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Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Surgical Removal of Impacted Teeth
Teeth are impacted when they fail to emerge through the gums, or
emerge only partially, at the expected time.
Your wisdom teeth, also called third molars, usually begin to erupt
between the ages of 17 and 21. Because they are the last to emerge
in the mouth, wisdom teeth are the most common teeth to become impacted.
This may happen because a wisdom tooth is turned to the side, tilted
or otherwise positioned incorrectly in the jaw. Wisdom teeth also
become impacted when there is not enough room in the jaw or the
mouth for them to emerge.
An impacted tooth can be painless, and you may not even realize
it's there. However, when an impacted wisdom tooth tries to erupt,
the overlying gum may swell and cause pain, which may also be felt
in nearby teeth or the ear on that side. A partially erupted tooth
can collect food and other debris, which can lead to gum swelling
and an infection called pericoronitis. If untreated, this infection
can spread toward the throat or into the neck. Impacted teeth also
can cause problems if they develop decay or if they push on the
neighboring molar, which could lead to tooth movement or decay,
as well as changes in the bite (the way the teeth come together).
Impacted teeth also can cause cysts and other benign (harmless)
jaw tumors. These can lead to bone destruction. However, this is
rare.
Before extraction, your dentist will examine the area and take
X-rays if needed. X-rays can show where your wisdom teeth are and
if they are impacted.
After the surgery, your cheeks may swell, and you will find it
difficult to eat some foods. Follow your dentist's or oral surgeon's
instructions carefully to minimize problems and should take all
your medications on schedule.
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