As a young adult, you may think you’re invincible, that nothing bad can touch you—until you get to the dentist’s office. The team tells you that your wisdom teeth, or third molars, are impacted, which means they are at an angle, instead of being vertically straight. Your dentist strongly recommends removing them before they cause problems.
But what kinds of bad things can impacted wisdom teeth lead to? What kinds of issues will extraction prevent? Learn the answers in the post below.
Cavities and Gum Disease
Supposing you have room in your mouth for third molars to come through the gums, their odd angle presents a serious problem. Food particles and bacteria-filled plaque can become trapped in spaces where brushing and flossing can’t easily clean out. As a result, you could develop a gum infection, or the tooth could start to decay in this inaccessible area.
Tooth and Jaw Pain
When the third molars are impacted, they press against nearby teeth. Whether they erupt or stay underneath the gums, this pressure can lead to quite a bit of discomfort. In fact, even slightly moving your jaw can be painful. Some patients have even experienced ear pain as a result of impacted wisdom teeth. With tooth and jaw discomfort, you will likely choose foods that are easier to chew, limiting your diet and nutritional intake. With fewer fresh fruits and vegetables, you may find your overall quality of life suffering.
Tooth Misalignment
Along with causing pain, the pressure of impacted wisdom teeth can push your teeth out of alignment. Why does this matter? Beyond aesthetics, the way your upper and lower teeth meet impacts your bite. An off-kilter bite will wear down and weaken certain teeth more quickly than a balanced bite. As a result, you may suffer chipped or cracked teeth sooner than otherwise would.
Plus, as previously mentioned, it’s challenging to eat efficiently when your teeth don’t line up correctly!
Cysts and Tumors
Wisdom teeth that are only partially emerged or still embedded in the gums can collect fluid, which makes these molars take up even more room, leading to exacerbation of the other symptoms on this list. However, more significantly, these cysts can become tumors. Most of the time, these tumors are benign, but they often require removing tissue and jawbone to remove.
If your dentist recommends removing them, take their advice seriously. In each of these cases, it is ultimately safer and better to extract the wisdom teeth to prevent these problems.
About the Practice
Williamsburg Dental is a family practice with six locations throughout Lincoln. We treat all ages, from very young children all the way through the elderly, and we strive to make each individual comfortable. Our dentists come from different backgrounds, but they all approach each patient with customized care in every appointment. If you have wisdom teeth that may need extraction, contact one of our locations to schedule an appointment.