Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 24, 2016 News
By Dr. NerominiFagu
Let’s continue our discussion about wisdom teeth from last week by looking at impacted wisdom teeth.An impacted tooth is any tooth that is prevented by tissue, bone, or another tooth from reaching its normal position in the mouth.
In simplest terms, it is a tooth that has failed to erupt in its expected position in the mouth. The most commonly impacted teeth are the wisdom teeth and the next most common are the canines.
Some people are fortunate enough never to have problems with their wisdom teeth and can maintain them for a lifetime.
Generally, wisdom teeth are extracted for two reasons. The first reason is because they are impacted and causing pain and the second is because they have the potential to cause problems later on. Impactions are classified according to the angle of impaction and the type of tissue involved. There are four angles of impaction: mesial, vertical, distal and horizontal.
Mesial Impaction
The mesial impaction is the most common type and is where the wisdom tooth is angled towards the front of the mouth and pushing against the tooth in front of it. Sometimes the wisdom tooth becomes partially erupted where only the back of the tooth pokes out of the gum. This can also lead to food being trapped between the two teeth and causing them to decay.
Vertical Impaction
The vertical impaction is where the tooth is positioned almost normally, but it needs removing because it is pushing against the side of the tooth in front of it or against the bones at the back of the mouth. It can also cause the surrounding gum area to get infected if it is partially erupted.
Distal Impaction
The distal impaction is the exact opposite of the mesial impaction as the tooth is angled towards the back of the mouth. It is a less common type of impaction and its removal will depend on how much of an angle it is at.
Horizontal Impaction
The horizontal impaction is probably the worst kind of impaction to have as the tooth is lying on its side pointing to the one in front of it. Because it is in the jawbone, some amount of bone removal and tooth sectioning may be needed for the extraction. If the tooth is not removed it can be painful and damage the surrounding teeth.
A panoramic x-ray is the best x-ray to view wisdom teeth and diagnose their problems. The wisdom teeth in the upper jaw are located close to the sinuses and care must be taken to avoid perforations that will lead to an opening between the sinus and the mouth. In the lower jaw, the wisdom teeth are located close to the mandibular nerve and trauma to this nerve may result in permanent damage to it.
The extraction of wisdom teeth should only be done by dental professionals with proper training in performing such surgeries. As with all surgical procedures there are risks for complications but these risks can be reduced if you see an experienced dentist or oral surgeon. Make sure you are given all the information regarding the procedure and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to [email protected].
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Apr 19, 2024
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