My Teenager’s Wisdom Teeth Are Coming In Sideways — What Should You Do?
As a parent, it is alarming when you can notice that something is wrong with the smile of your teenager, particularly when the issue is with the development of wisdom teeth in an unusual way. Horizontally impacted wisdom teeth also referred to as sideways wisdom teeth occur more often than one would think. Although not all the cases are urgent, it is important to know what is going on in the mouth of your teenager and when to take a step towards the overall health of the mouth of the teenager.
This guide will take you through all you need to know about sideways wisdom teeth, including what causes them and what symptoms to be on the lookout to, how to treat them and what the recovery process will look like to teenagers.
Understanding Sideways Wisdom Teeth
The third molars in women are referred to as wisdom teeth and develop at the age of 17 to 25. However, wisdom teeth may erupt at any of several abnormal angles; they may grow laterally, at a right angle to the gum (also called complete impaction); they may grow diagonally; they may grow completely trapped by the gum.
In some cases, when a wisdom tooth grows at an angle, it is not directly upwards, but horizontally towards the second molar. It would be a big departure of an average eruption and this would lead to a series of issues when not attended to.
Mainly, the development of wisdom teeth in sideways direction is reduced to the size of the jaw and genetics. Thousands of years of evolution have made the human jaw increasingly smaller to the point which cannot frequently allow the third molars to erupt normally. In case of a too small jaw to fit the teeth coming in, they get impacted, that is, stuck against bone, gum tissue, or against adjacent teeth. Genetics is also a significant factor; when parents had affected wisdom teeth, they are likely to be affected by it as well.
In teenagers, the problem is especially topical as their jaw is not yet fully formed. What begins as a mildly angled tooth may become worse with time as the tooth keeps attempting to penetrate the surface and it is necessary to engage the services of a dental professional early on.
Common Symptoms and Risks of Sideways Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth that are placed sideways hardly take long before being noticed. Your teenager can start having one or a combination of the following symptoms:
- Constant pressure, or aching pain in the deep part of the jaw, especially at the back of the mouth.
- Swollen, tender, or reddish gums in the back of the molars.
- Constant bad breath or unpleasant taste in the mouth which indicates trapped bacteria and food debris most of the time.
- Problem with chewing, biting or opening the mouth fully.
The symptoms cannot be treated as usual growing pains. Unattended sideways wisdom teeth may escalate to causing slight discomfort to severe oral health challenges.
Complications from Sideways Wisdom Teeth
The pressure that the second molar experiences due to the presence of a horizontally involved wisdom tooth is one of the most urgent issues. This unrelenting pressure may result in a wisdom tooth that is broken and causes cracked wisdom tooth pain over time. Wisdom tooth fracture symptoms include sharp pain during biting or chewing, sudden flinching in relation to temperature, or visible fracture of the tooth.
The situation can easily become acute when wisdom tooth decay and breakage go hand in hand. A fractured or severely decayed tooth is very prone to bacterial infiltration, and this exposes the wisdom tooth and the second molar that is placed next to it. In other instances, the process through which a wisdom tooth breaks occurs is that the surrounding bone and the other tooth roots are also compromised making subsequent treatment difficult.
To determine such complications, dentists and oral surgeons are evaluating these complications with the assistance of digital X-rays and panorama shots, which determine the exact angle of impaction, the level of crowding, and the presence or absence of the adjacent structures that are already being affected.
When Sideways Wisdom Teeth Lead to Infection
Probably the most pressing complication that parents should be informed about is the infection. Lateral or partially erupted wisdom teeth form a crevice between the tooth and the gum tissue – an ambience that is highly suitable in terms of food particle trapping and the presence of dangerous bacteria.
These enclosed bacteria cause decay and rupture of the wisdom tooth with time, and more instantaneously, a condition known as pericoronitis – inflammation of gum tissue about the partly erupted tooth. When bacteria enter the pulp of the tooth or bone, the risk of the broken wisdom tooth infection becomes extremely high.
Indication that infection is developing or spreading includes swelling that spreads into the neck or cheek, fever, inability to swallow, pus along the gum line or a general feeling of malaise. All these symptoms are serious enough to be attended to immediately, do not postpone them to a regular dentist visit. The transmission of oral diseases may prove to be medically serious in case of lack of a timely response.
Wisdom Tooth Root Damage and Misalignment
Not only does the pressure of a lateral wisdom tooth influence the crown of the adjacent molar, but it penetrates into the root structure too. Damage to the roots of wisdom teeth may result in the resorption (dissolving) of roots of the second molar, making a perfectly healthy tooth weak enough to break at a young age.
Other than root damage, the forward force of an affected wisdom tooth can cause other teeth to be displaced. It is especially problematic when it comes to teenagers that have just finished or are still in the process of orthodontic braces or clear aligners. Months or even years of orthodontic effort can be reversed when a wisdom tooth forces itself into the wrong place pushing the teeth out of their positions.
Other frustrating results may include jaw pain and misalignment in the long term since these may influence the performance of the bite, the aesthetics of the face and the longevity of any form of restorative dental procedure. These cascading effects are usually avoided by early removal.
When Immediate Extraction Is Necessary
Not all impacted sideways wisdom teeth require an immediate removal, but some of the red flags require prompt activity. Immediate extraction is recommended by the dentists and oral surgeons when:
- Extreme, chronic pain or swelling, which fails to respond to over-the-counter pain drugs.
- The adolescent has had two or more cases of pericoronitis (repeated gum infections around the wisdom tooth)
- A broken tooth or visible tooth decay is identified in the process of examination.
- Dental X-rays indicate the corrosion of roots, loss of bone or excessive pressure on the second molar.
In such cases, the extraction process is usually complicated by the fact that it is necessary to delay the extraction process. Patients in their youth are more likely to recover quicker and have less to deal with after surgery as well and thus the teenage years are a perfect time to act.
Treatment Options — Extraction vs. Monitoring
The management option of sideways wisdom teeth is not necessarily an immediate removal. Where the tooth is completely involved and is not symptomatic, and where the second molar appears undamaged, a dentist can opt to practice watch-and-wait with frequent X-ray follow-up – usually every 12 months.
Nonetheless, this method is more suitable in the case of older patients, whose jaw development remains stable. In the case of teenagers, whose jaws and teeth are still growing, supervision should be accompanied by an explicit course of action. In case of any complications in the monitoring period, priority is made to extraction.
Patients and families question which is better wisdom tooth filling or extracting, whether it can be possible to save that sideways tooth by having some dental fillings or any other types of restorative work. Filling is not a long-term solution in most of the horizontally impacted cases. The location of the tooth is such that it is almost impossible to clean them effectively, thus, meaning that they are almost bound to decay further. Most sideways cases of the wisdom teeth can be resolved through extraction as it is the safest and most effective method especially when it comes to teenagers.
Emergency Wisdom Tooth Removal
There is also a time when a wisdom tooth case can go extremely high and one would have to have an emergency to extract the wisdom. This is usually the case when a tooth, which has been already watched, fractures, when an infection starts spreading, or when the pain cannot be controlled with medications.
Symptoms that may indicate a need to visit the dentist immediately or urgently include: a visible tooth fracture with sharp pain, pus or discharge through the gum, spreading facial swelling, or fever of more than 38 o C with oral pain. Under such conditions, you should call your dentist instantly and ask him to refer you to an oral surgeon, in case of necessity.
The procedure of emergency extractions is generally the same as planned extractions – local anaesthetics, and occasionally a sedation or general anaesthetic procedure in more complicated cases – but has a slight increased risk of infection particularly when the area already has inflammation. To minimize this risk, antibiotics are regularly given during or after the procedure to minimize risk.
Recovery and Aftercare for Teenagers
Among the benefits of removing wisdom teeth at a tender age is that the recovery process is usually much faster and less complex than in the case of an aged individual. The roots tend to be less well rooted in the jawbone, and are therefore easier to extract.
During the first 24 to 72 hours’ post-surgery, swelling, slight bleeding and discomfort is to be expected. To deal with the swelling, your teenager must sleep with the head raised, use ice packs over the cheeks in 20-minute intervals. Yoghurt, mashed potato, scrambled eggs, smoothies and soups are some of the soft foods that are best at this time. There is a need to avoid hard, crunchy, or chewy foods at least one week.
Management of pain is generally followed by the use of over the counter pain killers like ibuprofen or paracetamol, or prescription pain reliever in case of complicated extractions. When antibiotics have been given, it is important to take all the course despite the rapid improvement of the symptoms.
Follow up appointment is normally taken between 7 and 10 days and the doctor would examine healing, remove sutures where necessary, as well as ensure that there is no infection or dry socket. The most frequent complication during the post-operative period is dry socket, of which the blood clot in the area of extraction is dissolved prematurely, which manifests itself in the form of aggravation rather than the alleviation of pain a few days after the operation. You should contact your dental provider immediately in case this happens.
Seeking Expert Care: Why Early Evaluation Matters
The sideways wisdom teeth do not need to be postponed. The sooner your teenager is assessed, the more advantageous can be the results of the assessment he or she can expect: fewer complications, easier extractions, quicker recovery. Delaying care, in its turn, lets the pressure, decay and chances of an infection to build up, which frequently leads to more complicated and expensive care in the future.
When you have observed your teenager to be feeling some pain in his/her jaw, swelling of his/her gums, and having problems with chewing, it is time to consult a specialist. An in-depth analysis, panoramic X-rays will ascertain whether their wisdom teeth are growing at angles and the most appropriate course of action to take concerning their special case.
To families living in the Bayswater area, Bayswater Dentist provides a skilled, caring service to teenagers and adults experiencing worries over the wisdom teeth. Their team takes advantage of the newest diagnostic imaging to properly examine and determine affected and sideways wisdom teeth, and give clear and personalised advice on the treatment, whether this be by closely monitoring or by extracting safely and without harm. Bayswater Dentist is a reliable local dental service with a high prioritization of comfort to patients and effective communication, which is why they should be viewed as the best option when families have to make a choice regarding wisdom teeth. Make an appointment today to provide your teenager with the care they need and peace of mind that you need.