If there is not enough space in the jawbone for the teeth to erupt, the teeth remain impacted as a result of the obstruction of the covering tissues such as gums, jawbone or another tooth.
The most commonly impacted teeth are the lower and upper third molars, also called wisdom teeth. These teeth are the last teeth to erupt in the mouth and they usually erupt between the ages of 18-25. However, rarely, other teeth such as canine teeth may remain impacted if there is not enough space in the jaw.
Impacted teeth either remain fully embedded in the jawbone and are covered with gum, or they remain partially visible in the mouth without fully erupting.
Impacted teeth often cause complaints such as difficulty in opening the mouth, pain in the area where the tooth is located, pain radiating to the ear, bad breath, and inflammation of the gums in the area. Although these complaints can be temporarily regressed with the use of antibiotics, the symptoms recur unless the infected tooth is removed from the area.
Impacted teeth can damage the adjacent second molar and also cause cyst formation in the jaw. In such cases, there may be no pain for a long time because jaw cysts are structures that grow by dissolving the bone over time and damage the surrounding anatomical formations. Symptoms such as pain and numbness in the lips usually occur when there is damage to adjacent anatomical formations as a result of the growth of the cyst.
Impacted tooth extraction is a very easy operation for the patient if it is performed by jaw surgeons who are trained in this field.
Reasons for the Extraction of Wisdom Teeth
They are the last teeth to erupt in the jaws. Wisdom teeth often remain impacted or semi-buried because they cannot find a place to erupt. The fact that these areas open to the oral environment, which is a very rich environment for microorganisms, and that they are located in areas that cannot be cleaned due to their location, makes the area open to infection. It should not be forgotten that an infection in the mouth also poses a risk for the general health of the person.
Teeth complete their eruption by emerging from an eruption sac called a follicle. In the impacted teeth, the follicle grows over time. Impacted wisdom teeth are removed in order to eliminate the possibility of cyst formation, as it can cause cyst formation in the jaw bones, leading to dissolution or even fracture in very advanced cases.
When there is not enough space for the teeth to line up in the jaw before or during orthodontic treatment and to prevent crowding at the end of the treatment, impacted wisdom teeth are extracted.
Things to be Done After Impacted Tooth Extraction Operation
After the operation, not removing the tampon placed in the mouth before 30 minutes and biting it will help control bleeding.
Shaking and spitting should be avoided in the first 24 hours after the procedure, and any traces of blood that leak into the mouth should be swallowed. Otherwise, the clot necessary for wound healing will come out of the extraction space and cause healing to be impaired. Hot food and drinks should not be consumed and hot baths should not be taken during this process.
Since the tongue and lips will be numb for 2 to 3 hours until the anesthesia wears off, food should not be eaten to avoid biting the lip and tongue unknowingly.
A 2-minute ice compress applied externally to the area reduces symptoms such as swelling and bruising.
Starting from the next day of the procedure, teeth should be brushed at least 3 times a day, and after each brushing, the wound should be disinfected by rinsing the mouth with mouthwash for 30 seconds.
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