Wisdom teeth usually come in a lot later than other adult teeth, and they can become impacted when there isn’t enough room for them to emerge or when they come in at an odd angle. Impacted wisdom teeth are actually quite common, but not many people understand the complications associated with them. Those who do will often need to get Wisdom Teeth Removal Perth to help alleviate the pain.
Here are just five reasons why you should never ignore an impacted wisdom tooth.
- Pain
At first, you might only notice a slight sense of discomfort when you’re chewing, and sometimes things will never go further. Unfortunately, impacted wisdom teeth can continue erupting poorly, which often leads to pain towards the back of the mouth. If left untreated, pain will spread to the surrounding teeth. You may even start finding it painful to open and close your jaw.
- Damage to Surrounding Teeth
If a wisdom tooth doesn’t have enough space or comes through at an odd angle, it usually pushes against the second molar. This tooth-on-tooth contact can cause damage over time, but the more immediate problem is the risk of infection. If left untreated, the additional crowding created by an impacted wisdom tooth can require orthodontic treatment to put right.
Tooth damage can be all the more intense if you have a problem like bruxism. The grinding happens involuntarily while you sleep, and can cause significant enamel erosion over time. In addition, it can lead to problems like jaw pain, square jaw, headaches, and several others. The best solution would be to consult a dentist who can prescribe mouthguards, give bruxism massages, and teach you the kind of jaw exercise you need to do to correct it. It is important to address the issue early because you will have many complications troubling you aside from a painful wisdom tooth to deal with.
- Cysts
Each wisdom tooth develops in a sac within your jawbone. That sac can fill with fluid that will form into a painful cyst. Cysts can damage the jawbone, teeth, and nerves; in rare cases, tumours can develop, which can require the removal of bone and tissue.
- Decay
Decay is a common cause of tooth loss, and impacted wisdom teeth put you at a much higher risk of decay. It’s very hard to clean around impacted wisdom teeth. Food and bacteria get trapped; over time, this leads to cavities and decay. Ideally, a decayed tooth should be extracted at the earliest; otherwise, it can infect the tooth’s pulp; thereby allowing the decay to move to other teeth. Following the extraction, individuals are required to avail of dental implants Bristol (or wherever they are located). Should they fail to opt for one, they would be at risk of bone loss in their jaw and would need to go under the knife for a bone graft or sinus lift.
- Gum Disease
When a tooth doesn’t erupt properly, a gap can be left between the tooth and the gumline. Food debris and bacteria can easily infiltrate, which often leads to gum disease. Gum disease can lead to several further complications, including tooth loss.