Third molars, often referred to as your wisdom teeth, are well-known for the troubles that they often cause. For many different reasons, third molars can become impacted before they have a chance to fully erupt at the ends of your dental ridges. When this occurs, the pain that the impacted molars can cause can become increasingly more intense, and so can the overall threat to your long-term oral health. Today, we examine what it means when your third molars start to hurt, and why extracting them may be the only way to address the problem.
The source of wisdom tooth impaction
The specific nature of wisdom tooth impaction can vary between different patients, and the extent to which the impaction causes you discomfort can depend on several different factors. However, in every case, the impaction means that your third molar cannot erupt fully or properly along your dental ridge due to crowding issues. The impaction of a third molar doesn’t stop its growth, and because the structure is impeded in this growth, it can lead to further concerns with your other teeth and the rest of your oral structures.
The problem before your wisdom teeth hurt
When a wisdom tooth becomes impacted, pain in and around the tooth is common. However, it isn’t always guaranteed, especially when the wisdom tooth first becomes impacted. By the time you feel the problem in your third molars and seek treatment to address it, the resulting damage to your other teeth and oral structures may be significant. The most effective way to detect wisdom tooth impaction early and avoid potentially severe discomfort is to allow your dentist to routinely check your teeth and gums for signs of such trouble. The sooner you detect it and treat it, the more successfully you can save your smile from wisdom tooth impaction.
How to alleviate the pain of impacted molars
When your third molars become impacted, restoring them or correcting their alignment aren’t possible. However, you can alleviate the pain and preserve the health and integrity of your smile by having the impacted wisdom teeth extracted from your dental ridge. Fortunately, third molars aren’t a necessary element in your bite’s overall balance and function, and you can successfully preserve this function without replacing your extracted wisdom teeth.
Learn if you should extract your third molars
If your third molars, or wisdom teeth, have begun to hurt, then it may be time to consider extracting them before the discomfort grows even worse. To learn more, or to schedule a consultation, call Santa Rosa Oral Surgery in Santa Rosa, CA, today at 707-545-4625.
