Complications If Your Forego Impacted Wisdom Tooth Removal

Posted on: 9 July 2019

If you have an impacted wisdom tooth issue, then your oral professional will likely suggest the completion of oral surgery to remove the teeth. The procedure is a common one, but some people feel anxiety about the operation. If you are deciding on whether or not you should have the procedure completed, keep reading to learn about the issues that may develop if you do not have the operation. 

Misalignment Of The Teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth are teeth that are essentially stuck in the jaw and unable to emerge for some reason. Typically, this occurs when the teeth are developing in the jaw and have little to no room to grow in an upward position. The teeth then tip or angle slightly and get caught under the second molars. Some teeth will actually develop in a sideways position, resulting in a growth issue.

When the teeth are unable to emerge, they place strong pressure on the second molars. This pressure will force the teeth to shift towards the front of the mouth and this creates a chain reaction where all of the teeth start to move and shift wherever they can find space. The result is in a serious misalignment issue and braces are often needed to correct it.

Most of the pressure and movement will occur before the age of 30 due to the general flexibility of the bone. So, you want to schedule your wisdom tooth removal as early as possible and well before the age of 30 so you can minimize misalignment issues. 

Dental Infections

If you choose not to have your impacted wisdom teeth removed, then inflammation may build in and around the jaw. This inflammation can reduce blood flow significantly to the area and this can lead to some degradation of the tissues. Also, if bacteria get trapped around the wisdom teeth or within the inflamed gums sitting on top, then this can cause tissue problems as well. And, these issues will often lead to the development of infections. Gum infections are a concern and so are ones involving the bone.

Sometimes infections are simple ones, while others involve the formation of abscesses or the development of bone infections. Bone infections can lead to necrosis of the bone and the possible loss of several teeth.

Keep in mind that impacted teeth and misalignment can lead to the trapping of plaque, tartar, and bacteria which can, in turn, lead to the formation of cavities, so this is something you need to worry about too.

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Providing Children With Dental Knowledge

When my three children were young, they were all excited to go to the dentist. The dentist's office was great fun with a large fish tank and a variety of puzzle toys in the waiting room. I liked the pediatric dental office so much that I jumped at the chance when I was offered a receptionist job. Many of the children who came to see the dentist were not nearly as happy as my children. Most kids were scared and anxious, and I learned fairly quickly that the children were worried because they had no idea what to expect. The dentist at the office provided me with a set of dental tools that I could show to the children. I explained how each of the devices worked. This eased the fears, and I started this blog so parents could share dental information with their children before dental visits.