Tooth impactions

• Various problems associated with third molars
  • The wisdom teeth might get locked inside the bone called impaction. 
  • They might exert pressure on the adjacent second molars and induce pain and bone resorption behind second molars
  • The contact between second and third molars may be defective leading to food lodging and caries in both teeth
  • There can be inflammation of the gums covering the third molars during eruption that can get inflamed. This is pericoronitis and can be expressed as severe pain, swelling at the corner of the jaws, inability to close the jaws and other issues
  • Third molars that have erupted more towards cheek may traumatize cheeks for long periods and are difficult to clean. So they develop decay and bone problems sooner or later.
  • Sometimes the impacted third molars may develop cystic cavities (fluid filled spaces around the tooth in the bone) this induces bone loss and weakening of the jaw bone.

A tooth is said to be impacted when it has failed to erupt above the gum line.

 The teeth that are most commonly impacted are third molars particularly of the lower jaw, followed by upper jaw third molars and then upper canines.

Varieties of lower third molar impactions: Due to the lack of space available for eruption, lower third molars get often impacted.

The varieties of impactions are,

• Mesioangular 
• Distoangular
• Vertical
• Horizontal

Impacted teeth can apply pressure on adjacent healthy teeth and induce tooth ache and bone loss, can also contribute to cavities on the second molars and if they develop cystic cavities around then they can weaken the jaw and lead to jaw fracture eventually.

So it is advisable to remove the impacted lower third molars at the earliest.