Types of wisdom teeth and how to treat them

what are wisdom teeth ?

Wisdom teeth are the last adult teeth to come into the mouth (erupt). Most people have four wisdom teeth at the back of the mouth — two on the top, two on the bottom.

Impacted wisdom teeth are third molars at the back of the mouth that don’t have enough room to emerge or develop normally.

Impacted wisdom teeth can result in pain, damage to other teeth and other dental problems. In some cases, impacted wisdom teeth may cause no apparent or immediate problems. But because they’re hard to clean, they may be more vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease than other teeth are.

Impacted wisdom teeth that cause pain or other dental complications are usually removed. Some dentists and oral surgeons also recommend removing impacted wisdom teeth that don’t cause symptoms to prevent future problems.

Symptoms: Impacted wisdom teeth don’t always cause symptoms. However, when an impacted wisdom tooth becomes infected, damages other teeth or causes other dental problems, you may experience some of these signs or symptoms:

Red or swollen gums
Tender or bleeding gums
Jaw pain
Swelling around the jaw
Bad breath
An unpleasant taste in your mouth
Difficulty opening your mouth

When to see a doctor

See your dentist if you experience symptoms in the area behind your last molar that may be associated with an impacted wisdom tooth.

Diagnosis

Your dentist or oral surgeon can evaluate your teeth and mouth to determine if you have impacted wisdom teeth or if another condition is causing your problems. Such evaluations typically include:

Questions about your dental symptoms and general health
An examination of the condition of your teeth and gums
Dental X-rays that can reveal the presence of impacted teeth, as well as signs of damage to teeth or bone

Treatment

If your impacted wisdom teeth are likely to be difficult to treat or if you have medical conditions that may increase surgical risks, your dentist will likely ask you to see an oral surgeon to discuss the best course of action.

If impacted wisdom teeth aren’t causing symptoms or apparent dental problems, they’re called asymptomatic. Some disagreement exists in the dental community about how to manage asymptomatic impacted wisdom teeth. Research on this topic doesn’t strongly favor one strategy over the other.

Some dentists and oral surgeons recommend removing asymptomatic wisdom teeth to prevent future potential problems. They argue:

Symptom-free wisdom teeth may not be free of disease.
If there isn’t enough space for the teeth to erupt, it’s often hard to get to them and clean them properly.
Serious complications with wisdom teeth happen less often in younger adults.
The procedure is more difficult and more likely to cause complications later in life, particularly among older adults.

Other dentists and oral surgeons recommend a more conservative approach. They note:

There isn’t enough evidence to suggest that impacted wisdom teeth not causing problems in young adulthood will later cause problems.
The expense and risks of the procedure don’t justify the expected benefit.

With a conservative approach, your dentist will monitor your teeth for decay, gum disease or other complications. He or she may recommend removing a tooth if problems arise.

For more detailed information please contact us.

Contact for consultation and history setup:

HOANG BAO DENTAL CLINIC

Address: No. 9-11 Ong Ich Khiem, Ward 10, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City

Phone: (84-28) 38589787

(Show at Hoang Bao Dental Clinic without branches)