Wisdom tooth caries: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, tooth extraction if necessary and dentist recommendations

2024 Author: Curtis Blomfield | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 20:44

In the article we will figure out whether wisdom teeth are treated for caries.

Third molars are also called wisdom teeth, or "eights". In the oral cavity, they appear later than other teeth, their eruption occurs on average in the 20-21st year of a person's life. Often, the appearance of these chewing organs is accompanied by severe soreness or other problems.

Due to the proximity of the tooth to the mandibular wall, inflammation of the gums often develops. Along with this, wisdom tooth decay also occurs. It is important to note that not every dentist undertakes the treatment of eights. As a rule, extraction of the affected tooth is used.

Causes of caries on figure eights

The main cause of wisdom tooth caries is its extreme position in the dentition. As a result, the unit is difficult to access for cleaning from food debris and plaque. The main difficulties are observed if the third molar does not erupt completely. ATin such cases, cleaning the tooth is difficult due to the gum hanging over it.

In some cases, incomplete eruption of the tooth is due to its medial location or inclination to the cheek. Then there is a systematic accumulation of plaque on the tooth, in which there are cariogenic bacteria. This is the cause of problems with the tooth, its destruction.

Another common carious pathology of the third molar is interdental caries. Its insidiousness lies in the fact that there is a simultaneous defeat of two teeth - wisdom and adjacent to it. Cleaning the space between teeth is usually difficult, and if the problem is detected late, it becomes necessary to treat the adjacent tooth as well.

How does wisdom tooth decay manifest?

Clinical picture

Similar to common cases, pathological changes in the third molar at the beginning proceed without symptoms. It is not easy to detect the problem on your own, since access to the tooth is complicated. The presence of a carious lesion is manifested by pain when eating sour foods, cold, hot dishes, sweets.

Pain goes away after the irritant ceases to act, but over time, the pain becomes permanent. The dentist can detect caries without difficulty by tapping and using a probe. Determination of the pathological cavity and probing can cause pain in the area of the enamel-dentin border. This is caused by the accumulation of bacteria under the gum hood, subsequently penetrating into the tooth cavity. Basedcondition of the wisdom tooth, the dentist decides whether to restore or remove it.

Diagnosis

In the process of diagnosing wisdom tooth caries, its differentiation from other dental diseases is of no small importance. The difference between periodontitis lies in the change in the tops of the tooth, positive percussion. Pulpitis causes more prolonged pain than caries. Moreover, the cavity with pulpitis is deeper, and soreness accumulates at one point.

Only a specialist can accurately determine the diagnosis. After the diagnosis is made, the optimal therapy is selected, which can be carried out exclusively in a dental clinic.

If there is caries and the wisdom tooth hurts, urgent intervention is indicated.

Types of carious areas

Caries of the third molars is subdivided similarly to the pathology of other units:

1. According to the depth of the process, caries can be superficial, moderate, deep.
2. According to the anatomical location: caries of the cementum, dentin, enamel surface.
3. According to location: interdental, fissure, cervical.

The peculiarities of wisdom teeth caries include the fact that it almost always proceeds without symptoms. Due to the inaccessibility of the tooth, an inattentive attitude towards it occurs, and therefore the disease is detected only at the deep stages.

Procedure of actions

The wisdom tooth, like other chewing units, requirestimely treatment of caries. When identifying signs of caries, it is important to consult a dentist. While waiting for a consultation, it is necessary to rinse using antiseptics, for example, Chlorhexidine, saline, soda solutions, chamomile decoctions.

With the development of severe pain, the use of painkillers such as Analgin, Ketanov is allowed.

The dentist will examine and start treating the affected tooth as follows:

1. Removal of affected tissue with a drill.
2. Washing the resulting cavity with antiseptics.
3. Covering the cavity with a special insulating compound.
4. The application of several layers of filling material.
5. Tooth grinding to give it the desired shape, involving the study of fissures corresponding to a he althy tooth.

Should I remove a wisdom tooth with caries?

Treatment or removal?

Treatment of third molars is a very complex process, due to the inaccessibility of the tooth. Some tools can simply not reach the focus of caries. Moreover, therapy does not always make sense.

There are several reasons why extraction is indicated if the wisdom tooth grows with caries:

1. Poor tooth functionality.
2. The impossibility of high-quality therapy due to inaccessibility, the likelihood of developing secondary caries.
3. The therapy process is tiring for the patient asit becomes necessary to keep the mouth wide open for a long time.

The wisdom tooth must be removed in the following cases:

1. It is uneven in the dental arch.
2. Opposite unit missing, resulting in no need for a tooth.
3. When teething, the gums systematically become inflamed.
4. The third molar damages the surface of the tongue, cheeks.
5. There are orthodontic pathologies, for example, the eruption of the eighth unit causes twisting of other units.
6. There is advanced caries, the masticatory organ is severely destroyed.
7. Retention, dystopia - horizontal, angular location of the molar, its incomplete eruption.
8. The presence of a strong gag reflex in a person, the inability to open the mouth wide.

Extraction Benefits

Extraction of the third molar has a number of advantages: neighboring teeth are freed from twisting, shifting, together with the affected tooth, the infectious focus is removed, pain disappears, repeated therapy is not required.

Extraction is inevitable in the following cases:

1. Installation of the bracket system.
2. Cys.
3. Trigeminal pinched.
4. Pericoronitis.
5. Inflammation in the pulp.
6. Incorrect jaw position causing damage to other teeth.
7. Extensive caries.

Undoubtedly, a tooth can be cured if desired, but only if it erupted correctly.

Wisdom tooth caries treatment

Preservation of the third molar is recommended by doctors in cases where it is necessary for prosthetics of other teeth. The absence of the 6th and 7th teeth is very common. In such cases, the wisdom tooth will serve as a support, a clasp or bridge-like prosthesis, or other orthopedic structure, will be fixed on it. Indications for third molar therapy also include:

1. Correct molar position, no deviations.
2. Finding the pathology in the initial stage.
3. Having an opposite molar to aid in chewing food.
4. Pregnancy. In such cases, extraction is contraindicated, and the infectious focus must be eliminated.

The disadvantages of therapy include the likelihood of developing secondary caries, infection of other teeth.

If a decision has been made to retain the third molar, the dentist will begin therapy using one of the following methods:

1. Excision of damaged tissue, disinfection of the resulting cavity, restoration of the tooth surface according to its anatomy.
2. Conservative therapy, in which the use of a drill is excluded. Enamel is cleaned using special tools, restored by applying mineral solutions, varnish.

If the tooth is severely damaged and there is no space for a filling, the dentist will install a crown. But it is worth noting that this method is rarely used in the treatment of molars.

Complications

In case of advanced caries, infection from the surface of the toothpenetrates into its deep tissues, affecting the pulp. As a result, inflammation of the nerves develops, and acute pain occurs.

If left untreated, deep wisdom tooth decay can lead to more serious complications:

1. Periodontitis, the therapy of which is more complicated than caries. With its development, the tooth is subject to extraction.
2. Periostatitis. It is also an indication for immediate tooth extraction. Moreover, the incision is made over the entire inflamed area.
3. Untreated peristatitis can provoke osteomyelitis, which is the development of a purulent-inflammatory process in the jaw bones.
4. When caries occurs on the third molars of the lower jaw, there is a high risk of joining abscesses, phlegmon.

All of these cases are dangerous and require immediate hospitalization of the patient and surgical intervention.

Caries Prevention

Prevent the development of caries will allow the following simple recommendations:

1. You need to brush your teeth twice a day. Fluoride-containing pastes should be used. You can clean the space between the teeth with the help of special threads. It is equally important to rinse the mouth with antiseptic solutions or herbal decoctions.
2. See your dentist for guidance on how to properly brush your teeth.
3. Reduce carbohydrate-rich foods. Get rid of bad habits. It is important to undergo preventive examination twice a year, to carry outprofessional teeth cleaning to eliminate plaque and tartar.

If you follow these simple rules, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of caries.

We considered whether wisdom teeth should be treated for caries.