If You Don't Remove Impacted Teeth
When an adult tooth remains trapped below the gum tissue, it is considered impacted. Wisdom teeth are the most common teeth to remain impacted and usually require intervention by a dental professional (often extraction). The wisdom teeth develop sideways, perpendicular to the other teeth, and do not often have the room needed to rotate upright and push through the gums. Other teeth can become impacted if they do not have enough space to push through when baby teeth are falling out.
You may not experience symptoms with an impacted tooth and your dentist may take a “wait and see” approach to make sure nothing detrimental arises but it will likely need to be dealt with at some point. Leaving an impacted tooth unattended can cause a number of issues down the road.
Leaving An Impacted Tooth Untreated
It is important to understand the risks associated with leaving an impacted tooth untreated. An impacted tooth can develop decay just like your other teeth, even though it is still below the gum line. Tooth decay can spread from tooth to tooth, including from an impacted tooth to a fully erupted tooth. Symptoms that may arise if your impacted tooth is starting to cause trouble may include:
- Jaw pain and swelling
- Red and swollen gum tissue
- Halitosis (bad breath) and an unpleasant taste in your mouth that does not go away even after brushing
- Headache and earache
- Abscess
An untreated impacted tooth can lead to more severe complications that will need immediate attention from your dentist. Such complications may be:
Tooth Decay: An impacted tooth can develop decay just like a fully erupted tooth, which can then spread to neighboring, healthy teeth and require a lot more work to restore your teeth to a healthy state.
Gum Disease: Most often a direct result of poor oral hygiene, an impacted tooth can make it very difficult to properly clean your teeth, especially if the tooth is only partially impacted, leading to gum disease.
Cysts: A cyst can form in your jaw, leading to damage of the jaw bone, surrounding teeth, and even facial nerves. Cysts are more common with wisdom teeth because they develop inside a sack within the jaw bone. If the sac fills with fluid, it can form a cyst.
Overcrowding and Malocclusion: An impacted tooth can cause your teeth to shift as it pushes against neighboring teeth. When the teeth shift, it can affect the way your upper and lower teeth come together, causing you to have a bad bite (malocclusion). Malocclusion can cause jaw pain and headaches and can leave your teeth more susceptible to fracture.
Oral health is directly linked to overall health so it is important to address an impacted tooth before it can become infected and potentially lead to much more serious and systemic problems. Not all impacted teeth are created equal and some do not cause any problems at all! If you have an impacted tooth, speak with your dentist to determine the best treatment options for a long life with a healthy smile.