Signs of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

While your wisdom teeth do not have any actual affect on your wisdom, keeping impacted wisdom teeth in is not a wise choice. Most people have four wisdom teeth, two on the top, and two on the bottom. Impacted wisdom teeth occur when wisdom teeth are prevented from fully emerging by the jawbone or by other teeth. Sometimes, the teeth may not emerge from the gum at all; other times they may partially emerge. Some individuals may have impacted wisdom teeth that do not cause any issues, however dentist and oral surgeons will sometimes recommend surgery to remove the teeth to prevent future problems. These teeth are harder to clean, which makes them more vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease. 

Symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth include:

• Bad breath
• Red gums
• Tender or bleeding gums
• Headache
• Jaw stiffness
• Unpleasant taste in mouth
• Difficulty opening the mouth

If left untreated these symptoms can develop into worse problems such as:

• Damage to adjacent teeth
• Cysts
• Pericoronitis
• Infection of the tooth socket
• General illness

How are impacted wisdom teeth removed?

During surgery the oral surgeon will make an incision into the gums and remove the tooth or teeth in sections, minimizing the amount of bone being removed. Usually dissolvable stitches are used to put the gum back into place. The stitches normally dissolve in two weeks.

If you live in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, area and would like to schedule a screening for impacted wisdom teeth, please contact Family SmileCare Center to set up an appointment.