Dental Issues: 4 Types of Wisdom Teeth Impactions

Are you experiencing dental issues? If pain and discomfort are affecting you, it may be your wisdom teeth.

As many as 37% of people don’t have wisdom teeth. You might be one of the unlucky people who have wisdom teeth. 

Wisdom teeth impactions are a pain. If your wisdom teeth are the cause of your dental issues, these teeth will need to go. Read on to learn more about the four types of wisdom teeth impactions that can cause dental issues. 

What Are Wisdom Teeth Impactions?

Impaction describes a tooth that’s unable to erupt properly. In the case of wisdom teeth impactions, the teeth can’t fully erupt into the mouth. This often occurs because there’s a lack of space. 

When this happens, the wisdom teeth will lie trapped underneath the gums. This can occur as a full or partial impaction. 

A wisdom tooth with a full impaction resides completely underneath the gum tissue. 

A wisdom tooth with a partial impaction means that a part of the tooth has erupted. It breaks through a fragment of the gum tissue. The other part remains under the gum tissue. 

The Four Types of Wisdom Teeth Impactions

There are four types of wisdom teeth impactions. The most common type of wisdom tooth impaction is mesial impaction. Sometimes this type is referred to as an angular impaction. 

In this impaction, the tooth is angled forward towards the front of the mouth. The tooth pushes against the molar that’s in front of it. 

This impaction may not cause dental issues. The severity of the angle will determine if there’s a need to remove the tooth. 

A horizontal impaction describes a full impaction. It causes the tooth to lie completely on its side. It’ll take a horizontal position underneath the gum tissue. 

It will push into the molar next to it. This is the reason why this type of wisdom teeth impaction is the most painful one.

It’s the worst impaction to have. It can cause a lot of damage to the neighboring tooth root. 

A vertical impaction is a full impaction. In this case, the tooth doesn’t erupt even though it’s facing upward in the correct position.

This type of impaction may not require treatment. If the tooth causes pressure on the neighboring molar or the jawbone, there will be a need to remove it. 

This is the reason why many dentists argue that a vertical impaction is the “best” type to have. A dentist can take it out with ease by using a local anesthetic. 

Distal impactions are the rarest of all four types of wisdom teeth impactions. Distal impactions are the opposite of mesial impactions. 

In this case, the tooth is angled toward the back of the mouth. The dentist will assess the degree of the tooth angle to determine if there’s a need to take it out. 

Signs and Symptoms of a Wisdom Tooth Impaction

How can you tell if you have a wisdom tooth impaction? There are signs and symptoms to look out for. 

The most common sign is pain. The pain can differ in severity, but it’s noticeable. You’ll feel the pain in the wisdom teeth area, which is in the back of the mouth.

The pain can manifest when speaking as well as when chewing and swallowing. Even the simple act of opening your mouth can lead you to feel pain. 

Swelling can occur. It may affect one side or both sides of your face. 

You may experience a sudden change in the way you bite. It can be an overbite or underbite. You may also experience a change in the way you chew food. 

Do you have a foul taste in your mouth? It may be due to a wisdom tooth impaction. An impacted wisdom tooth can create a breeding haven for bacteria. 

It can even lead to bad breath. If the impaction is severe, an infection can arise. 

Bleeding from the wisdom teeth area can also occur in severe cases. The bleeding can be present in areas of the gums and cheeks as well. 

Keep in mind that a wisdom tooth impaction may not always cause symptoms or signs. You may find out that you have a problem after undergoing a dental checkup. 

Treatment for an Impacted Wisdom Tooth

What can you do if you have an impacted wisdom tooth? There’s a chance you won’t like the answer to this question. In most cases, one has to undergo wisdom teeth removal. 

That’s right! A surgical tooth extraction will take care of this problem. A dentist will perform this type of dental procedure. 

During the procedure, the dentist will focus on the gums. The dentist will make a small incision there. The dentist can access the impacted tooth through the incision.  

The tooth will not be taken out as a whole. To remove it, the tooth has to be broken into smaller pieces. It’ll come out one piece at a time. 

Once the removal of the tooth is complete, the dentist will suture the gums. Cotton or gauze is then applied to the area. This will help to control the bleeding. 

The procedure is often completed quickly. The recovery period is three to four days.

Address Your Dental Issues With Wisdom Tooth Removal

If you’re experiencing dental issues, you shouldn’t neglect them. A wisdom tooth impaction may be behind the dental issues.

It’s best to undergo wisdom teeth removal. You’ll experience relief after undergoing this procedure. 

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