The Different Types of Wisdom Teeth Impactions That Occur Today
Did you know that about is born without wisdom teeth? For those lucky individuals, wisdom tooth extraction never becomes necessary.
For the rest of us, however, it’s important to have those wisdom teeth removed, usually around the late teenage years or early twenties. In some cases, patients develop wisdom teeth impactions which can make wisdom teeth more bothersome and all the more important to remove.
However, not all wisdom teeth impactions are alike. In fact, there are four distinct kinds of impactions that oral surgeons see on a regular basis.
What are the differences? Read on to find out.
Mesial Impactions
Mesial impactions refer to wisdom teeth that have erupted partially but that can’t erupt fully because of the angle they are growing. Mesial impactions grow at a forward angle, meaning that one edge is pressing in toward the back molars. Your dentist and oral surgeon will want to keep a close eye on a mesial impaction to decide when to tackle wisdom tooth extraction.
Vertical Impactions
Believe it or not, many people with vertical impactions won’t need to undergo wisdom tooth extraction. This is because the wisdom teeth rest in the proper position but won’t erupt. As a result, they are less likely to cause your other teeth to shift.
That being said, some vertical impactions can cause problems. Your dentist or oral surgeon will need to perform X-rays of your teeth and jaw in order to determine whether or not removal is necessary.
Horizontal Impactions
Horizontal impactions tend to cause the most pain and the most problems for the rest of your teeth. A horizontal impaction is much like it sounds–a wisdom tooth that won’t erupt because it is growing sideways, heading straight for the other teeth. If you find that you are dealing with one or several horizontal impactions, you will need to undergo wisdom tooth extraction.
Distal Impactions
Distal impactions are rare and in some ways resemble mesial impactions. They may be partially erupted, although they aren’t always, and they grow at an angle.
However, distal impactions grow toward the back of the mouth rather than the front. Like mesial impactions, the need for removal is likely but not all distal impactions require removal. If the bottom of the wisdom tooth is not touching or moving your molars, you may not need to undergo wisdom tooth removal.
Dealing With Wisdom Teeth Impactions? Get Those Troublesome Teeth Removed
Many of us have heard of wisdom teeth impactions but don’t realize that there are different types. In fact, some people may experience more than one type of impaction while others may not have any impactions at all. The best way to find out more about your wisdom teeth is to talk to your dentist about X-rays and removal options.
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