What Does It Mean When Wisdom Teeth Are Impacted?

Wisdom teeth are third molars that almost everyone in Chesapeake has. And in turn, they’re something that almost everyone will have to deal with at some point in their lives. These pesky teeth most often erupt (or try to erupt) during your teens or early 20s, and when they do, they cause complications and discomfort. Therefore, most people choose to have wisdom teeth removal in order to avoid these issues.

One of the most common reasons for wisdom teeth removal is impaction. Oftentimes, our doctors find that their Chesapeake patients aren’t quite sure what it means to have impacted wisdom teeth, so we’ll dive a bit further into this topic now.

What Does It Mean, Exactly, to Have Impacted Wisdom Teeth?

As we mentioned, impaction is one of the most common reasons why people in Chesapeake choose (or need) wisdom teeth removal. When you have a wisdom tooth that is impacted, it means that the tooth does not emerge from the gum correctly. This means that the tooth may not have enough room to erupt, or that it is trying to come in at an angle or partially emerged, while the other part remains trapped under the gums.

There are four main types of impaction that require wisdom teeth removal, including:

• Mesial Impaction
  This type of impaction is the most common and is characterized by a wisdom tooth that is angled toward the front of the mouth and has room to partially erupt.
• Distal Impaction
  This is the least common type of inaction, and it occurs when the wisdom tooth is angled toward the back of the mouth and can only partially erupt.
• Horizontal Impaction
  This type of impaction is characterized by a wisdom tooth that is completely horizontal beneath the gums and is unable to emerge at all. Instead, it pushes against the molar next to it, causing crowding.
• Vertical Impaction
  This type of impaction occurs when the wisdom tooth is aligned correctly and can successfully emerge from the gum without any issues.

Our doctors can successfully take care of any of the above types of impaction during wisdom teeth removal.

Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

If you still have your wisdom teeth but have been wondering whether or not you might have impacted wisdom teeth, there are some symptoms you can be looking for:

• Unexplained bad breath
• Swelling around the jaw
• Gums that are tender, bleed and swell
• Mild to severe pain in the back of the mouth
• Frequent sudden, severe headaches

Wisdom Teeth Removal

When you visit our doctors in Chesapeake for wisdom teeth removal, they will first sedate you with your chosen form of anesthesia, so you are comfortable and unaware during your procedure. Our doctors will then begin your wisdom teeth removal by making a small incision in your gums in order to expose your teeth and bone. The surgeons will then fully remove the wisdom tooth in a safe, comfortable manner.

Call Us for a Consultation with One of Our Doctors

If you’re ready to find out if you have impacted wisdom teeth, or if you have some questions regarding the wisdom teeth removal process, please don’t hesitate to call our doctors in Chesapeake to schedule your initial consultation.

Just call us, and a member of our friendly team will assist you in scheduling your appointment. You can also learn more about wisdom teeth removal on our website.