Is My Tooth Impacted?
The term impacted tooth is used to describe a tooth which has not erupted through the gums. The tooth is stuck or impacted in the bone or gum tissue. When impacted teeth remain untreated, they can cause various dental problems and health issues.
Impacted teeth occur when a tooth is not able to properly grow in on its own. It may be caused by something blocking their movement like baby teeth which have not yet fallen out, or can also occur when the mouth does not have enough room. The result is teeth which are stuck, only partially break through the gumline, or are completely below the gums.
It is possible for patients to have a single tooth or multiple teeth which are impacted. The number of impacted teeth can vary based on the cause and how the teeth erupt. Patients may have impacted baby teeth, but no issues with their adult teeth or impacted adult teeth and never experience impacted baby teeth.
The most common teeth to be impacted are the wisdom teeth. These teeth often do not grow in because there is not enough room in the mouth. It is common for impacted wisdom teeth to be removed when patients are in their late teens or early twenties.
In most cases, impacted teeth do not cause a great deal of pain. It is important to monitor the teeth during routine visits to the dentist to ensure there are no issues. Impacted teeth which are not treated properly can cause pain, damage to the other teeth, and other health problems. If the patient does not have any symptoms associated with the impacted wisdom teeth, they may not need to be removed and can be monitored.
Below are common causes of impacted teeth:
1. Tooth is twisted or grew in at an angle which does not allow it to fully erupt
2. Overcrowded teeth which do not accommodate the new tooth
3. Small jaw which does not fit all the teeth
4. Tooth which is too big for the space
5. Genetic predisposition
6. Damage to the baby tooth which negatively affects the eruption of the adult tooth
Patients have two sets of teeth which includes the baby teeth and the adult teeth. Both sets of teeth can be impacted. The adult teeth are often impacted because they grow incorrectly or because of a delay in the loss of baby teeth. Some patients have room in their jaw for the wisdom teeth which allows them to grow in normally. For many patients, however, the wisdom teeth are impacted due to a lack of room in the mouth.
Impacted teeth may or may not be visible. Sometimes the teeth erupt partially and then get stuck. Impacted teeth can also be completely embedded in the gums. The dental professional will use x-rays to gain insight on how the impacted teeth are positioned. Common signs of an impacted tooth include:
* Bad breath or taste in the mouth
* Swollen, red, tender, or painful gums
* Gaps in the teeth
* Aches in the head or jaw
* Pain from opening the mouth
* Difficulty or discomfort with chewing and swallowing
* Early or delayed loss of baby teeth
Anyone who has the above symptoms should follow up with their dentist. The dental professional can examine the teeth and take x-rays to determine how the impacted teeth are growing in and determine if there are any causes for concern. Patients with any symptoms of impacted teeth often benefit from having the tooth removed. This helps prevent damage to the other teeth are other issues.