Every tooth in your smile is unique, including wisdom teeth. Some patients may not grow their last four molars at all, while others may develop more than four. Certain patients experience little or no discomfort in their wisdom teeth, while others may grow third molars that can’t erupt properly for any number of various reasons. Even impacted wisdom teeth can vary in their nature, exhibiting a variety of personalities that can determine the severity of each patient’s condition.
Full Wisdom Tooth Impaction
Between the ages of 13 and 17, many people develop a set of third molars, one at each end of the upper and lower dental ridges. By the age of 20, these molars have typically fully erupted. Often, a patient’s dental ridges can only comfortably accommodate 28 teeth, leaving wisdom teeth with little room to erupt. An impacted wisdom tooth is one that is impeded by existing molars and cannot fully erupt.
Incomplete/Partial Eruption
A partially-erupted wisdom tooth can begin to grow just fine, but then runs into the adjacent molar and can’t completely erupt from the gum line. A flap of gum tissue remains over part of the tooth, and can harbor plaque and food debris underneath it to increase the risk of dental disease.
Removing Impacted Wisdom Teeth
To preserve your long-term oral health, we prefer to be proactive and avoid emergency situations, rather than wait for severe dental issues to develop before addressing them. If your dentist suspects that you may potentially experience wisdom tooth-related symptoms or problems, then he may refer you to a trusted oral surgeon for further evaluation with a Panorex X-ray. The advanced imaging technology allows your specialist to see your whole jaw and assess whether or not your wisdom teeth should be extracted.
Learn More About Extracting Impacted Wisdom Teeth
If you suffer from wisdom tooth impaction, then visit your dentist as soon as possible to relieve the discomfort and save your oral health. To learn more, schedule a consultation with your dentist by calling Syosset Dental in Syosset, NY today at 516-433-2211 or 516-921-1678.
