Impaction is the term used when a tooth fails to erupt in the right position or emerges partially. It happens for many reasons and commonly found with the third molars. A wisdom tooth develops in most of us, and they are the last teeth to erupt, normally appearing in late teens or early twenties.
Since the time of life when the wisdom tooth erupts has been called the Age of wisdom, the third molars are named as wisdom teeth. Unfortunately, a wisdom tooth doesn’t bring any wisdom instead causes a lot of dental complications. Yes, they are not going to help you clear your exams, but they negatively affect other healthy teeth and cause painful symptoms because of the way they are positioned in your jaw. Often, there won’t be enough space on the jawline to accommodate the third molars. So, when it tries to erupt through, it gets trapped under the gum line and grows in an awkward angle.
In fact, there are four common types of impaction. While not all four impactions are dangerous, horizontal and distal impaction requires wisdom teeth removal.
Symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth
- Swelling
- Pain
- Difficulty in opening and closing your jaw
- Bad breath and taste in your mouth
- Painful chewing
- Headaches
- Swollen neck
The types of impaction
Horizontal impaction
This type of impaction is the most painful and dangerous one as the teeth grew in sideways. As the name implies, the wisdom teeth will grow horizontally, pushing the molar in front of it. This type of impaction can be found only in x-ray and will cause damage to surrounding teeth and pain if it is not extracted. If your dentist suggests extraction as it is impacted horizontally, it is advisable to pull them out as early as possible. The Wisdom teeth removal cost Sydney of horizontally impacted may be higher than other impaction as it involves a complex surgical procedure.
Vertical impaction
It is the least of all types of impaction. In most of the cases, they are likely to develop normally and do not require surgery to extract them. They tend to grow vertically but may be too close to nearby teeth and rubbing against or pushing from beneath.
Distal impaction
This type of impaction happens when a wisdom tooth is angled towards the back of the mouth. The dentist will determine whether it needs an extraction or not based on its position and how it will grow.
Mesial impaction
It is the opposite of distal impaction. The tooth grows towards the front of the mouth, and it is the most common type of impaction. It causes a partial eruption and leads to infection around the wisdom teeth. The dentist will monitor the growth of tooth and suggest extraction if it doesn’t erupt properly.
Be aware that all types of impaction causes discomfort and pain but doesn’t require extraction. You can keep your wisdom teeth, and it can be helpful if they are developed in a healthy position without causing any damages to the surrounding teeth.
