Impacted wisdom tooth

Due to their position, wisdom teeth can cause various problems such as infections and cysts.

A tooth that moves to the roots of the adjacent tooth rather than coming out in an upright position will cause pressure, potentially an abscess, as well as damage or even loss of the neighbouring tooth, while remaining buried in the jaw. In this case, we call it an impacted tooth. This situation represents a potential for damage and sneaky pain since nothing appears to the naked eye.

The long eruptive phase of wisdom teeth (from adolescence to early twenties) can cause several unpleasant symptoms:

• Periods of severe pain;
• Headaches and sore throats;
• Inflammation;
• Swelling in the gums.

Following the evaluation by your dentist, he or she may recommend that you keep your wisdom teeth in your mouth if their position is not a problem. However, this recommendation is conditional on regular follow-up and impeccable dental hygiene being maintained. Depending on the potential risk of keeping your wisdom teeth in place, increased monitoring and, in many cases, extraction will be necessary.

Over the years, an impacted tooth could move and interfere with the molar seconds. The displacement of this tooth is possible even after the end of its root formation and could be facilitated by the loss of another tooth, among other things. It is even possible, although less likely, that a person over 40 years of age may suddenly experience pain and complications due to the wisdom teeth still in the mouth.

A wisdom tooth that manages to break through the gum can also cause problems if it fails to completely exit, such as an infection leading to the formation of a fistula.

When the crown of the tooth remains partially hidden under the gum, it is said to be a tooth partially covered with soft or semi-included tissue. This situation creates an ideal place for the accumulation of food debris and the formation of cavities.

Even with strict hygiene measures, infections can develop on sites where wisdom teeth grow and cause discomfort and pain that can affect your health.

It is strongly recommended, as a preventive measure, to examine the third molars around the age of 15 or 16 years using a panoramic radiograph or a 3D scan.