wisdom teeth” originates from the fact that these molars erupt at the age typically associated with increased maturity or wisdom.
Reasons to Remove Wisdom Teeth
When wisdom teeth align properly and the gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not have to be removed. In most cases, the path of eruption of the wisdom teeth through the gum is prevented due to inadequate space. When this happens, wisdom teeth can not erupt properly and cannot become fully functional, wisdom teeth become impacted (stuck) in an undesirable or potentially harmful position.
Wisdom teeth may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum and even remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. These poorly positioned impacted wisdom teeth can cause many problems, therefore extraction of these wisdom teeth is recommended.
There are several types or degrees of wisdom teeth impaction based on the actual depth of the wisdom teeth within the jaw.
Soft tissue impaction
The upper portion of the tooth (crown) has penetrated through the bone, but the gum is covering part or all of the crown and has not positioned properly around the wisdom tooth. Because it is difficult to keep the area clean, food can become trapped below the gum and cause an infection and/or tooth decay, resulting in pain and swelling.
Partially bony impaction
The wisdom tooth has partially erupted, but a portion of the crown remains submerged below the gum and surrounding jawbone. Again, because it is difficult to keep the area clean, an infection will commonly occur.
Completely bony impaction
The entire wisdom tooth remains within the jawbone.
Experiencing Wisdom Teeth Issues?
Please call Frederick G Hegedus, D.D.S. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon Phone Number 212-759-2993 to schedule your wisdom teeth consultation.
Why Should I have my Wisdom Teeth Removed?
While not all wisdom teeth require removal, wisdom teeth extractions are most often performed because of an active problem such as pain, swelling, decay or infection, or as a preventative measure to avoid serious problems in the future. If impaction of one or more wisdom tooth is present and left untreated, a number of potentially harmful outcomes can occur, including:
Infection: Bacteria and food can become trapped under the gum, resulting in an infection, causing swelling, pain, stiffness, and illness.
Damage to the adjacent teeth: Adjacent teeth (second molars) can be adversely affected by impacted wisdom teeth, causing tooth decay (cavities), and gum disease (periodontal disease).
Tooth crowding: The pressure from the erupting wisdom teeth may move other teeth and disrupt the natural or orthodontic alignment of teeth.
Cysts or tumors: The most serious problem occurs when cysts or tumors form around the impacted wisdom teeth, resulting in permanent damage to the jawbone.
Removal of the offending impacted wisdom teeth usually resolves these problems. Early removal disrupted wisdom teeth is recommended to avoid such future problems and to decrease the surgical risk involved with the procedure.
Wisdom teeth removal is a common procedure, generally performed under local anesthesia, intravenous (IV) sedation or general anesthesia in an office surgery suite. Dr. Frederick Hegedus will discuss these options with you.
Removal of wisdom teeth before complications develop is key to shorter recovery and healing time and minimizing discomfort after surgery.
Generally, after surgery, patients experience some swelling and discomfort. You will be discharged with post-operative instructions, prescriptions for pain medication and antibiotics (if necessary), and with a post-operative appointment.
Under the Surgical Instructions section on this website, please read the Pre- and Post Surgical Instructions.
Wisdom Teeth Evaluation
A panoramic x-ray will be taken in order to evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and to determine if a current problem exists or the likelihood of any potential problems. During your consultation appointment, Dr. Frederick Hegedus will examine you, review your panoramic x-ray and will discuss your case with you. Early evaluation and treatment is recommended in order to identify potential problems and to improve the results for patients requiring wisdom teeth extractions.
Call Frederick G Hegedus, D.D.S. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon Phone Number 212-759-2993 to schedule your wisdom teeth evaluation with Dr. Hegedus.