Impacted Wisdom Tooth: Treatment, Recovery, and What You Need to Know

An impacted wisdom tooth often occurs when the tooth doesn’t erupt properly. This issue may cause infection, misalignment, swelling, pain, and other oral issues if left untreated. The solution for impacted wisdom teeth is a surgical procedure called wisdom tooth extraction. You should keep in mind that following aftercare guidelines are necessary for a quick and effective recovery. So, rest enough, consume soft foods, and avoid smoking to ensure a smoother healing process. Are you ready to learn more about this topic, keep reading!

Category	Details
Causes	Impacted wisdom teeth might occur because of insufficient jawbone space, crowded teeth, genetics, and a blocked eruption path
Symptoms	Permanent pain in your jaw, experiencing bleeding gums, swelling and irritation, unpleasant breath, and bad taste in the mouth
Treatment	1. Monitoring: Proper for the cases with mild symptoms. 2. Extraction: Proper for patients with partially impacted teeth, preventing pain and infection. 3. Surgery: Necessary for those with complex impactions.
Recovery	– Over-the-counter painkillers – Applying ice packs – Consuming soft foods – Avoiding intense physical activities

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Types of Wisdom Tooth Impaction

Understanding the type of impacted wisdom tooth plays a key role in evaluating the severity and designing the most effective treatment plan. Here, we have mentioned various types of impacted wisdom teeth. Let’s check them out:

• Full Impaction: This type refers to the situation while your wisdom tooth is entirely beneath your gumline and in your jawbone.
• Partial Impaction: As its name indicates, partial impaction occurs when your wisdom tooth has partially emerged, but it is not visible completely; this issue can cause challenges during brushing and flossing.
• Horizontal Impaction: This type usually causes pain and discomfort. Affecting your neighboring teeth.
• Vertical Impaction: Vertical impaction occurs when your jawbone doesn’t have enough space for the tooth. So, it fails to grow completely.

What to Expect During Impacted Wisdom Tooth Removal

Fortunately, advancements in technology can easily address an impacted wisdom tooth.

1. The treatment process starts with taking an X-ray for better evaluation.
2. In the next step, your dentist numbs the treatment area, making a small incision in your gum.
3. If you have a full or horizontal impaction, your dentist will break the tooth into smaller parts to remove the tooth more easily.

Our patients usually report that they have experienced a comfortable and stress-free surgery. That is because we use the most updated techniques to minimize discomfort during the procedures. Here is Yalda’s experience with impacted tooth extraction at Eagle Family Dentistry:

“ I came to Eagle Family Dentistry with severe pain in the back of my mouth. My professional dentist thoroughly examined my teeth and discovered that my wisdom teeth were impacted. After discussing the treatment options, I decided to undergo the extraction procedure. The procedure was much more comfortable than I had expected. Additionally, my recovery went smoothly. I got enough rest and consumed soft foods. Now I’m pain-free and feel happy with the decision I made” 

Post-Surgery Care Tips for Faster Healing

If you have decided to undergo wisdom tooth removal surgery, you should be aware that following aftercare tips plays an essential role in experiencing an effective and quick recovery. According to Healthline, the recovery period will vary in length depending on various factors, including age, or the number of impacted teeth. Here, we have mentioned aftercare instructions. Let’s review: 

1. Rest enough for the first few days and avoid intense physical activities. 
2. Apply an ice pack to your cheek for approximately 20 minutes. This method reduces your pain.
3. Consume soft foods like yogurt, soup, or mashed potatoes to prevent damage to the treated area.
4. Using tobacco and smoking cigarettes can delay the healing process and increase the risk of infection.

When Should You Seek Treatment?

If you have noticed the signs of an impacted wisdom tooth, you should contact your dentist immediately to prevent further complications. Timely action can increase the chance of getting more effective treatments. 

The Risks of Untreated Impacted Teeth

An untreated impacted tooth might lead to more serious issues. Some of our patients at Eagle Family who have postponed their treatment had to urgently visit our clinic due to serious issues like severe tooth decay, cysts and tumors, and misaligned teeth. However, based on our experience, these issues make the treatment procedure more difficult.

Looking for an experienced dentist to address impacted wisdom teeth? We are here for you. Our professional team and caring staff have years of experience and expertise in handling all dental issues and improving the health of patients’ smiles. 

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