What to do if a wisdom tooth grows horizontally into another tooth

The eruption of wisdom teeth is a natural process, which for some goes unnoticed and painlessly, while for others it causes a lot of trouble. For example, when a wisdom tooth grows into the cheek. The symptoms of this pathology will be described below with photographs and advice from specialists. You cannot let the situation take its course, otherwise unpleasant consequences may arise, deterioration of well-being and the condition of neighboring teeth.

Regardless of a person’s actions, his hygienic culture, lifestyle and health, each dental unit has its own direction of growth and its own characteristics. Pathologies usually arise due to genetic and natural predisposition, which are practically not amenable to any influence.

Features of lower wisdom tooth removal

“Eights” on the lower jaw appear by the age of 20-25, when the main row of teeth is already formed and fully performs its functions. Therefore, the process of “growing” extreme molars is often not very pleasant and is accompanied by various difficulties, ranging from slight discomfort to serious destructive processes in the jaw. In this case, dentists are guided by the principle “seven troubles - one answer”: no matter what problems a wisdom tooth brings, there is only one way to get rid of them - removal.

Indications for surgery

So when is it necessary to remove a wisdom tooth in the lower jaw? In most cases, indications for surgery are related to certain pathologies of the lower “eight”.

1. The wisdom tooth erupted incorrectly
   - that is, not straight up, but with a deviation, at an angle to the jaw and neighboring teeth. The slope of the figure eight is:

• distal
  - when the “eight” is tilted back, away from the “seven”. In this case, there is a risk of injury to the gums and damage to the roots of the adjacent tooth;
• medial
  - when the “eight”, on the contrary, is inclined towards the adjacent tooth. This increases the likelihood of damage to the crown part of the “seven” and the development of caries on both teeth;
• buccal
  - in this case, the wisdom tooth is turned towards the cheek and constantly touches the mucous membrane, causing irritation and hardening of the tissues. This condition can eventually lead to the formation
• tumors on the mucosa.
• lingual
  - when the tooth is tilted inward, it touches the tongue and damages it, making it difficult to eat and communicate.

1. The wisdom tooth has erupted partially or not at all
   - dentists call this condition partial or complete retention.

• With complete retention,
  the molar does not come to the surface, remaining under the gum, inside the jaw. An impacted tooth may not show itself in any way - in this case, only regular treatment is indicated for control. However, in some cases, a “hidden” molar can cause a lot of problems for the patient, especially if it is located horizontally rather than vertically in the jaw. A lying tooth can damage blood vessels, destroy the jaw bone, provoke inflammation and suppuration under the gum, be very painful, lead to a shift in the dentition, and even cause the appearance of a cancerous tumor. In this case, the patient must have the lower “eight” removed.
• With incomplete retention,
  the tooth comes to the surface only partially, and this also poses a danger to the patient. A semi-retinated tooth injures the gums, damages the enamel of the neighboring tooth, makes it difficult to access the “seven” for hygiene procedures, and provokes the development of caries. Removing it solves all these problems.

1. A wisdom tooth interferes with the normal functioning of the maxillofacial apparatus.
   Even if the “eight” erupts smoothly, does not cause inflammation and does not injure soft tissues, over time it can still complicate the patient’s life.

• The appearance of caries.
  Due to the difficulty of access, it is not always possible to properly clean the distal molar with a toothbrush. The accumulation of bacteria and food debris leads to caries, which can spread to neighboring teeth. In this case, removal of the lower wisdom tooth is a prerequisite for maintaining the health of the entire oral cavity.
• Crowding and displacement of teeth.
  Occurs if the volume of the jaw is small and the new molar becomes cramped in the dentition. In this case, the “figure eight” can provoke a shift in the dentition, twisting of the teeth, and malocclusion. After removal everything returns to normal.

When is it better not to remove a wisdom tooth?

It seems that removing the lower wisdom tooth is the best solution to all problems, but this is not always true. In many patients, the eruption of “eights” occurs without complications, and in the future these teeth do not cause inconvenience, so there is no need for surgery. Also, you should not pull out your lower wisdom tooth if:

• dental prosthetics are planned and the third molar can become a support for a bridge;
• "seven" is missing. In this case, the wisdom tooth will take its place;
• caries affects only the upper part of the wisdom tooth. Then, instead of a traumatic removal operation, you can perform a regular filling, the price of which will be lower.

Relative contraindications to wisdom tooth removal are:

• infectious and inflammatory processes affecting the oral cavity
  - for example, periodontal disease. In this case, you first need to stop the inflammation and take a course of antibiotics, and only then proceed to remove the molar;
• respiratory diseases
  - influenza, ARVI. They can provoke postoperative complications;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• cardiovascular diseases
  in the acute stage.

Prevention

As you know, it is easier to prevent a disease than to treat it. The main disease prevention measures are:

• annual dental examinations;
• timely diagnosis and treatment of impacted molars;
• maintaining oral hygiene;
• timely treatment of caries, gingivitis, periodontitis and other dental diseases;
• Regular (once every six months) professional teeth cleaning in a dental clinic.

Remember: pericoronitis without proper treatment can cause very serious complications. Therefore, if you suspect inflammation, do not delay your visit to the dentist. The doctor will help you cope with unpleasant sensations in a matter of days and prevent the development of the disease.

Differences between figure eight removal on the lower and upper jaws

Removing a third molar in the lower jaw is considered a more complex procedure than removing a wisdom tooth in the upper jaw for a number of reasons.

1. Access to the lower molars is more difficult than to the upper ones.
2. The lower jaw bone is more massive and dense, it holds the tooth more firmly.
3. The pressure on the teeth of the lower jaw is greater than on the upper teeth, so the roots of the lower molars are more developed. In addition, due to improper growth, they can be curved or misaligned.
4. It is easier to perform local anesthesia from above, and anesthesia from the bottom often involves the muscles of the face, tongue, throat and ears.

All this makes the procedure for removing the 8th tooth from below a difficult task. If the upper molars in most cases can be easily rocked and pulled out with special forceps, then the lower molars often have to be removed in parts, cutting with a drill.

Why does the figure eight “lie on its side”?

The rudiments of wisdom teeth or eighth molars are present in every person and are formed along with the rest of the teeth during the prenatal development of the child. But, despite this, they erupt at the very last moment, giving way first to the incisors, then to the canines, premolars and other molars. As a result, wisdom teeth begin to fall out in adulthood.

And it is precisely this feature of the development of the last molars that underlies the main reason for the horizontal growth of the wisdom tooth. Since, when they erupt, almost all other teeth are already present in the oral cavity, and the jaw itself is fully formed, quite often there may not be enough space for the correct placement of wisdom teeth. Therefore, the body automatically forms a eruption channel in the direction that is not occupied by anything. In some cases, this leads to the fact that the figure eight, instead of moving in a vertical direction, grows horizontally, injuring gum tissue and even blood vessels along the way.

Easy removal

If the wisdom tooth has erupted correctly, grows evenly and has straight, untwisted roots, then there is every chance of getting by with a simple operation, which is carried out in 4 stages.

1. Diagnostics
   , including examination and x-ray, allows the doctor to get a more accurate idea of ​​the upcoming operation.
2. Anesthesia.
   Generally, local anesthesia is used for simple wisdom teeth removal.
3. Tooth extraction.
   The doctor applies forceps, gently rocks the tooth and removes it using a special tool - an elevator. If fragments of roots remain in the hole, they are also carefully removed.
4. Treatment of the hole and suturing of the gums.
   Antiseptic and anti-inflammatory solutions are used. In some cases, stitches are placed to protect the wound from bacteria, and the patient is sent back for rehabilitation. As reviews show, in the case of simple removal it takes very little time.

Postoperative period

Almost any extraction of a wisdom tooth is accompanied by trauma to the tissues surrounding it. In this case, a postoperative wound is formed, which must be protected from the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into it. In this regard, when the patient is discharged home, the doctor determines for him a list of measures that need to be carried out, and at the re-appointment he checks how well they are being carried out. These recommendations include:

1. Careful hygiene of teeth and oral cavity. However, in the first days after removal, intensive brushing of teeth is replaced by gentle rinsing of the mouth with a disinfectant composition of soda, a few drops of iodine and salt every two hours. This is necessary so that a blood clot can form in the socket of the extracted tooth.
2. After each meal, it is necessary to rinse with decoctions of chamomile, St. John's wort or linden flowers to remove food debris and have an additional antiseptic effect.
3. To relieve pain after surgery, use anti-inflammatory and painkillers such as Nimesil, Nimesulide or Nise. These products are specially designed for use after various surgical interventions in the oral cavity; they act effectively on teeth. In addition, Nimesulide preparations can additionally reduce body temperature, which sometimes occurs during the patient’s rehabilitation period.

Competent and careful implementation of these recommendations allows you to speed up the healing of the postoperative wound, significantly reduce pain and avoid the development of purulent and inflammatory complications.

Complex removal of the lower wisdom tooth

Impacted, semi-impacted, horizontal teeth, as well as teeth with curved, twisted, branched roots, are much more difficult to remove. Preparation for such an operation is similar to uncomplicated cases (although general anesthesia is sometimes used), but the extraction of the tooth itself requires additional effort from the doctor. Almost always you have to resort to cutting the gums, and the tooth is cut with a drill and removed in parts. Then the gum is sutured. In general, the volume of intervention during complex removal of an impacted wisdom tooth is always greater than during simple removal.

Is it painful to remove a lower wisdom tooth?

The question worries everyone who is planning to get rid of the “eights,” especially if the case is complex. Patients’ concerns are understandable: after all, wisdom tooth removal is a full-fledged operation. However, there is no need to be afraid of pain. During the process of cutting the gums, sawing and extracting the molar, the patient may feel pressure, vibration or stretching, but nothing more: modern anesthetics make the process absolutely painless.

After the anesthesia wears off, pain may become more intense, so the doctor will definitely prescribe painkillers to make the recovery period as comfortable as possible. If healing proceeds without complications, they will have to be taken for 2 to 5 days, depending on the extent of the intervention. As the soft tissues recover, the pain gradually becomes more tolerable and soon disappears completely.

Prohibited actions

Any oral medications are allowed to be taken for no more than 3-4 days, regardless of the strength of the therapeutic effect. Do not heat or rinse the damaged area with hot solutions. High temperature increases the rate of reproduction of pathogenic flora. After the procedure, swelling usually increases, and signs of inflammation become more pronounced.

It is forbidden to apply folk remedies with an aggressive composition to damaged mucous membranes: alcohol compresses, onions, garlic, lemon. Such actions negatively affect the process of soft tissue regeneration

Consequences and possible complications

It is necessary to separate the consequences of the operation and complications after it. All patients experience consequences to one degree or another - this is a normal reaction of the body to intervention, but it is better to avoid complications.

Consequences include:

• painful sensations;
• bleeding gums within 3-5 hours after surgery;
• swelling of the gums, cheeks;
• bruises on the face in the area of ​​intervention;
• rise in temperature.

Complications may be as follows:

• prolonged bleeding
  - due to the fact that the tissues around the lower “eights” are saturated with blood vessels. In this case, the doctor may apply additional hemostatic measures;
• alveolitis
  - inflammation of the wound surface associated with infection in the hole. It is characterized by the following symptoms: fever, bad breath, swelling, pain. Requires additional wound treatment and antibiotics;
• paresthesia
  - loss of facial sensation. Usually the lips, cheeks, and tongue suffer - they do not feel touch, do not distinguish between hot and cold. Loss of sensitivity is associated with damage to the facial nerve and may go away on its own within 1-2 weeks, but in some cases requires additional therapy;
• dislocation of the mandibular joint
  is a rare but possible complication associated with excessive efforts made by the surgeon to extract the tooth. The dislocation can be corrected immediately.

Attention!!!

Removing a problematic lower molar is a full-fledged operation, so special attention should be paid to the recovery period. It is necessary to strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations and carefully care for the oral cavity, then the likelihood of developing the complications described in the previous section will be minimal. Standard assignments include:

• taking painkillers and antihistamines
• antibacterial rinses
• cold compresses on the cheek in the area of ​​intervention (reduce hematomas and reduce the risk of re-bleeding)
• prohibition on eating during the first hours after surgery
• ban on smoking, drinking alcohol, physical activity
• ban on visiting the sauna and swimming pool, taking hot baths

If the doctor did not make mistakes during the operation, and the patient does not violate the recovery regime, then very soon there will be no trace of unpleasant sensations.

Symptoms of the problem

The reasons for the incorrect eruption of third molars are the lack of ready-made conductive canals, since there are no milk analogues. However, formation begins as early as five years of age, causing discomfort and pain.

Malposition and pain during growth are usually caused by the following reasons:

• jaw abnormalities, including hereditary ones;
• the position of the molars is incorrect;
• there is an excessive number of ones in the row, there is not enough space for eights;
• the shape and size of the molars are non-standard;
• hormonal disorders of the patient, metabolic problems;
• early removal of a tooth, the appearance of large gaps.

In the normal position of the teeth and jaw, eruption occurs almost imperceptibly, there is no pain or inflammation, and the figure eights take their position. But with a narrow jaw, severe pain and swelling appears, the tooth begins to grow sideways, growing into the surrounding oral tissues. This is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• bleeding, pain also occurs when brushing or flossing;
• discomfort during chewing loads;
• mucosal tissues are swollen, discoloration is observed;
• the inner surface of the cheek is injured, it is constantly bitten, and swelling appears when ingrown;
• swelling and signs of inflammatory processes appear in the gums and tongue;
• headaches, fever appear, and the condition worsens.

In especially severe cases, eruption lasts for several years, during which the patient constantly feels pain and discomfort. This requires contacting a doctor, who, after examination, chooses a treatment method.