There are a number of potential complications associated with impacted wisdom teeth, and they all can have detrimental effects on your smile. First of all, an impacted wisdom tooth will continue to try to push through the gums, and as it does, it can damage neighboring teeth and push a straight smile out of alignment. Patients who spent years in orthodontic braces can have all that effort wiped out as the wisdom teeth attempt to erupt into a jaw that does not have adequate room for them.
Additionally, impacted wisdom teeth are quite difficult to keep clean, so bacteria can easily build up in the area. This can increase the patient’s risk of developing an infection at the rear of the mouth or an abscess in one of the wisdom teeth. Reducing that risk is yet another compelling reason to consider having a qualified oral surgeon extract your third molars.
Discomfort is another symptom that is often associated with an impacted wisdom tooth that can reduce your quality of life.
Discomfort is another symptom that is often associated with an impacted wisdom tooth that can reduce your quality of life. If you develop a persistent toothache at the rear of the jaw, it could be a sign of a problem with a third molar.
Removal of an impacted wisdom tooth often requires removal of surrounding bone, which is why a surgical procedure is needed. The extraction can be performed in the surgeon’s office, however, and most patients are able to resume their normal routines within a matter of days. Younger patients tend to recover more quickly, so if you’re older than 25, it may take a week or longer for you to bounce back from the extraction.
Many patients will choose a preventive wisdom tooth extraction as a method to preserve their smiles. Call our team at Commonwealth Oral & Facial Surgery to learn more about this treatment option and to schedule an evaluation to determine whether it is the right choice for you.