If you are someone with the reports saying there’s an impacted tooth in your mouth, you are at the right place. In this blog, we are going to share with you all there is to know when it comes to an impacted tooth.
To put it in perspective, a tooth is deemed as impacted if it fails to make its way through the gum-line to grow out in a normal position and instead remains stuck within the gum tissue or bone. It is pertinent to mention that it is fairly common to suffer with Impacted wisdom teeth.
Read also : What is the purpose of wisdom teeth?
Causes of impacted tooth
Insufficient Space
Lack of space is the most common cause of impacted teeth. When there isn’t enough room in the jaw for a tooth to grow out in a normal position, it finds itself caged within the jawbone.
Misalignment
Misalignment in teeth can also result in impacted ones Genetic factors coupled with abnormalities in jaw’s shape in size can cause misalignment.
Early Loss of Primary Teeth
If baby teeth are lost prematurely, the neighboring teeth gets moved into that available space. This results in creating obstacles for permanent teeth that try to grow.
Symptoms of impacted tooth
It is very important to identify the symptoms early on in order to effectively treat it. Some of the common symptoms include:
Pain and Discomfort
Impacted teeth can result in pain during chewing or opening the mouth to take the bite.
Swelling and Redness
In case of experiencing soreness, inflammation or redness in the gum tissue, get it checked as it may indicate an impacted tooth.
Bad Breath
It can make it difficult to brush which can lead to the build-up of bacteria, thereby causing bad breath.
Treatment options for impacted tooth:
Monitoring : A dentist may resort to a wait-and-see approach to gauge for any changes in its position before deciding on the solution.
Tooth Extraction :Depending upon the severity of the pain and swelling, a dentist may recommend extraction. Speaking of this, wisdom tooth extraction is a common dental procedure to address impacted third molars.
Orthodontic Treatment
For impacted teeth caused by misalignment, braces or aligners may be recommended in order to create enough room for proper tooth growth.
How are impacted teeth treated?
First and foremost, your dentist will conduct an initial consultation to identity the complexity of the case by:
- Asking questions about the symptoms you are experiencing and overall health.
- Thoroughly examining the condition of your mouth.
- Conducting X-rays to evaluate the presence of impacted teeth and the damage, if any, caused by it to the bone.
On this note, allow us to inform that there are several factors a treatment depends upon such as:
- Whether the patient has milk teeth or adult teeth.
- In case just an orthodontic intervention can prove to be a solution and aid in its proper growth.
- The amount of damage caused by the teeth in addition to the severity of the impacted teeth itself.
Conclusion
Understanding everything about an impacted tooth, from causes to symptoms is crucial to maintaining an optimal oral health. In case any symptom is making you suspect that you might have one, feel free to contact one of our expert medical consultations. Our team of well-trained dental professionals will be more than happy to make an assessment for you and identify the most suitable treatment option.
