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What are the potential complications of wisdom tooth impaction?

I have an impacted wisdom tooth. What are the potential complications of wisdom tooth impaction?

2 Answers

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It depends on several factors. Impaction means, basically, that your tooth is not "in your mouth." If it is poking out of the bone, but still submerged under your gums, it's a soft-tissue impaction. If it's still fully within the bone, it's a full-bony impaction. If it's poking part-way out of the bone, but still totally under the gums, it's a partial bony impaction. If it's angled toward the tooth in front of it, that can create a potential problem if it starts moving. It's possible that it can begin to "grow" into the tooth in front of it. Depending on the angulation, it could cause a situation similar to a cavity. At that point you would probably need the wisdom tooth removed, and the "hole" in the adjoining tooth filled. If the tooth is horizontally impacted, as it moved it could "eat" it's way into the adjoining tooth's roots, and you would then lose both teeth. On the other hand, the wisdom tooth may just stay where it is and not move at all. In that case, there are no complications. The problem is that we really can't predict which situation may play itself out. Let's assume for a moment that your wisdom tooth is horizontally impacted and it just sits there, so you do nothing. I'm assuming you're "young" yet. Now at age 80 or 85, the tooth begins to move into the roots of the tooth in front of it. Your ability to heal is significantly less than when you are in your 20s, 30s, even 40s. Your ability to build bone is decreased as you age, as well. So healing will take longer and will not be as easy as it is now.My suggestion is to speak to your dentist or get an oral surgeon consultation, and get their opinion. Your dentist will probably be the one who knows you best. Good luck.
Wisdom teeth can cause crowding of the other teeth, gum infections, and possible decay to the tooth in front of it.