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Many patients and parents of patients have heard the term impacted wisdom tooth, but are not entirely sure what this means. An impacted tooth is one that develops beneath the gums and is not able to erupt into the mouth like the rest of the natural, healthy teeth. Many patients do not have enough room for their final set of molars to grow into the dental arch, making wisdom teeth some of the most common impacted teeth in the mouth.
At Oral Surgery Specialists of Oklahoma, we encourage every patient to undergo regular screening with their general dentist to detect the presence of impacted wisdom teeth early. Typically, an X-ray evaluation is the only way to identify these teeth and track their growth.
Complications with Impacted Wisdom Teeth
When wisdom teeth are trapped beneath the gums or grow partially into the mouth, they are extremely difficult or even impossible to clean with everyday oral hygiene practices. Impacted wisdom teeth cause a variety of oral complications, such as
- Bone damage
- Infections
- Dental shifting
- Cysts and tumors
- Discomfort and pain in patients
The problems created by impacted wisdom teeth often result in additional treatment and an extended healing period after treatment. That is why Dr. Bryan and Dr. Goodson recommend seeing an oral surgeon to remove your wisdom teeth during the mid to late teens before these complications arise.
Preventing Problematic Wisdom Teeth
The number one way to avoid the problems associated with wisdom teeth is to monitor them during growth and remove them early. Because wisdom teeth are often impacted and do not grow into the mouth, and X-ray evaluation may be the only way to know if third molars are present and monitor them carefully. Most of the time, patients with problematic teeth don’t know that a there is a complication until it has existed for some time and has started to cause discomfort. It is important to schedule routine checkups with your general dentist, who can identify wisdom teeth in the initial stages of growth. When the dentist recommends removal, you should schedule an appointment with Drs. Bryan and Goodson promptly for treatment.
Removing Impacted Wisdom Teeth in Oklahoma City, OK
If you or your child required wisdom tooth removal or your dentist has told you that you have impacted wisdom teeth, the team at Oral Surgery Specialists of Oklahoma is happy to assist. We remove third molars for patients of all ages but recommend seeing us early for the smoothest recovery and to prevent oral health problems. Please contact a member of our team to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Robert Bryan or Dr. Jeremy Goodson, and we will provide you with all of your options for treatment.