Fix Impacted Teeth
An impacted tooth is simply a tooth that has not erupted through the gum tissue. This is often the case with wisdom teeth that do not have the space to erupt. Wisdom teeth are the last to develop and do not begin to push through the gum tissue until about the age of 16. An adult tooth can also remain impacted if there is not enough room for it to push through when baby teeth are falling out.
How do I know if I have an impacted tooth?
You may not even realize that you have an impacted tooth unless it begins to cause a problem for your other teeth. An impacted tooth can develop decay even though it is still below the gum surface and tooth decay can spread from tooth to tooth. If an impacted tooth becomes infected, an abscess can form and require treatment. The patient may experience pain and tenderness in the area as well as swollen gum tissue, jaw pain, bad breath, or headaches.
An impacted tooth can also push on neighboring teeth since there is nothing enough room. Wisdom teeth naturally develop perpendicular to the other teeth so if they do not have room to rotate and erupt, they can cause a lot of problems in the future.
What causes a tooth to remain impacted?
It all comes down to real estate. If there is not enough room in the patient’s mouth for all 32 teeth to fully develop and erupt, some teeth will remain impacted. A tooth can also be partially impacted in which case the tooth has slightly erupted through the gum tissue but still remains largely hidden below the surface.
In addition to the wisdom teeth, the upper canines sometimes have trouble coming in. The premolars and incisors developed before the upper canines and sometimes, they take up all the space!
How are impacted teeth treated?
The most common treatment, especially for the wisdom teeth, is extraction. Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars that we no longer utilize and can cause a lot of trouble as we age. Having your wisdom teeth removed whether they have erupted or not can save a lot of money and pain in the long run.
It is also extremely common for the wisdom teeth to be extracted prior to orthodontic treatment. This gives the orthodontist the necessary room to give you a beautiful, straight and healthy smile!
Impacted teeth are identified using dental x-rays. During your routine cleanings, x-rays will be taken and your dentist will examine your mouth for any problem areas. If you do have an impacted tooth, you’re a dentist will present treatment options to you and help you determine what treatment path is best for you.