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Most people have wisdom teeth, but not everyone realizes they can become a ticking time bomb for your oral health. If you suspect your teeth are impacted, or you’ve been putting off an evaluation, it’s time to reconsider.
Leaving impacted teeth untreated can lead to serious consequences, some of which may surprise you.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through why third molars are so prone to problems, the risks of leaving them unchecked, and why timely removal is key.
Table of Contents
- Understanding Wisdom Teeth and Impaction
- What Happens if Impacted Wisdom Teeth Are Left Untreated?
- Importance of Wisdom Tooth Removal
- Removal Is Not As Bad as You Think
- Trust OFI For Wisdom Tooth Removal in Deer Park, IL
Key Takeaway
Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to serious oral health issues like tooth decay, gum disease, and infections if left untreated, even if they aren’t causing symptoms. Timely removal can prevent complications and safeguard your long-term dental health.
Understanding Wisdom Teeth and Impaction
Your wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that usually appear in your late teens or early twenties. While some people’s third molars emerge without issue, many experience impaction. This happens when there’s not enough room in your mouth for the teeth to come in properly.
Types of Wisdom Tooth Impaction
There are four main types of impaction based on the position of wisdom teeth and how they interact with nearby teeth:
- Vertical impaction: The tooth is in the correct position but hasn’t fully erupted through the gum.
- Horizontal impaction: The tooth is lying sideways, pressing against adjacent teeth.
- Mesial impaction: The tooth is angled forward, toward the front of the mouth.
- Distal impaction: The tooth is angled backward, toward the rear of the mouth.
What Happens if Impacted Wisdom Teeth Are Left Untreated?
If you are not experiencing any symptoms, you might think it’s okay to leave impacted wisdom teeth untreated. However, even if they’re not causing pain or showing signs of disease now, they can lead to serious problems down the road. Let’s break down the potential consequences of leaving them untreated.
1. Damage to Nearby Teeth
- Impacted teeth often press against adjacent teeth, potentially causing crooked teeth or damage to their roots.
- This can lead to decay in adjacent teeth, and possibly the need for more extensive dental treatments down the road.
2. Increased Risk of Gum Disease and Tooth Decay
- Impacted teeth can cause food and bacteria to become trapped under the gum, leading to periodontal disease, tooth decay, and even bad breath.
- If left untreated, gum disease can lead to the breakdown of soft tissue and bone around the teeth, ultimately affecting your oral health.
3. Infection and Inflammation
- Impacted teeth can create a perfect environment for bacteria, which leads to a risk of infection.
- You may experience swelling, jaw pain, and difficulty opening your mouth. In some cases, an infection can even spread beyond your mouth and lead to more serious medical conditions.
4. Cyst Formation
- In rare cases, impacted teeth can cause cysts or even tumors to form around the tooth root, leading to damage in the jawbone or surrounding nerves.
Importance of Wisdom Tooth Removal
For many, the best course of action is wisdom tooth extraction, even if the impacted teeth are currently causing no problems. Oral surgeons typically recommend removing impacted teeth to prevent future complications, including:
- Orthodontic treatments: Impacted teeth can interfere with treatments to straighten crooked teeth, as they can cause crowding or shifting of adult teeth.
- Infection risk: Unerupted wisdom teeth can leave an open space in the gum, which creates the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
- Cyst and tumor prevention: Removing wisdom teeth early can help avoid more serious conditions, like cysts around the teeth or jaw.
Signs Removal Is Necessary
You should consider the removal of wisdom teeth when:
- You experience jaw pain or swelling.
- Your teeth are at a wrong angle, pushing against nearby teeth.
- You have an infection, decay, or damage to other teeth.
Removal Is Not As Bad as You Think
Many people put off surgery because they are afraid, or because they’ve heard horror stories about recovery. But it’s really not as bad as you think.
After extraction, you have a free pass to Relax-Town! After a few days of lying low, you’ll start feeling like yourself again. Here are a few things you’ll have to do to ensure a smooth recovery:
- Chill out with a cold compress: These help reduce swelling in the first 24–48 hours.
- Eat delicious soft foods: Stick to easy-to-chew foods like mashed potatoes, smoothies, and soups for the first few days after surgery.
- Relax and avoid strenuous activity: Take it easy for the first few days to prevent alveolar osteitis (dry socket).
- Follow your oral surgeon’s instructions: You don’t have to follow IKEA’s instructions, but you definitely want to follow ours. Following our post-surgery instructions will ensure you heal up with minimal complications.
Trust OFI For Wisdom Tooth Removal in Deer Park, IL
Wisdom teeth are like the wild card of your mouth—sometimes they play nice, but when they don’t, they can create a lot of problems.
Book an appointment with one of our oral surgeons to have your wisdom teeth assessed. If you require surgery, we will do everything we can to make it a stress-free experience!
Don’t let fear stand in the way of your oral health. To book an appointment at our office in Deer Park, IL, call (847) 381-0106 or complete the online inquiry form for a consultation.
