Gueui-dong Dental Clinic: What Problems Can Occur If an Impacted Wisdom Tooth Is Left Untreated for a Long Time?

Hello, I am Sim Seong-hwan from S Leader Dental Hospital, a Gueui-dong dental clinic celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year.

Wisdom teeth are generally the last permanent teeth to grow in and are located at the very back of the mouth.

However, not all wisdom teeth grow in the normal direction. If there is not enough space in the jaw for a wisdom tooth to grow or if the tooth is positioned at an angle, it may not fully emerge from the gums and may be partially or entirely covered by the gums or jawbone. This is commonly referred to as an impacted wisdom tooth.

Having an impacted wisdom tooth does not necessarily cause severe pain from the beginning. In many cases, it is discovered by chance during a dental checkup or X-ray examination while the person is experiencing no particular discomfort.

As a result, some people leave it as it is, thinking, “It does not hurt right now, so do I really need treatment?”

Of course, not every impacted wisdom tooth must be extracted. However, depending on the wisdom tooth’s position and direction and its relationship with the surrounding teeth, leaving it untreated for a long time may lead to various oral problems. Therefore, it is important to accurately check its current condition.

Today, S Leader Dental Hospital, a Gueui-dong dental clinic, will take a detailed look at the problems that may occur when an impacted wisdom tooth is left untreated for a long time.

Why do impacted wisdom teeth occur?

Wisdom teeth usually erupt relatively late, after all the other permanent teeth have taken their positions.

Because wisdom teeth emerge after most of the other teeth are already in place, they may have difficulty growing in the normal direction if there is not enough space at the back of the jaw.

When space is insufficient, a wisdom tooth may grow while lying sideways or become tilted toward the molar in front of it. It may also emerge only partially from the gums. In other cases, the entire tooth may remain covered by the gums or embedded in the jawbone.

Therefore, even among impacted wisdom teeth, the form varies from person to person.

To properly understand the current condition, it is necessary to examine the direction in which the wisdom tooth is positioned, how deeply it is impacted, and how close it is to the surrounding teeth.

Leaving an impacted wisdom tooth untreated can cause gum inflammation.

One relatively common problem that can occur with an impacted wisdom tooth is inflammation of the gums around it.

This is especially true when the tooth is partially impacted and only part of it has emerged from the gums, as food debris and bacteria can easily accumulate between the tooth and gum.

The problem is that wisdom teeth are located at the very back of the mouth. Because they are difficult for a toothbrush to reach properly, they may be hard to keep clean even with thorough brushing.

If this condition continues to recur, the gums around the wisdom tooth may swell or become red, and pain may occur when chewing. In some cases, opening the mouth may be uncomfortable, or an unpleasant taste or odor may be noticed around the wisdom tooth.

Even if the symptoms subside after hurting for a while, that does not necessarily mean the underlying cause has been completely resolved. If the wisdom tooth’s position or its difficult-to-clean structure remains unchanged, inflammation may recur.

The molar immediately in front of it may also be affected.

When examining an impacted wisdom tooth, the second molar located directly in front of it is just as important to examine as the wisdom tooth itself.

If the wisdom tooth is lying at an angle toward the molar in front of it, food and plaque can easily accumulate between the two teeth.

However, because this area is located so deep in the mouth, it is often difficult to clean properly even with a toothbrush or dental floss.

As a result, cavities may develop not only in the wisdom tooth but also in the molar immediately in front of it, and the surrounding gums may become inflamed. In some cases, an impacted wisdom tooth may be in close contact with an adjacent tooth and potentially affect the surrounding tooth and tissues.

A wisdom tooth can be considered for extraction when necessary, but the large molar directly in front of it is a permanent tooth that plays an important role in chewing food.

Therefore, when managing an impacted wisdom tooth, it is necessary to consider not only the wisdom tooth itself but also the protection of the healthy teeth around it.

The wisdom tooth itself can also develop a cavity.

A partially impacted wisdom tooth may develop a cavity because part of the tooth is exposed in the mouth.

In particular, the back and sides of a wisdom tooth are difficult to see directly, and toothbrush bristles often cannot reach them properly.

There may be no noticeable symptoms at first, but as the cavity becomes deeper, sensitivity or discomfort when chewing may occur.

If food frequently becomes stuck around the wisdom tooth or a persistent unclean feeling remains even after brushing, it is advisable to have the condition of the wisdom tooth and the surrounding teeth checked together rather than dismissing it as simple discomfort.

Lesions such as cysts may also be found.

A completely impacted wisdom tooth that is covered by the gums or embedded in the jawbone cannot be seen from the outside, so it is easy to assume that there is no particular problem.

However, in rare cases, lesions such as cysts may develop around an impacted tooth.

These changes may cause no pain or noticeable symptoms in the early stages, making them difficult to detect based only on a routine oral examination.

Therefore, if a wisdom tooth has remained impacted for a long time, it can be helpful to undergo a dental examination and radiographic imaging to check for changes in the surrounding tissues, even if there are no symptoms.

Should a painless impacted wisdom tooth be extracted?

Having an impacted wisdom tooth does not mean that it must always be extracted.

If the wisdom tooth is stably positioned deep inside the jawbone, is not having a significant effect on the surrounding teeth or gums, and no pathological changes are observed, the tooth may be monitored through regular checkups.

On the other hand, extraction may be considered if inflammation recurs, a cavity develops, the wisdom tooth makes it difficult to care for the surrounding teeth, or there is a high likelihood that it will affect the adjacent molar.

Therefore, rather than simply deciding, “It is impacted, so it should be removed,” or “It does not hurt, so I will leave it alone,” it is important to check the condition of the wisdom tooth before making a decision.

How are impacted wisdom teeth examined?

Because the range that can be checked visually is limited, radiographic examinations play an important role in evaluating impacted wisdom teeth.

Panoramic X-rays and similar examinations can be used to determine the direction in which the wisdom tooth is positioned and its relationship with the surrounding molars.

For an impacted wisdom tooth in the lower jaw, it is also necessary to examine the relationship between the tooth roots and the location of the surrounding nerve canal.

If the wisdom tooth is close to a nerve and requires more detailed evaluation, three-dimensional CT imaging may be used as needed to identify the positions of the tooth and surrounding structures and plan the extraction method.

Even impacted wisdom teeth differ in the angle and depth at which they lie, the shape of their roots, and their distance from the surrounding nerves. Therefore, an individual assessment based on the examination results is necessary.

With S Leader Dental Hospital, a Gueui-dong dental clinic

Take a careful look at your impacted wisdom tooth

There are cases in which an impacted wisdom tooth causes no symptoms for a long time, only for its presence to become known when the gums suddenly swell or pain develops.

However, it is difficult to assess the condition of a wisdom tooth based only on whether or not there is pain.

In particular, if the gums around the wisdom tooth swell repeatedly, food frequently becomes stuck, an unpleasant odor or taste is noticed deep in the mouth, or there is discomfort when chewing around the wisdom tooth, it is advisable to have a dental examination.

In addition, if you were previously told that you had an impacted wisdom tooth but have not had it checked for a long time, it is necessary to determine whether its current position or the condition of the surrounding teeth has changed.

The decision of whether to extract an impacted wisdom tooth and the appropriate timing are not the same for everyone.

Even if there is no particular pain at present, it is important to check the direction in which the wisdom tooth is positioned, whether it is affecting the molar directly in front of it or the gums, and whether it is a condition that requires continued observation.

Rather than always leaving an impacted wisdom tooth untreated or always extracting it, it may help protect the health of the surrounding teeth and gums to accurately assess its current condition through an examination and determine the necessary approach to care.

Gueui-dong Dental Clinic :: S Leader Dental Hospital