Tooth Impaction: Symptoms and Treatments
Impacted teeth are a common issue that can cause problems with other teeth in the mouth. An impacted tooth is a tooth that fails to fully erupt but instead, remains trapped below the gum or even jaw bone. A partially impacted tooth is just what it sounds like, a tooth that has pushed through the gum tissue a little bit but not completely. The most common teeth that remain impacted in almost everyone are the wisdom teeth.
Impacted wisdom teeth do not necessarily need to be removed if the patient is not having any issues associated with them but overtime, they can become a problem and need to come out. Reasons that any other tooth may remain impacted include overcrowding, a small jaw, or the tooth may just be too big for its allotted space! If a tooth is partially impacted, that can cause a bit more of a problem than one that is fully impacted. A partially erupted tooth can create a food trap that allows plaque and bacteria to build up around the tooth and below the gum line, which can cause inflammation and gum disease.
How do I know if I have an impacted tooth?
Your dentist will be able to identify an impacted tooth with an exam and x-ray. If they determine that treatment is necessary, they will review your options and likely refer you to an oral surgeon for treatment. While an impacted tooth may not present with symptoms, they can lead to a cyst in the jaw and cause a significant amount of pain. Symptoms of an impacted tooth that you should be aware of include:
- Puffy, red gum tissue
- Chronic bad breath or a bad taste that does not resolve with oral hygiene
- Pain in the gums or jaw
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Headache and earache
How is an impacted tooth treated?
Having the tooth extracted is the most common treatment for an impacted tooth. If it is infected, antibiotics may be prescribed to clear up the infection before the extraction can be performed.
Orthodontic treatment may be an option if there is not enough space for a tooth to push through.
As far as impacted wisdom teeth are concerned, extraction is the best way to prevent problems down the road.
Leaving an impacted tooth untreated can lead to a number of issues and complications in the future. If an impacted tooth pushes on neighboring teeth, it can cause all of the teeth to shift out of alignment and lead to malocclusion (a bad bite). Additionally, decay can develop in an impacted tooth and spread to neighboring teeth.
If the impacted tooth is near a nerve in the jaw, it can cause damage to that as well. If you suspect you have an impacted tooth, it is important to the overall health of your mouth that you have it assessed as soon as possible. If an impacted tooth is not causing any problems, your dentist may monitor the tooth at each regular visit to ensure there are no new developments that need to be addressed.