Although wisdom teeth, or the third set of molars, were once essential for grinding down food from our ancestral diets, they no longer serve a purpose. Unfortunately wisdom teeth often cause problems such as pain, swelling, infection, overcrowding, and damage to the surrounding teeth. This is because the human jaw has evolved to be smaller than it was in the past, causing many wisdom teeth to become impacted. 

Impaction is a dental term used to describe a tooth that is unable to erupt properly. Impaction can occur as a full impaction or a partial impaction. Fully impacted wisdom teeth reside completely underneath the gum tissue and are unable to break through. Partially erupted wisdom teeth are those that have partially broke through the gum tissue, but are still partially underneath the gum tissue. To determine if you have an impacted wisdom tooth, see “3 Signs of Impacted Wisdom Teeth”. 

In dental terms, there are four types of wisdom teeth impactions, including: 

Mesial impaction

Mesial Impactions: 

Mesial impactions are the most commonly occurring type of wisdom teeth impaction. With a mesial impaction, the tooth is partially erupted and angled towards the front of the mouth. For this reason, mesial impactions are sometimes referred to as “angular impactions”. This type of impaction may or may not cause issues and is usually closely monitored before making decisions on whether or not to remove the tooth. 

Vertical Impaction

Vertical Impactions: 

Vertical impactions are a type of full impaction where the tooth is in the correct position for eruption, but still lies below the gums. Since wisdom teeth with vertical impactions are in the correct position, extraction is rarely needed unless the erupted tooth is expected to cause overcrowding or if it is exerting too much pressure on the tooth root next to it.

Horizontal Impactions: 

Horizontal impactions are a type of full impaction where the tooth is lying completely horizontally underneath the gums. Instead of moving up through the gums, the horizontal orientation of the tooth causes it to move sideways into the tooth next to it. For this reason, horizontal impactions are considered to be the most painful type of wisdom tooth impaction. To alleviate pain and prevent damage to the adjacent teeth, wisdom teeth that are horizontally impacted must be removed with a surgical extraction. 

Distal Impactions: 

Distal impactions are the most rare of all types of wisdom teeth impactions. Like teeth with a mesial impaction, teeth with a distal impaction are angled and can sometimes be called “angular impactions”. However unlike a mesial impaction, teeth with a distal impaction are angled towards the back of the mouth and may be partially or fully impacted. The need for extraction will depend upon the degree of the tooth angle, as well as whether the tooth is partially or fully impacted. 

Mesial, vertical, horizontal, and distal impactions are the four types of wisdom teeth impactions. All four types of wisdom teeth impactions can be treated by extracting the affected tooth in order to relieve symptoms and preserve oral health. However, there are some cases where certain types of impactions, such as vertical and distal, may not need to be extracted. Ultimately, only a dentist experienced with wisdom teeth extractions can determine what type of impaction is present and what the best course of action is. 

Dr. Dennis Laurich

Dr. Dennis Laurich has been practicing dentistry for over 40 years. He received his DDS degree from the University of Michigan Dental School and regularly attends oral health care conventions to continue his dental education. This allows him to treat patients with the leading dental technology and methodologies. Additionally, he is a member of the American Dental Association, Michigan Dental Association, and the Detroit District Dental Society.

Long ago in our evolutionary past, humans used to regularly eat foliage, roots, nuts, and meat. At that time, human jaws were larger in order to effectively grind up plant material. Wisdom teeth, or the third set of molars, were an essential structure to process this type of diet. Over time, however, humans evolved to using tools to cut up their food, as well as cooking methods to make food softer. As a result, the human jaw gradually became smaller and wisdom teeth were no longer an essential structure.

Nowadays, wisdom teeth are classified as a vestigial, or functionless, structure. They serve no purpose and are simple reminders of our evolutionary past. Furthermore, wisdom teeth no longer fit into the mouth the way they once did. Because of this, they often are impacted and need to be extracted. To learn more about what impaction is, see “4 Types of Wisdom Teeth Impactions”. To determine if wisdom teeth are impacted, look for these three signs:

Woman sitting in dental chair holding her cheek with a pained expression

Pain

Pain towards the back of the mouth or in the jaw is a pretty good indication that you may have a wisdom tooth impaction. Depending on the type of impaction, pain may be felt in the gums, the surrounding teeth, while chewing, or in all of the aforementioned. Pain from wisdom teeth can be caused by crooked wisdom teeth or by an infection caused by an impacted wisdom tooth. Wisdom teeth pain may start gradually or it may come on suddenly. 

Swelling

Another key sign of an impacted wisdom tooth is swelling. In most cases, swelling can occur in the gums around the affected tooth. In some cases, swelling may also be felt in the jaw. If the gums are swollen, they may also appear red or may bleed easily. You may also experience swelling in the lymph nodes or even a sore throat. 

Foul Odor or Taste

The final sign of impacted wisdom teeth are a foul odor or taste that permeates through the mouth. In most cases, foul odor and taste are caused by pericoronitis. Pericoronitis is an infection that occurs near impacted wisdom teeth. In addition to foul odor or taste, there may be gum discharge, jaw swelling, muscle spasms, or swollen lymph nodes. 

While pain, swelling, and a foul odor or taste are three telltale signs of an impacted wisdom tooth, it is important to note that not everyone experiences these same exact symptoms. Some people may never know they have impacted wisdom teeth until they receive a dental x-ray at their routine dental exam, while others may be able to notice pain or swelling as soon as their wisdom teeth begin to erupt. 

Nevertheless, pain, swelling, and a foul odor or taste are three signs of an impacted wisdom tooth. If you are between 17 & 25 and you begin experiencing these symptoms, it is very likely that you could have an impacted wisdom tooth. In some cases, an impacted wisdom tooth may eventually be able to erupt properly, but in most cases dental intervention of some kind is necessary to alleviate symptoms, prevent infection, and preserve your oral health. 

Dr. Dennis Laurich

Dr. Dennis Laurich has been practicing dentistry for over 40 years. He received his DDS degree from the University of Michigan Dental School and regularly attends oral health care conventions to continue his dental education. This allows him to treat patients with the leading dental technology and methodologies. Additionally, he is a member of the American Dental Association, Michigan Dental Association, and the Detroit District Dental Society. 

According to the American College of Prosthodontics, about 120 million Americans are currently missing at least one tooth. Missing one or more teeth is known as partial edentulism, while missing all your teeth is known simply as edentulism. Currently about 36 million Americans are edentulous. 

Teeth normally fall out as a result of severe tooth decay, gum disease, or trauma. In some cases, teeth may also be extracted by a general dentist to relieve painful symptoms, localize an infection, or to prevent damage to the surrounding teeth. Once a tooth has fallen out or been removed, an empty tooth socket is left behind. 

At this point, dental patients often find themselves wondering what to do next. Some people may be tempted to simply allow the site to heal and take no further action. However, ask any general dentist and they will tell you that replacing a missing tooth or teeth is highly important to your oral health. In fact, they will likely tell you to replace missing teeth for these five reasons: 

Dental implant shown in jawbone
One

To Prevent Bone Loss

When a tooth is lost, the jawbone is no longer being stimulated by the force of chewing. Ultimately, this results in the body absorbing the bone tissue from the jawbone to be used elsewhere in the body. This is known as resorption and it begins about six months after a tooth is lost. Over time, bone loss can cause the shape of your face to completely change. To prevent this from happening, replacing your missing teeth with dental implants are recommended. Out of all the restoration methods for replacing missing teeth, only dental implants can prevent bone loss. 

two

To Maintain an Even Bite

In order to maintain an even bite, the entire upper and lower arch must be full of teeth. If teeth are missing, then there are gaps in between teeth. This will eventually lead to the teeth shifting to fill in the gap. Once the teeth have shifted, the way the upper arch meets the lower arch is significantly affected. Having an uneven bite causes a range of problems that affect the teeth and jaw. Replacing missing teeth eliminates the gap and prevents the teeth from shifting so that the bite remains as it was before the tooth was lost. 

three

To Prevent Overgrowth of Opposing Teeth

Just as the gaps left by missing teeth can cause the teeth next to them to shift and fill the gap, this can also happen with opposing teeth. For example, when a tooth on the bottom arch is lost, the tooth that is directly above it may grow longer to fill the opposing gap. This usually occurs because the absence of a tooth means there is no opposing force to maintain the growth of the opposing tooth. Restoring the missing tooth allows the opposing tooth to be exposed to the force of the dental prosthesis like it would have with the natural tooth. 

four

To Retain Function

Besides smiling, the main functions of your teeth are to bite and grind food, as well as to help you speak. However, to carry out these functions fully, all the teeth need to be present. When teeth are missing, it negatively affects your ability to bite and chew certain foods that are hard or chewy. Not only that, but the gaps left by missing teeth change the way air flows during speech and can even alter the way you speak. If your teeth begin to move, this can also change the way you speak and can even lead to permanent speech impairment. Replacing missing teeth ensures that you will still be able to carry out the functions your teeth are essential for. 

Closeup of a woman smiling widely

To Improve Visual Aesthetics 

Last, but not always least, you should replace your missing teeth to improve the visual aesthetics of your smile. Smiles with a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth do not have the same visual appeal as those with a full set of teeth. Having a nice smile has been proven to have many social, professional, and emotional benefits, therefore you should also replace missing teeth to improve the look of your smile. 

Overall, replacing missing teeth is highly important to maintain the appearance and function of your smile. Replacing missing teeth can prevent serious dental issues in the future, while preserving oral functioning and improving your smile. Replacing missing teeth with dental implants can even prevent bone loss. With all these reasons, replacing missing teeth is almost a no brainer. 

Dr. Dennis Laurich

Dr. Dennis Laurich has been practicing dentistry for over 40 years. He received his DDS degree from the University of Michigan Dental School and regularly attends oral health care conventions to continue his dental education. This allows him to treat patients with the leading dental technology and methodologies. Additionally, he is a member of the American Dental Association, Michigan Dental Association, and the Detroit District Dental Society. 

Are your teeth crooked, overcrowded, or unevenly spaced? Do you wish they could be properly aligned? Have you been putting off orthodontic treatment due to the hassle of metal braces? If this sounds like you, then Invisalign may be the perfect orthodontic treatment for you. 

Invisalign is a modern orthodontic method that was developed back in 1997. After its introduction in 1999, Invisalign has taken off in the dental world and has provided over 2.4 million satisfied patients with beautiful, straight smiles. 

Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign is free of metal, brackets, and wires. Instead, a removable orthodontic appliance is used to manipulate the teeth into proper alignment. Intrigued yet? Well, here are five important facts to know about Invisalign treatment. 

Woman placing an invisible aligner in her mouth

It’s Discreet

Invisalign treatment uses clear aligners as its removable orthodontic appliance. These aligners are made from Invisalign’s patented SmartTrack® material. This thin but durable material allows the aligners to fit perfectly within the various textures of the teeth. The precise fit of Invisalign aligners combined with their thin and clear frame makes Invisalign the most discreet orthodontic treatment. For this reason, they are a popular choice for working professionals. 

Versatile Treatment

Invisalign treatment can address a number of alignment and bite issues all at once. It works well to correct alignment issues such as overcrowding, overlapping teeth, crooked teeth, or teeth with gaps between them. It can also correct bite issues such as open bites, crossbites, overbites, and underbites. 

Flexible Treatment

In addition to being a versatile treatment, Invisalign is also the most flexible orthodontic treatment option. By using removable aligners, Invisalign ensures that your diet and oral health routine will not be affected. Furthermore, there are fewer dental visits with Invisalign since the aligners can be switched by you without the dentist. Not to mention, these limited dental visits also take less time because few adjustments need to be made. 

It’s as Effective as Traditional Metal Braces

Although Invisalign uses an entirely different orthodontic appliance to move the teeth, the mechanism is similar to that of traditional metal braces. Both approaches apply gradual pressure to the teeth, causing them to shift over time. While braces use brackets and an arch wire, Invisalign uses their aligners. Both methods have been found to produce similar results and have similar post-treatment retention rates. 

One hand holding a giant tooth and the other hand holding a bunch of coins

Costs About the Same as Traditional Metal Braces

Contrary to popular belief, the cost of Invisalign is about the same as the cost of traditional metal braces. The total cost of your Invisalign treatment will depend on your individual case. However, there are various options available to offset the total cost including dental insurance and monthly payment plans. While many dental insurance plans cover Invisalign treatment, the amount they cover can vary by your dental insurance plan. 

As you can see, Invisalign is a modern approach to orthodontic treatment that is discreet, versatile, flexible, effective, and affordable. For these reasons, many dental patients are more than satisfied with Invisalign treatment and their resulting smiles. This explains why Invisalign has been used by over 2.4 million people. Are you ready to join them?

Dr. Dennis Laurich

Dr. Dennis Laurich has been practicing dentistry for over 40 years. He received his DDS degree from the University of Michigan Dental School and regularly attends oral health care conventions to continue his dental education. This allows him to treat patients with the leading dental technology and methodologies. Additionally, he is a member of the American Dental Association, Michigan Dental Association, and the Detroit District Dental Society. 

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