second 2nd molar tooth decay, dental caries cavity, Wisdom Teeth, damage

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by Dr. Jeffrey Dorfman, Director of The Center for Special Dentistry.

second 2nd molar tooth decay, dental caries cavity, Wisdom Teeth, damage
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Image	Photo Description
	An impacted wisdom tooth may damage the healthy adjacent tooth. A large tooth cavity was created by the wisdom tooth growing into it. The patient did not feel tooth pain. Root canal therapy and a dental crown were performed on the second molar. The crown covers where tooth decay was removed.
	An x-ray and photo explain the need for wisdom teeth extraction. 1) The xray shows maxillary and mandibular wisdom teeth impactions. 2) The photo of the lower impacted wisdom tooth shows it partially submerged below the gums and impinging against the otherwise healthy second molar. This will frequently cause tooth decay and gum disease around the second molar over time.
	An impacted wisdom tooth prevented the natural tooth eruption of the adjacent molar resulting in the need for the extraction of both teeth. 1) This x-ray shows the two impactions. 2) - 6) Different pictures show the large bone defect and the exposure of the distal furcation of the first molar. 7) - 8) The Oral Surgeon packed the osseous defect with freeze-dried bone and gelfoam.
	Removal of a horizontal impaction of a lower wisdom tooth simultaneously with the extraction of the damaged second molar. The patient felt a lot of tooth pain. 1) Initial xray. 2) The second molar had a temporary filling in it placed by another dentist. 3) - 4) The empty tooth socket can be seen after extraction of the crown of #32. 5) - 6) A small periodontal gum flap was reflected to show the exposure of the roots of #32 after it was sectioned. 7) Removal of the first root. 8) The second root was brought forward in socket and ready for extraction.
	Why wisdom teeth should be extracted in the absence of tooth pain. 1) - 2) Two x-rays showing a lower wisdom tooth impacted on an angle and pushing into the adjacent second molar causing a large cavity. 3) X-ray shows the wisdom tooth was removed and the second molar following root canal therapy with the large distal tooth decay still present. 4) Cast gold post and core and crown in place. Note the distal crown margin completely covers where the distal cavity was removed. Sometimes the second molar is so badly damaged by the wisdom tooth that it also needs to be extracted.
	Wisdom teeth usually grow into the mouth between ages 18- 25. All dental patients should be evaluated for the potential need for wisdom teeth extractions and the potential risk of not following the recommendation. These photos show preparation of the second molar to remove the distal cavity after root canal therapy was performed on it and the wisdom tooth was removed. 1) - 2) Dental caries is present in the distal area of the second molar. The temporary filling can be seen in the occlusal opening following root canal. 3) The cavity is removed. 4) The temporary filling is now l removed and shows gutta percha - root canal filling material - prior to cast post and core preparation.
	Why wisdom tooth removal may be necessary even if there is not tooth or gum pain. 1) X-ray shows a lower wisdom tooth impacted on an angle and pushing into the adjacent second molar causing a large cavity. 2) Tooth decay can be seen in the distal area of the second molar where it touched the wisdom tooth. The temporary filling can be seen in the occlusal opening following root canal.
Information about these dental photos In medicine and dentistry "left" and "right" are based upon the orientation of the patient's body and not how they appear in a photograph of a smile. For example, a reference to the upper left teeth will actually appear to be on the right side when viewing a picture of the face and similarly an upper right tooth will appear to be on the left side. Many words in dentistry like oral and mouth have a similar meaning and are frequently used together to help our readers find specific words they best understand. This is particularly important because a majority of our visitors are from countries where English is not their primary language. Maxilla or maxillary refer to the upper jaw. Mandible or mandibular refer to the lower jaw. There are many other similar word combinations used throughout this website because our pages are read by patients and dentists. A few of the most common are discussed here. Tooth decay, tooth cavity and dental caries all mean the same thing. Tooth, teeth and dental are also frequently interchanged as in teeth veneers or dental veneer laminate. Oral rehabilitation and dental reconstruction mean smile makeover. The word for x-ray may be used with or without a hyphen (this is true for other words too) and can also be called a radiograph.

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