The article will figure out whether wisdom teeth are treated for tooth decay.
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 masticatory organs is accompanied by severe soreness or other problems.
Due to the proximity of the tooth to the maxillary wall, gum inflammation often develops. Along with this, tooth decay of wisdom arises. 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 the eights
The main cause of caries of a wisdom tooth is its extreme position in the dentition. As a result, the unit is difficult to remove from food debris and plaque. The main difficulties are observed if the third molar does not erupt completely. In such cases, the cleansing of the tooth is hindered by the gum hanging over it.
In some cases, incomplete teething 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 deceit lies in the fact that there is a simultaneous defeat of two teeth - wisdom and the one adjacent to it. It is usually difficult to clean the space between the teeth, and with a late detection of a problem, there is a need for treatment of the adjacent tooth.
How is tooth decay of wisdom manifested?
Clinical picture
Similarly to general cases, pathological changes in the third molar at the onset proceed without symptoms. It is not easy to independently detect the problem, since access to the tooth is complicated. The presence of a carious lesion is manifested by pain when consuming acidic foods, cold, hot dishes, and sweets.
The pain disappears after the stimulus 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 sounding can cause pain in the enamel-dentin border. This is caused by the accumulation of bacteria under the gingival hood, subsequently penetrating into the cavity of the tooth. Based on the condition of the wisdom tooth, the dentist decides to restore or remove it.
Diagnostics
In the process of diagnosing caries of a wisdom tooth, its differentiation from other dental diseases is of no small importance. The difference between periodontitis is a change in the tops of the tooth, positive percussion. With pulpitis, a longer pain occurs than with caries. Moreover, the cavity with pulpitis is deeper, and soreness accumulates at one point.
Only a specialist can accurately determine the diagnosis. After diagnosis, the optimal therapy is selected, which can be carried out exclusively in the conditions of a dental clinic.
If there is caries and a wisdom tooth hurts, urgent intervention is indicated.
Types of carious areas
Caries of the third molars is divided similarly to the pathology of other units:
- In accordance with the depth of the process, caries can be superficial, moderate, deep.
- According to the anatomical location: caries of cement, dentin, enamel surface.
- In accordance with the location: interdental, fissure, cervical.
The peculiarities of caries of wisdom teeth include the fact that it almost always proceeds without symptoms. Due to the inaccessibility of the tooth, an inattentive attitude towards it arises, in connection with which the ailment is detected only at deep stages.
Procedure
A wisdom tooth, like other chewing units, requires timely treatment for tooth decay. If signs of caries are identified, it is important to consult a dentist. While waiting for a consultation, it is necessary to rinse using antiseptic agents, for example, Chlorhexidine, saline, soda solutions, and chamomile decoctions.
With the development of severe soreness, the use of such painkillers as Analgin, Ketanov is allowed.
The dentist will examine and begin treatment of the affected tooth according to the following scheme:
- Removal of affected tissue with a drill.
- Washing the formed cavity using antiseptic agents.
- Coverage of the cavity with a special insulating composition.
- Overlay of several layers of filling material.
- Grinding a tooth to give it the desired shape, involving the development of fissures corresponding to a healthy tooth.
Should a tooth of wisdom be removed with caries?
Treatment or removal?
Treatment of third molars is a very complex process, due to the inaccessibility of the tooth. With some tools, you can simply not reach the center of caries. Moreover, therapy does not always make sense.
There are several reasons why removal is indicated if the wisdom tooth grows with caries:
- Low tooth functionality.
- The impossibility of high-quality therapy due to inaccessibility, the likelihood of secondary caries.
- The treatment process is tedious for the patient, since it becomes necessary to keep the mouth wide open for a long time.
A wisdom tooth should be removed in the following cases:
- It is unevenly located in the dental arch.
- The opposite unit is absent; as a result, there is no need for a tooth.
- When teething gum systematically inflames.
- The third molar damages the surface of the tongue, cheeks.
- There are orthodontic pathologies, for example, the eruption of the eighth unit causes the twisting of other units.
- There is neglected caries, the chewing organ is severely destroyed.
- Retention, dystopia - horizontal, angular arrangement of the molar, its incomplete eruption.
- The presence of a strong gag reflex in a person, the inability to open his mouth wide.
Benefits of Extraction
Extraction of the third molar has several advantages: neighboring teeth are freed from twisting, shifting, together with the affected tooth, the infectious focus is removed, the pain goes away, and repeated therapy is not required.
Extraction is inevitable in the following cases:
- Bracket system installation.
- Cysts
- Contraction of the trigeminal nerve.
- Pericoronaritis.
- Inflammation in the pulp.
- Incorrect position of the jaw, causing damage to other teeth.
- Extensive caries.
Undoubtedly, a tooth can be cured if desired, but only if it is correctly cut.
Wisdom tooth decay treatment
Preservation of the third molar is recommended by doctors in cases when it is necessary for prosthetics of other teeth. Very often there is a lack of the 6th and 7th teeth. In such cases, the wisdom tooth will serve as a support; a clasp or bridge-like prosthesis or other orthopedic construction will be fixed on it. The indications of therapy of the third molar also include:
- The correct location of the molar, the absence of deviations.
- Finding a pathology in the initial stage.
- The presence of the opposite molar that helps with chewing food.
- Pregnancy. In such cases, extraction is contraindicated, and the infectious focus must be eliminated.
The disadvantages of therapy include the likelihood of secondary caries, infection by infection of other teeth.
If a decision is made to preserve the third molar, the dentist will begin his therapy using one of the following methods:
- Excision of damaged tissue, disinfection of the cavity formed, restoration of the tooth surface according to its anatomy.
- Conservative therapy, in which the use of a drill is excluded. Enamel is cleaned using special tools, restored by the use of mineral solutions, varnish.
In case of severe tooth decay and lack of space for filling, the dentist will install a crown. But it is worth noting that a similar method is rarely used in the treatment of molars.
Complications
With advanced caries, infection from the surface of the tooth penetrates into its deep tissues, affecting the pulp. As a result, inflammation of the nerves develops, acute pain occurs.
In the absence of treatment for deep caries of a wisdom tooth, more serious complications may develop:
- Periodontitis, whose treatment is more complicated than tooth decay. With its development, the tooth is subject to extraction.
- Periostatitis. It is also an indication for immediate tooth extraction. Moreover, the incision is carried out throughout the inflamed area.
- Untreated periostatitis is able to provoke osteomyelitis, which is the development of a purulent-inflammatory process in the jaw bones.
- If caries occurs in the third molars of the lower jaw, the risk of joining abscesses, phlegmon, is high.
All these cases are dangerous and require immediate hospitalization of the patient and surgical intervention.
Caries prevention
The following simple recommendations will prevent the development of caries:
- It is necessary to brush your teeth twice a day. Use should be paste containing fluoride. You can clean the space between the teeth using special threads. It is equally important to rinse the oral cavity with antiseptic solutions or herbal decoctions.
- Contact your dentist for clarification on how to clean your teeth.
- Reduce carbohydrate-rich foods. Get rid of bad habits. It is important to undergo a routine examination twice a year, to carry out professional brushing, which eliminates plaque and dental deposits.
If you follow these simple rules, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of tooth decay.
We examined whether a tooth of wisdom should be treated for tooth decay.