Impacted Wisdom Teeth

When teeth are unable to erupt into the proper position for chewing and cleaning, they are impacted. Impacted teeth can take many positions in the bone as they attempt to find their way into the dental arch. The most commonly impacted teeth are wisdom teeth because the average human jaw is not large enough to accommodate them. When wisdom teeth become impacted, the pressure under the gums can cause pain and even damage the nearby teeth. Impacted wisdom teeth are also prone to infections and other problems. To protect your oral health and prevent future complications, extraction is often the best treatment for impacted wisdom teeth.

When you are evaluated for impacted wisdom teeth, your care team at Abbotsford Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Centre will take state-of-the-art diagnostic images of your mouth and jaws to determine if there is enough room for your wisdom teeth to erupt without problems. If any of the molars are impacted, these images will also determine how difficult it will be to extract them. If you or your child have been recommended for wisdom teeth removal, or if you suspect that you or your child’s wisdom teeth are causing oral health issues, please contact Abbotsford Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Centre to schedule a consultation with Dr. Esmail.

Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

You may have an impacted wisdom tooth and not notice any symptoms, but if impacted wisdom teeth begin to shift or become infected, you may notice some of the following:

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Swelling of the gum tissue near your back molars

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Pain when opening the mouth

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Pain, pressure, or sensitivity around the back molars

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Persistent bad breath/unpleasant taste in the mouth

It is important that you/your child see your family dentist regularly for dental exams and imaging so that the wisdom teeth can be tracked as they develop. It is highly recommended that wisdom teeth be addressed before they start to emerge or cause oral health problems such as impaction.