Impacted teeth can be partly impacted or fully impacted. A partly impacted tooth might appear to emerge partially through the gums, while a fully impacted tooth remains completely embedded within the gums and can’t be seen at all. Regular dental x-rays help your dentist determine whether you have any impacted teeth, and more specific surgical or orthodontic x-rays can be used to determine the best plan of treatment for an impacted tooth. Even when an impacted tooth isn’t visibly erupting, there are some signs that you might have an impacted tooth; if you notice any of these symptoms, see your dentist for a thorough evaluation. Some impacted teeth don’t require prompt treatment, and some don’t need to be treated at all, but only a dental professional can make that determination, and recommended treatment can prevent a multitude of unpleasant outcomes.
Indications that you have an impacted tooth could include bad breath, a foul taste in the mouth, tender or painful gums, red and swollen gums, or visible spaces between teeth. You might notice an ache in your jaw or a headache, and you may feel pain or tension when opening your mouth, chewing, biting, or swallowing. Impacted teeth can also affect the loss of baby teeth; different situations can cause baby-tooth loss to be premature or delayed. Impacted baby teeth are treated differently than impacted permanent teeth, and, if your teeth are significantly crowded, it may be more challenging to determine whether or not a tooth is impacted and orthodontic x-rays may be required.
Depending on the situation, treating an impacted tooth isn’t always required, though many dentists recommend extracting impacted wisdom teeth if they’re poised to cause issues in the future. If your dentist does recommend treatment, don’t ignore their guidance, as leaving symptomatic impacted teeth untreated could cause serious damage to the other teeth, the oral cavity, and even the overall health. In addition to the obvious cosmetic issues that arise when a tooth hasn’t emerged properly from the gums, impacted teeth could lead to pockets of infection called abscesses, which trigger a slew of unsavory symptoms that could include potentially life-threatening systemic infection. While not life-threatening, the pain caused by impacted teeth can be debilitating, and the damage they cause could lead to tooth damage, decay, and tooth and bone loss, creating a breeding ground for periodontal disease.
Dental specialists approach treatment differently, depending on the location of the impacted tooth and the degree of impaction. When the wisdom teeth, or third molars, are impacted, your dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon for extraction. If other teeth are impacted, an orthodontist might use braces or other treatments to gradually move the impacted tooth into place and realign the bite. The only person who can determine the best course of action for an impacted tooth is a dentist, so if you notice any signs of impaction, make an appointment with your dentist, and make sure you see your dentist for routine checkups, too. Sometimes, impacted teeth don’t present symptoms, but with regular dental care, you can prevent symptoms from ever arising and keep your oral cavity healthy and pain-free.
