Obstructed wisdom teeth and the significance of their removal

An obstructed tooth is a tooth that can only partially or completely fail to erupt and is unlikely to erupt later due to various reasons (resistance from soft tissue, bone or neighboring teeth, etc.). There are many reasons for the formation of blocked teeth, but the main reason is the relative lack of bone volume in the jaw and the lack of sufficient space to accommodate all permanent teeth. The common obstructed tooth is the third mandibular molar, which is often referred to as the “end tooth” and is called the “wisdom tooth” in dentistry.  The third molar erupts between the ages of 17 and 21 years, i.e., in adulthood. Obstructed wisdom teeth often cause inflammation of the soft tissues surrounding the crown, known as “pericoronitis”. These teeth are not only non-functional but harmful and must be extracted as soon as possible.  What are the benefits of removing an obstructed wisdom tooth in the lower jaw?  From a preventive point of view, the early removal of wisdom teeth can prevent many complications caused by them.  1.Prevention of periodontal and alveolar bone destruction of the second molar: the presence of mandibular obstructive wisdom teeth, especially in the proximal middle obstruction, causes the loss of bone in the distal middle of the mandibular second molar and makes the functional mandibular second prematurely loose.  2.Prevention of caries: The wisdom teeth themselves and the distal mesial surfaces of the adjacent second molars are prone to caries.  3.Prevention of pericoronitis: When partially erupted, the tooth surface of the blocked wisdom tooth is often covered by soft tissue, forming a blind pocket, which becomes a good place for bacteria to breed and cause pericoronitis. If the blocked tooth is not removed, peri-coronitis can recur and may gradually worsen and cause infection in the adjacent space.  4.Prevention of root resorption of adjacent teeth: sometimes the pressure of blocked wisdom teeth can cause root resorption of the second molar, early detection and early treatment can help to preserve the adjacent teeth.  5. Prevention of odontogenic cysts and tumors: If an obstructed wisdom tooth exists, the follicular sac also exists. Although in most cases no change occurs, there is a possibility of cystic transformation and becoming odontogenic cysts and odontogenic tumors.  6, prevention of pain: complete bone block can sometimes cause some unexplained pain.  7, prevention of dental crowding: wisdom teeth have crowding effect on the front teeth, causing and aggravating the crowding of the front teeth.