Impacted teeth are a common problem for many people. The dental office of Dr. Franz Backer, Advanced Dentistry of New York, located in Jackson Heights, New York, often deals with patients who are suffering from pain or other dental problems related to an impacted tooth. Dr. Backer explains, “Impacted teeth are teeth that have not completely risen up to the occlusal platform (through the gum). Teeth may have remained encased in bone or in soft tissue.” Usually, teeth pass through the gums during infancy, and again in childhood when permanent teeth enter the mouth. Impacted teeth can be totally impacted or partially erupted. In either case, the affected tooth may cause pain, discomfort, infection, headaches, bad breath and unpleasant tastes, gaps in the mouth, and swollen lymph nodes and swollen gums. If you are suffering from an impacted tooth that has created any of these problems with your dental health, it is important to speak with a dentist about treatment.
What Causes Impacted Teeth?
While any teeth can be impacted, it is the last ones to emerge in life — the wisdom teeth — that most commonly fall into the impacted category. Wisdom teeth are those furthest back in the mouth. When your mouth is overcrowded with teeth, the wisdom tooth feels like it has nowhere to go and will not break through. This is why wisdom teeth are the most common culprit when it comes to impacted teeth. By the time they make their appearance in the mouth, usually between age 17 to 22, all of the other teeth have already laid claim to the space. The impacted wisdom teeth may twist, turn, or wrap around other molars, forcing other teeth to be impacted as well. In rare instances, the molars and wisdoms break through the gum together in a complicated twisting scenario that may create crevices, allow plaque build-up, and inflame the gums. The impacted tooth may also assert constant pressure on the tooth next to it, which in turn presses on the next tooth and so on. Over time, this can lead to bite misalignment. Often, the reason for overcrowding is a jaw that is too small for all of the teeth to sit comfortably in the mouth, which may also create a misalignment problem.
It is easy for a dentist to determine if you have an impacted tooth. He can examine the tissue to see if the gums are swollen or red from the pressure being exerted by the impacted tooth. If a tooth should have erupted by a certain age and it has not, there is a pretty good chance it is impacted. A dentist will be able to see it under the gum by looking at an x-ray. Sometimes a wisdom tooth will start to erupt unsuccessfully, which can cause you to have a few days of swelling and discomfort. It may also cause an infection around the gum area, which is characterized by redness and tenderness.
Treating an Impacted Tooth
In many cases, impacted teeth cause no problems. If you occasionally suffer from discomfort, you can take an over-the-counter pain medication to ease the pain. Saltwater rinses also help the gums should they become inflamed or tender. According to Dr. Backer, impacted teeth cause no safety risk, so treatment may vary from person to person. He explains, “If they are not impinging on the other teeth, like in the case of third molars against second molars, they can remain where they are. In case of partial soft-tissue impaction, it can periodically be a problem with occasional inflamed soft tissue… Pain can really be significant.”
When impacted teeth create a variety of problems including sore mouth, headaches, infection, or misalignment of other teeth, you may need to have the impacted tooth removed. Most tooth extractions are simple procedures that can be done in the dentist’s office. If your extraction is more complicated, your dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon. But, there is no reason to panic if this happens. Your dentist just wants to be sure the tooth is removed without damaging the gum tissue or the surrounding teeth. In many cases, dentists recommend having wisdom teeth removed regardless of whether they are impacted or not because they are often the cause of issues like tooth crowding and headaches.
If you have reason to believe one of your teeth may be impacted, speak with your dentist. Experienced, knowledgeable dentists like Dr. Backer at Advanced Dentistry of New York can help you determine the best treatment for your impacted teeth.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
