Impacted Tooth

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Impacted Tooth

Impacted Tooth

Impacted Molar

An impacted tooth is a tooth that does not break through the gum.

Causes

Teeth begin to pass through the gums (emerge) during infancy, and again when the primary (baby) teeth are replaced by the permanent teeth.

If a tooth fails to come in or emerges only partly, it is considered to be impacted. This most commonly happens with the wisdom teeth (the third set of molars). they're the last teeth to emerge. they typically come in between the ages of seventeen and twenty one.

An impacted tooth remains stuck in gum tissue or bone for varied reasons. the area may be overcrowded thus there is no area for the teeth to emerge. for example, the jaw may be too tiny to fit the wisdom teeth. Teeth may also become twisted, tilted, or displaced as they struggle to emerge. This leads to impacted teeth.

Impacted wisdom teeth are very common. they are often painless and don't cause problems. However, some professionals believe an impacted tooth pushes on the following tooth, which pushes the next tooth. Eventually, this can cause a misalignment of the bite. A partly emerged tooth can entice food, plaque, and alternative debris in the soft tissue around it, which may cause inflammation and tenderness of the gums and unpleasant mouth odor. this is often known as pericoronitis. The retained debris may also cause the decay on the grinder or the neighboring tooth.

Symptoms

• Bad breath

• Difficulty opening the mouth (occasionally)

• Pain or tenderness of the gums (gingiva) or jaw bone

• Prolonged headache or jaw ache

• Redness and swelling of the gums around the impacted tooth

• Swollen lymph nodes of the neck (occasionally)

• Unpleasant taste when biting down on or close to the area

• Visible gap where a tooth did not emerge

Exams and Tests

Your dentist will search for swollen tissue over the area wherever a tooth has not emerged, or has only partly emerged. The impacted tooth may be pressing on nearby teeth. The gums around the area may show signs of infection like redness, drainage, and tenderness. As gums swell over impacted wisdom teeth and then drain and tighten, it may feel like the tooth came in and then went back off again.

Dental x-rays ensure the presence of one or more teeth that haven't emerged.

Treatment

No treatment may be needed if the impacted tooth isn't causing any problems.

Over-the-counter pain relievers may help if the impacted tooth causes discomfort. warm salt water (one-half teaspoon of salt in one cup of water) or over-the-counter mouthwashes may be soothing to the gums.

Removal of the tooth (extraction) is the usual treatment for an impacted tooth. this is done in the dentist's office. Most often, it'll be done by an oral surgeon. Antibiotics may be prescribed before the extraction if the tooth is infected.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Impacted teeth may cause no problems for some individuals and may not need treatment. Treatment is typically successful when it does cause symptoms.

Wisdom teeth removed before age twenty often have better results. this is as a result of the roots aren't totally developed. this enables for {an easier|a neater|a better} removal and better healing. As a person ages, the roots become longer and curved. Bone becomes more rigid and complications will develop.

Possible Complications

Complications of an impaction include:

• Abscess of the tooth or gum area

• Chronic discomfort in the mouth

• Infection

• Malocclusion of the teeth

• Plaque at bay between teeth and gums

When to Contact a Medical professional

Call your tooth doctor if you have an unemerged tooth (or partially emerged tooth) and you have pain within the gums or other symptoms.

Alternative Names

Tooth - unemerged; Unemerged tooth; Dental impaction; Unerupted tooth

References

Buttaravoli P, Leffler SM, eds. Dental pain, pericoronitis. Minor Emergencies. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2012:chap forty six.

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