[ Magok Dental Clinic_03 ] I Left My Wisdom Tooth Alone, and It Even Caused Decay in the Tooth Next to It - What Happens When You Leave It Untreated

Hello.

We are Dia Dental Clinic, making your dental worries feel more comfortable at Magok Station.

This is Part 3 of the wisdom tooth extraction criteria! In Part 2, we talked about cases where you should no longer keep putting it off. Today, there is one part in particular that I want to focus on.

This part.

"Are you saying a wisdom tooth can cause the tooth next to it to decay too?"

You may feel a bit puzzled when you hear that for the first time. You might wonder what a wisdom tooth has to do with the tooth next to it. But this happens more often than you might think.

Today, I’ll go over that very topic, what happens when a wisdom tooth is left untreated, one by one.ㅎㅎ

Magok Dental Clinic_impacted wisdom tooth

Why do wisdom teeth cause problems for the teeth next to them? First, you need to understand this.

If a wisdom tooth cannot erupt properly and stays tilted and stuck, it ends up leaning directly against the root area of the molar next to it.

What happens over time in that state?

What happens when a wisdom tooth is left untreated

Magok Dental Clinic_root resorption

1. The root of the neighboring tooth slowly dissolves

If a wisdom tooth continuously presses against the tooth next to it, that tooth’s root begins to be resorbed little by little. This is called root resorption.

The problem is that, at first, there are no visible signs. It doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t feel sensitive, and it looks fine, but the root is quietly dissolving.

Then, by the time symptoms appear, it is often already quite advanced.

Magok Dental Clinic_cavity between wisdom tooth and neighboring tooth

2. A cavity forms between the wisdom tooth and the tooth next to it

Between a tilted wisdom tooth and the tooth next to it, there is a gap that a toothbrush can never reach.

Food gets stuck, bacteria build up, and decay begins quietly.

What is even more frightening is that this kind of cavity can spread quickly from the wisdom tooth to the neighboring tooth, and from that tooth to the one farther inside.

"I thought it was just a cavity in the wisdom tooth, but now you’re saying the molar next to it also needs treatment?"

Situations like this happen more often than you might think.

Magok Dental Clinic_wisdom tooth gum inflammation

3. Inflammation spreads inside the gums

The gum around a partially erupted wisdom tooth, that narrow space is the perfect environment for bacteria to live.

At first, the gum may only be slightly swollen, but as time passes, the inflammation deepens and begins to dissolve the surrounding bone as well. Once bone is lost, it is difficult to restore.

That bone is not just the wisdom tooth’s bone; it also supports the tooth next to it.

In the end, one wisdom tooth inflammation can shake the supporting structure of the neighboring tooth as well.

4. You end up treating a tooth next to it that had no problems at all

This is the most unfair situation.

You go to the dentist because of a wisdom tooth, and then you hear, "We need to treat the tooth next to it too."

You left one wisdom tooth untreated and ended up having to treat an otherwise healthy tooth as well. As time goes by, these cases increase.

The treatment scope gets bigger, the cost goes up, and the recovery period gets longer.

But why didn’t you know this? The reason is simple. The effects of wisdom teeth on the teeth next to them are not visible from the outside.

Because it doesn’t hurt, you don’t know; because you can’t see it, you let it go; and thinking everything is fine, one day you suddenly hear, "Both teeth need treatment."

So what is important? Not a feeling, but a check.

A single X-ray can immediately show how a wisdom tooth is affecting the tooth next to it.

Before it hurts, before the tooth next to it is damaged, just check once. That is the surest way to protect two teeth.

Magok Dental Clinic_X-ray

At Dia Dental Clinic, we carefully check the condition of your wisdom teeth and surrounding teeth with panoramic X-rays and detailed examinations, then explain exactly what steps are needed now.

We provide convenient consultations through Naver TalkTalk / reservations. Feel free to check it out without any burden.

Seouldia Dental Clinic at Magok Station

So, let’s briefly summarize today’s story.

• A tilted wisdom tooth quietly dissolves the root of the neighboring tooth
• Decay spreads quickly in the gap between the wisdom tooth and the tooth next to it
• If gum inflammation deepens, it even dissolves the bone supporting the neighboring tooth
• In the end, even the healthy tooth next to it ends up needing treatment
• Most people do not know because it is not visible and does not hurt

"It doesn’t hurt, so it must be fine" is the beginning of losing the tooth next to it as well. In the next part, I’ll talk about "Is it okay if it doesn’t hurt right now? Why asymptomatic wisdom teeth are more dangerous." Have a day where you can chew well and smile happily. ^^

[ This post was written in accordance with the Medical Service Act for the purpose of providing accurate information about dental surgery and procedures. Infection and side effects may occur after surgery, so you should decide on surgery (procedure) after sufficient consultation with skilled medical staff. ]

[ Magok Dental Clinic_Standards for wisdom tooth extraction ]

1st part. Do wisdom teeth have to be removed no matter what? There are cases where removal is not necessary

2nd part. Wisdom tooth extraction criteria: if this is the case, you should no longer put it off

3rd part. I left my wisdom tooth alone, and it even caused decay in the tooth next to it - what happens when you leave it untreated

4th part. Is it okay if it doesn’t hurt right now? Why asymptomatic wisdom teeth are more dangerous

5th part. Is it better to have a wisdom tooth removed sooner? Age and timing can change the result

6th part. Wisdom teeth during pregnancy: Can they be removed? The treatment window and what you must know