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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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Potential Consequences of Untreated Impacted Wisdom Teeth

by Alfredo Moore

An impacted wisdom tooth may not cause any symptoms, however, it can cause a toothache, gum inflammation, bleeding gums, and a bad taste in your mouth. If you have an impacted wisdom tooth you will need to see your family dentist, who will take either panoramic x-rays of your mouth or simple bitewing x-rays to determine the extent of the impaction. If impacted wisdom teeth are not treated, they can raise the risk for the following problems.

Systemic Infections

Because it may be difficult to properly clean and floss in between an impacted wisdom tooth, debris and bacteria may collect around the tooth. This can cause dental decay and increase the risk of infection. Not only can a local infection develop around the tooth which can cause purulent drainage and pain, but it may also lead to a systemic infection when pus-containing drainage travels throughout the bloodstream.

Infected impacted wisdom teeth may be especially problematic for those who have heart valve diseases because dental infections can spread to the heart valves, causing permanent damage. If you have cardiovascular disease or valvular disorders, your family dentist may prescribe a course of antibiotics before treating the impaction by extracting the tooth.

Damage to Other Teeth

Another potential consequence of impacted wisdom teeth is structural damage to your other teeth. Dental damage from wisdom tooth impactions may be likely to occur when the wisdom tooth is impacted in a sideways position because this can lead to crowding of your other teeth as they shift out of place. When the teeth are crowded excessive pressure is placed on them which may lead to enamel damage, cracks, and broken teeth.

If dental x-rays reveal that your teeth are crowded as a result of your impacted wisdom tooth, your family dentist may extract the wisdom tooth and then recommend other treatment options such as wearing braces. If the dental damage is severe, restorative dental treatments such as crowns, which will help strengthen the damaged teeth, or dental implants may be recommended. It is also important to note that in addition to causing damage to your other teeth, crowding may also heighten your risk for an abnormal bite called a malocclusion.

If you develop an impacted wisdom tooth, make an appointment with your family dentist as soon as possible. When impacted wisdom teeth are treated quickly, you may be less likely to develop complications such as local and systemic infections, damage to your other teeth, and dental crowding. 

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