Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 1082 Sun. June 17, 2007  
   
Star Health


Impacted wisdom teeth and real sense of pain


Most of the people suffer from severer pain during the eruption of wisdom teeth (third molar teeth). But if you consult with a dentist during that time, you may relief from any complication.

The variety of complications during eruption of wisdom teeth may be as follows:

1) Due to lack of space, the wisdom teeth may not erupt in proper time or may be erupt part of the teeth and rest part may remain under the mucosal fold. When food is taken, the food debris easily enter under this fold and due to bite pressure that cannot come out after well rinse or after tooth brushing.

After few days, this debris become rotten and incorporate with the bacteria and form a periodontal pocket which leads to severe infection. This condition is very painful and known as pericoronitis. In this condition patients cannot take food and even can not open his/her mouth properly. This pain can spread throughout the head, neck and part of the affected side of the body. Here tender swelling, fever and foul smell are common.

2) If untreated for long time, due to eruption and bite pressure the second molar may be affected by proximal or root caries or may be sensitivity.

3) Wisdom teeth may be impacted completely inside the bone in various backward positions. In this situation, there may or may not be symptoms of infection or pain. Even most of them never know that he or she has wisdom tooth. This condition should be evaluated by a radiograph.

3) In case of fully erupted wisdom teeth there is every possibility to form carious lesion. Because of its position, it is not visible clearly by necked eye, so food debris accumulate over and around that teeth. It is very tough to clean up by brushing or rinse. That is why after few days, bacteria contact with those teeth and form caries without any symptom.

Treatment options depend on the condition of the teeth. If part of teeth erupt and rest of the part is covered by mucosal fold, excess mucosal fold can be cut off by a small surgical procedure known as operculectomy if there is sufficient space. After that within very short period, the wisdom teeth erupt completely.

If mouth cavity is not sufficient or the wisdom teeth remain impacted in a very tough angle or eruption of wisdom teeth is hampered by second molar, then without wasting time the wisdom teeth should be surgically extracted as early as possible. At the same time if second molar has been already affected by caries that should also be treated with this procedure.

If radiograph shows impacted wisdom teeth without any complication, then the teeth should be placed in its own position.

As there is every chance to form caries and it is tough to clean up, people should routinely consult with a dentist for proper guideline.

The writer is a Medical Officer (Dental), HCDP of Rampura, UHC. E-mail: drabulhasnat@yahoo.com
Picture