Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are widely recognized. Unfortunately, that’s often because they’re frequently the source of significant problems, particularly when they become impacted before they can erupt properly. Though it isn’t always easy to know when wisdom teeth become impacted at first, the symptoms and consequences of it will become increasingly more noticeable as they continue trying to grow. Today, we look at a few things that might tell you your wisdom teeth are impacted, and why it’s important to consider extracting them as soon as possible.
Do you feel discomfort in your dental ridge?
When one or more of your third molars become impacted in your jawbone structure, this interrupts their growth pattern, making it difficult or impossible for them to erupt from your gum line. This is one reason why you may feel discomfort at the ends of your dental ridges before you see any part of the wisdom tooth’s structure. If you notice sensitivity or pain in the area around or near the ends of your dental ridges, it may be a sign that your third molar is having trouble developing.
Do your other molars feel out of place?
Third molars that become impeded in their growth by another molar, or by the surrounding jawbone structure, continue to grow and try to erupt even when their growth paths are disrupted. If the shift points to the molar toward the second molar next to it, then its attempts to grow may force this molar and other nearby teeth out of alignment. If you notice that one or more of your present molars feel as though they’re shifting out of place, then it may be a result of the continuous force of one or more impacted wisdom teeth.
Do one or more teeth seem damaged?
The force of an impacted wisdom tooth pushing against your other teeth can lead to one or of them shifting out of alignment, but it can also cause damage to one or more of the teeth nearby. Conditions such as cracks or breaks in one or more of your teeth, or excessive wear on their chewing surfaces due to the change in their alignment, can grow worse the longer the wisdom tooth is allowed to continue causing problems.
Learn if you need to extract your wisdom teeth
When your wisdom teeth become impacted, extracting them could be the only way to save your smile from increasingly more complex problems. To learn more, schedule an appointment with us by calling Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS, today at 913-681-5500. We also serve patients who live in Overland Park and all surrounding communities.
