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All About Implants

My teeth were starting to deteriorate, and I was running out of options to repair them. The dentist gave me a choice. I could wait until the bone loss was so bad that I would have to have my teeth removed and get dentures, or I could have them removed now and get dental implants. I opted for the implants. If you’re thinking of getting dental implants, you probably have a lot of questions. I love mine, but they took some getting used to. In this blog, I’m sharing my experience and all the information that I picked up throughout my implant experience. You can find out what the procedure entails, how to prepare for your implants, and how to care for them once they’re in.

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What To Expect From An Impacted Wisdom Tooth

by Alfredo Moore

Have you noticed a bad taste in your mouth, or do you have trouble opening your jaw? Maybe, there's pain around your molars and swelling around the gums. These could be signs of an impacted wisdom tooth. Here are a few details about impacted wisdom teeth:

Where are your wisdom teeth located?

A wisdom tooth is also known as a third molar. It is the third and last molar on both sides of your upper and lower jaws. Wisdom teeth are the last teeth in your mouth to erupt, normally appearing around the late teen years and early twenties. It's recommended that you have your wisdom teeth evaluated by a dentist to see whether or not they need to be removed.

What is an impacted tooth?

An impacted tooth is one that is situated against another tooth, soft tissue or bone and is unable to fully erupt.

What causes a wisdom tooth to become impacted?

Here are three causes of impaction:

  • Your other teeth are crowding it out, and there is no space for it to erupt.
  • The tooth is coming in sideways.
  • The tooth is tilted in your jawbone.

What are the difficulties that occur with an impacted wisdom tooth?

The following includes a few of the difficulties that can occur because of an impacted wisdom tooth.

  • An impacted tooth can be completely painless, but when then tooth tries to push through the gum, the gum flap over the tooth may become infected and swell up.
  • Food may become trapped under the flap of gum and cause tooth decay.
  • An impacted tooth could eventually lead to an infection called pericoronitis. The infection can spread to the throat and neck if it is not taken care of, and if it becomes severe, you may have to be admitted to a hospital and undergo surgery.
  • An impacted tooth can press against the molar next to it and cause the tooth to move, realigning your teeth.

Symptoms

Symptoms of an impacted wisdom tooth include:  

  • Bad breath
  • A bad taste in your mouth that doesn't go away
  • Difficulty and pain when opening your jaw
  • Pain while eating or biting down
  • Swelling in the gums where the impacted tooth is located
  • Pain in molars
  • Pain surrounding your ear and throat

If you think you have an impacted wisdom tooth, see your dentist immediately. He or she will take x-rays of your mouth to find out what is causing your pain and symptoms. If the tooth is impacted or infected, your dentist or an oral surgeon may have to remove it. To learn more, contact a family dentist like Killar Curt DDS. 

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