Monday, February 22, 2016

Impacted vs. Non-Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Not all wisdom teeth are the same. Changes in how a wisdom tooth emerges can influence the molar’s long-term impact on your oral health and function as well as how to treat this new tooth. In particular, knowing the difference between a fully impacted, partially impacted, or non-impacted wisdom tooth can help you protect your smile before and after extraction.

Non-Impacted Wisdom Teeth
The most straight forward, non-impacted molars develop and emerge just as any other tooth would. With non-impacted wisdom teeth, patients typically have arches that are large enough to accommodate the extra teeth, ensuring proper development and emergence through both the bone and soft tissue. While these teeth may sit comfortably, extraction is still recommended as wisdom teeth are often more difficult to keep clean and may not be in correct alignment with the rest of the bite.

Partially Impacted Wisdom Teeth
In other cases, the molars may develop correctly but are otherwise unable to completely emerge into the arch. As a result, the crown of this partially erupted tooth may be visible. Compared to fully impacted and non-impacted wisdom teeth, partially impacted molars are particularly complicated as the gums create a flap over the tooth which can trap food and bacteria. As a result, patients with partially impacted wisdom teeth are at an increased risk of developing further health complications, such as periodontal disease, tooth decay, and pericoronitis, or the infection of the tissue around the emerged crown.

Fully Impacted Wisdom Teeth
For some patients, developing wisdom teeth may not even make it partially through the bone. There are a number of different types of full impaction, each distinguished by the position of the tooth as well as where the impaction has occurred. For example, a horizontal bony impaction refers to a tooth that is lying on its side and is still in the jaw bone. Similarly, a mesial soft tissue impaction refers to a tooth that is still in the gums yet is angled forwards toward the front of the mouth.

Wisdom Tooth Extraction in Northern VA
At the Lorton and Springfield offices of Dr. Snehal Patel, wisdom teeth extraction is a comfortable process that can be done at either of our locations. For more information about protecting your smile from the long-term consequences of wisdom teeth, contact our oral surgeon today to schedule your consultation.  

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