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Impaction is a primary reason for wisdom tooth removal, but many of our patients wonder if it’s even that big of a deal.
Why does an impacted wisdom tooth matter?
A trapped wisdom tooth isn’t an isolated issue. The tooth continues trying to erupt, pushing sideways into the roots of neighboring teeth.
We see many patients who don’t feel severe pain from their wisdom teeth at first, even when it’s causing damage.
Understanding how an impacted tooth affects your whole mouth helps you address the problem before it harms your smile. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Deep Cavities on the Neighboring Second Molar
An impacted wisdom tooth leans forward against the tooth next to it, creating a tight, V-shaped gap deep near the gumline. Food particles get packed into that narrow space when you chew. Because floss and toothbrush bristles can’t reach that gap, bacteria can fester and cause cavities in the healthy molars.
2. Damage to Neighboring Tooth Roots
The pressure from a sideways-growing wisdom tooth can actually push so hard against the neighboring molar that it wears away the outer root structure. The process dissolves the protective outer layer of your healthy tooth root. Catching the trapped tooth early stops the pressure before it permanently weakens the neighboring tooth.
3. Destroying Dental Alignment
A growing wisdom tooth adds forward pressure to your dental archway. If you wore braces in the past or have naturally straight teeth, added pressure can slowly push your front teeth to overlap or crowd. Removing a trapped wisdom tooth removes that back-of-the-mouth pressure, helping your smile stay straight.
Protect Your Smile Today with a Wisdom Tooth Evaluation in Norwell
Addressing trapped wisdom teeth early saves your healthy teeth from unnecessary damage and helps protect your existing alignment. Our team at Advanced Dental Arts is here to help with a wisdom tooth exam in Norwell. We’ll closely examine your jaw alignment and evaluate your wisdom tooth position to determine whether extraction is right for you.
Call us at 781-659-2222 or book online to schedule your wisdom tooth check!
