Should a horizontally impacted wisdom tooth be removed?

Have you ever felt throbbing pain in your gums because of a wisdom tooth,

or discomfort when opening your mouth?

Just as every person’s face is different,

a wisdom tooth also varies in shape

and the direction in which it grows.

Wisdom teeth, located deep at the very back of the mouth,

often do not have enough space,

so they commonly grow sideways

or become impacted at an angle.

Wisdom teeth that do not grow properly like this

often cause pain or inflammation,

which is why extraction is often necessary in the end.

🦷 A horizontally impacted wisdom tooth,

is it okay to leave it alone? 🦷 A wisdom tooth that grows sideways

can do more than just cause discomfort;

it can also lead to various oral problems.

In particular, if it is touching the adjacent molar,

it can easily cause cavities

or gum inflammation.

Also, due to continuous pressure,

the root of the front molar (the tooth root) may be damaged

or resorbed, so caution is needed.

For these reasons,

a dental clinic will carefully examine the condition,

and if necessary,

recommend early wisdom tooth extraction.

🦷 How is the extraction performed? 🦷 Before extraction, X-rays and other imaging are used

to carefully check the nerve position

as well as the tooth’s position and direction,

and then the wisdom tooth extraction is performed

according to each person’s oral structure.

If the wisdom tooth is

partially impacted in the gums

or fully embedded,

simple extraction is difficult,

so the tooth is removed through a gum incision.

During this process,

the crown and root of the tooth may be separated

and removed in pieces.

In particular, lower wisdom teeth are located very close to

the inferior alveolar nerve canal,

a major nerve,

so there may be a risk of nerve damage during extraction.

Therefore, extraction of a wisdom tooth that has grown in the wrong direction

is best performed at a dental clinic

with experienced and skilled medical staff.

🦷 For a speedy recovery after extraction! 🦷 In addition, after wisdom tooth extraction,

a certain amount of time is needed

for the wound to heal completely.

If care is not properly managed during this period,

complications such as dry socket may occur,

or recovery may be delayed,

so it is most important to carefully follow the precautions.

First, to stop the bleeding,

after the extraction,

you should bite down on the gauze provided by the clinic

for about 2 hours.

Spitting increases pressure inside the mouth,

which can cause bleeding again,

so even if saliva or blood collects,

it is better not to spit it out but to swallow it. Also, alcohol and smoking are

the biggest obstacles to recovery.

Drinking alcohol can promote blood flow

and increase bleeding,

and smoking, due to nicotine,

can trigger an inflammatory response

and delay wound healing.

Therefore, you should refrain from drinking and smoking

for at least one week.

In addition, if you follow the post-extraction precautions

provided by the dental clinic,

you will be able to recover quickly.

If a wisdom tooth grows sideways

or erupts in an abnormal direction,

as mentioned above,

it can damage not only the surrounding teeth

but also cause pain and inflammation.

If you feel even a little discomfort,

before it gets worse,

please visit a dental clinic for a clear diagnosis

and extraction! 😊🧡

Seoul of Dental Hospital Jamsil 4th and 5th Floors, 196 Baekjegobun-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul

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