Understaing Impacted Teeth and How to Treat Them
What is an impacted tooth?
An impacted tooth is a tooth that hasn't fully erupted into the mouth for one reason or another.
What causes a tooth to become impacted?
You might wonder what causes a tooth to become impacted. It could be that the direction the tooth was forming and erupting causes it to be blocked by bone in the jaw or by another tooth. Here is an example of impacted canine teeth. There was not enough room, and they are stuck way up in the bone. Here's an example of a wisdom tooth that's starting to form in a young person. It's going to be impacted because it's butted up against the other molar.
What are the symptoms of an impacted tooth?
You might wonder what the symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth are. They don't always produce symptoms. They may be silent, not causing any problem, but they can cause problems at times. When food gets caught and they're partly erupted, partly impacted, it causes inflammation and swelling that can lead to pain and discomfort.
How can an impacted tooth affect oral health if left untreated?
You might wonder how an impacted tooth could affect oral health if left untreated. It could cause bad odor, gum infections, and a change in the bite. Particularly when a canine tooth no longer comes in, it can change the bite, causing wear and tear on teeth and malocclusion.
What is the difference between a partially erupted impacted wisdom tooth and a fully impacted tooth?
A fully impacted wisdom tooth never comes into the mouth or the oral cavity. It is usually stuck way down in the bone or below the gum line. Partially erupted wisdom teeth may have a corner of the tooth protruding into the mouth but can no longer come further out due to how it's impacted.
How are impacted wisdom teeth diagnosed, and what does a severely impacted wisdom tooth x-ray show?
Usually, with X-rays, typically a panoramic X-ray, we can see impacted wisdom teeth deeply and diagnose them that way.
What are the treatment options for impacted wisdom teeth?
First, one may decide to leave it untreated. Second, remove the wisdom tooth or part of it. Third, use antibiotics and sometimes pain medications to control pain. Those are some treatment options.
How does the removal process for impacted teeth work?
Typically, local anesthesia or IV sedation is used to sedate the individual before the tooth is removed. If they're impacted wisdom teeth, they are usually removed part by part. The tooth may come out in several different pieces because of the way it's positioned in the jawbone.
What is the cost of impacted wisdom tooth removal and does insurance cover it?
In most cases, insurance covers it to some degree, but not 100%. The cost varies from office to office. You should call the surgeon or general dentist to find out how much it costs.
What should patients expect during and after impacted tooth removal?
During the process of removing wisdom teeth, if you're sedated, you won't know what's happening. You'll wake up numb and may have an ice pack given to you, along with pain medication and antibiotics to take afterwards to help with inflammation and pain. If you have local anesthesia, you should feel no pain, but you will feel some pressure because you're fully awake during the removal.
What is an impacted canine tooth? How is it treated?
You might wonder what an impacted canine tooth is and how it is treated. Sometimes we decide to leave the tooth alone, sometimes we decide to remove it. Sometimes the orthodontist may perform surgery to expose the canine tooth and bring it into place. Those are some options.
How do horizontal impacted wisdom teeth differ from other impactions?
Horizontally impacted wisdom teeth, for example, are when the wisdom tooth is butted up against another tooth horizontally. Sometimes they're butted up slightly in a different direction, which is not quite a horizontal impaction, or they're against the bone in the back.
I hope we have been able to answer most of your questions about impacted teeth. If you live in or near Laurel, MD, and are looking for dental care, please contact us at (301) 812-4599 to set an appointment. Our staff would love to talk with you!