What is wisdom tooth?

These are the four third molars located in the posterior oral area—two upper and two lower—being the adult teeth that take the longest time to appear.

Wisdom teeth generally emerge between the ages of 18 and 28. However, when they do not find the necessary space to erupt, we are talking about impacted molars, which cause inflammation, pain, periodontal and dental lesions, in addition to complications such as:

• Infections.
• Dental deformities due to tooth movement.
• Cysts.
• Recurrence of cavities.
• Periodontal disease.

There are two types of impacted wisdom teeth:

• Partial: Only a part of the molar erupts, so it is possible to see the piece that has broken through the gum.
• Total: It remains completely trapped within the gum, growing abnormally in different directions.

Depending on the intensity of the symptoms and the complications they may entail, impacted wisdom teeth usually need to be extracted, although sometimes, even if they do not cause pain or apparent damage, preventive extraction is recommended.

• Reddened and inflamed periodontal tissue.
• Tenderness in the gums.
• Bleeding gums.
• Sore jaw.
• Jaw swelling.
• Halitosis (bad breath).
• Unpleasant taste in the oral cavity.
• Problems chewing and opening the mouth.

Once the dentist analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will examine your mouth and teeth to see if there are impacted wisdom teeth or if your discomfort is due to another condition.

They will also take X-rays to observe the position of the impacted teeth and confirm if there is any bone damage.

The treatment to follow will depend on the severity of the case and the symptoms. Although there are asymptomatic cases where extraction can be avoided, some dentists recommend doing it anyway to prevent possible complications.

The justification for the surgical extraction of impacted wisdom teeth is valid in the following cases:

• Periodontal disease.
• Recurrent infections.
• Partially impacted wisdom teeth with cavities.
• Tumors or cysts.
• Damage or displacement of other teeth.

Centro Médico ABC invites you to take care of your dental health with our professional team of highly qualified dentists with a strong ethical sense and supported by cutting-edge technology, which guarantees a maximum quality and safe service in our comfortable and functional facilities with all the latest dental advances, achieving fast care with a high degree of precision and efficiency.

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