Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, typically emerge in adults during their late teens or early twenties. Unfortunately, due to limited space in the mouth, these teeth often grow improperly, leading to oral health problems such as periodontitis.
The wisdom teeth are positioned at the back of the teeth in such a way that they can be very hard to clean. The gums where they grow on are at greater risk of developing periodontal (gum) problems.
Before the end of this article, I will reveal to you some of the causes of loose wisdom tooth and oral health problems. We will also look at some of the reasons why there may be a need to remove your wisdom teeth due to gum and bone loss. But before that, I will like to explain some few things on the challenges you might face due to your wisdom teeth.
Challenges of the wisdom teeth
-
Gum flaps: some wisdom teeth emerge partially with some part of the gum covering their chewing surface. Although this problem is quite a bit rare. In dentistry the extra gum tissue that covers the wisdom teeth is referred to as operculum.
-
Difficult to clean: naturally, the last three molars in the mouth, grow at the rear of the mouth. This makes them to be very difficult to access and keep clean. This may eventually lead to damage to surrounding gums and teeth due to lack of proper hygiene.(1)
-
High risk of decay: the last three molars usually cluster together, When this situation exists, due to lack of proper brushing, bacteria can easily accumulate at the space between the teeth and their gum tissues. Tooth decay, loose tooth, dental pain and discomfort especially when chewing can easily surface in severe cases.
Loose wisdom tooth pain and causes
When wisdom tooth becomes loose, it can cause pain and discomfort to the neighboring teeth. This can even lead to tooth fall out. The pain can be excruciating, making your gums red and swollen. Surgery may be required to alleviate the issue caused by the loose wisdom tooth. Drinking tea can also aggravate the pain and discomfort.
However, gum disease is the most common cause of painful loose wisdom tooth. As we all know, gum disease is caused by harmful oral bacteria that accumulate and cause problems whenever neighboring teeth are not properly cleaned. If any of your wisdom teeth feel loose, it might be as a result of gum disease requiring surgery.
Gum disease is a progressive disease, the more severe form of gum diseases is called periodontitis. Periodontitis cause damages to the gum and the bones that are supporting your teeth, this can make one or more of your wisdom teeth to become loose. Tooth decay, cellulitis, cysts and benign growths, pericoronitis and abscess can all contribute greatly to loose wisdom tooth pain.
If you experience severe pain from your wisdom teeth or gums, it’s advisable to visit your dentist. Your dentist will conduct tests to identify the underlying cause of your gum problem. Depending on the outcome, your dentist may recommend wisdom tooth extraction. If tooth removal is not necessary, your dentist can suggest treatments to eliminate bacteria causing gum problems. These treatments include deep cleaning, oral antibiotics, pain relievers, and antibacterial toothpastes and mouthwash.
Within a few seconds from now, we’ll look at some commonly recommended treatments that may be used to treat pain caused by loose wisdom teeth. The treatment options are divided into two categories: tooth removal and non-extraction approaches. First, I am going to discuss the tooth removal option, which involves removing the affected gums.
Wisdom tooth removal
Wisdom tooth extraction is often recommended for severe teeth pain or loose teeth caused by damage that cannot be restored. Your dentist or a specialist surgeon may perform the procedure according to nationally approved guidelines. It is important to understand these guidelines before the removal process.
The first step in the tooth removal process for a person experiencing teeth pain is to numb the area around the affected tooth using local anaesthetic. The dentist or surgeon may need to divide the loose tooth into small sections for easier removal. Additionally, they may remove any bone blocking their access to the tooth. The entire procedure typically takes about an hour or more.
After the wisdom teeth removal procedure has been completed, the bleeding can be controlled by stitching or placing a gauze over the site. The missing tooth can be replaced with a dental bridge and implant.
Non-removal treatment options
If you are experiencing teeth pain or discomfort in your gums, the removal of your affected wisdom tooth may not be necessary. In such cases, there are other treatment options available to fix the tooth.
1. Splinting: the splinting procedure is used to provide support to a loose tooth. It involves the uses of a piece of metal to bond a loose tooth to the neighboring healthy teeth. The healthy teeth helps to provide extra support to the loose tooth, it may help to strengthen the loose tooth.
Splint material such as Intra-coronal metal bar splint, is usually recommended for stabilizing loose back teeth. It’s suitable to be used on the premolars and molars where the teeth experience more pressure and force when chewing food. It’s very effective for restoring the strength and functionality of a loose wisdom tooth.
2. Bone Graft: the bone grafting procedure is a form of regenerative treatment that is used to repair and regrow dammed teeth. Gum disease can damage the bones that are supporting your wisdom tooth, this can make your teeth to loosen. During the bone grafting procedure, the dentist can either use a natural bone taken from one area of your body, or he can make use of synthetic bone. The main aim of bone graft is to regrow new bone and also to reattach your loose tooth to your bone.
Complications of removing a wisdom tooth (2)
Well, after removing your wisdom tooth it’s very common to experience some pain and discomfort for at least a week. Normally after the procedure the dentist or surgeon will likely give you some after-care instructions to follow, especially if you didn’t replace the missing tooth. If you don’t follow these instructions closely, you can experience delayed healing and aching sensation in your gum or jaw.
Most people complain of bad breath after wisdom teeth removal as a result of the empty tooth socket. You should give your body at least a week for wisdom teeth recovery time to heal, but if the pain from loose wisdom teeth is more intense then you should report to the health professional that performed the wisdom teeth surgery.