You might have done research on questions such as what are impacted teeth, what causes impacted teeth, how to know if wisdom teeth are impacted, do you need an x-ray to find them, what are some of the symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth, and are impacted teeth detrimental to the health of your mouth. We’ll look at these questions and more in just a moment. However, before beginning, here are some thoughts by the experts of orthodontic dentist medicine.
The incidence of impacted wisdom teeth (third molars) is high (Dodson & Susarla, 2014).
Impacted wisdom teeth occur because of a lack of space, obstruction, or an abnormal position (Dodson & Susarla, 2014).
Impacted teeth can cause inflammatory dental disease manifested by pain and swelling of infected teeth and they may destroy adjacent teeth and bone (Dodson & Susarla, 2014).
What Are Impacted Teeth?
In answering this question, it is important to know that a person can have impacted baby teeth and impacted adult teeth. If a tooth emerges, or erupts partially, or does not come in at all, it is considered to be impacted.
Also, if a tooth has come in where it is not supposed to be, then it is also considered to be an impacted tooth.
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Impacted Baby Teeth
In children, an impacted tooth can generally happen when a baby tooth is lost, but the teeth around are prohibiting the new tooth from eruption. Alternatively, if a baby tooth does not fall out as it is supposed to, the adult tooth that is supposed to replace it might become impacted, starting to shift inside the gum and develop sideways.
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Impacted wisdom teeth
Tooth impaction is very common with wisdom teeth or the third molars. These are the last to come in, and they usually do so between the ages of 17 years and 21 years. Another reason that wisdom teeth can become impacted is if there isn’t enough space for them to grow in the jaw. Also, some wisdom teeth develop sideways.
What Causes Impacted Teeth?
A tooth might become impacted or stuck in the gums or the bones. A tooth might also grow at an angle towards another tooth, it may grow at an angle towards the back of the mouth, or may grow at an angle to other teeth.
One reason for impacted teeth includes overcrowding. If the area is crowded and there is no room for new teeth to emerge, this can cause tooth impaction. The teeth may become twisted, displaced, or tilted as they try to erupt if the jaw is too small, for example, or for whatever reason if there’s no room for the teeth to erupt.
How to Know If Wisdom Teeth Are Impacted?
Impacted teeth may not always produce symptoms, but symptoms are a way to know if you have or may have impacted teeth. When a tooth is impacted, it may become infected, damage other teeth, or cause other dental problems.
Other symptoms include swollen gums, jaw pain, swelling around the jaw, difficulty opening the mouth, bad breath, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, bleeding gums, or swollen lymph nodes occasionally. Additionally, there might also be a visible gap where a tooth did not erupt.
If you think that you might have impacted teeth, it is necessary that you speak to your dentist or orthodontist, who can perform exams and tests to determine if you have an impacted tooth.
What Causes Impacted Wisdom Teeth?
A big reason for impacted wisdom teeth is overcrowding or a small jaw that doesn’t have enough space for the wisdom teeth to grow. The wisdom teeth usually erupt last, and as such are more prone to being impacted.
Impacted wisdom teeth are not uncommon, and often painless without causing any problems. However, some healthcare professionals would advise removing any impacted teeth to avoid unnecessary dental problems. It is important that you have your orthodontist exam in your mouth and make the best recommendation for you based on symptoms impacted wisdom teeth.
What Are The Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth?
Listed below are some symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth.
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Irritated gums
If your gums are irritated, or swollen and tender near the wisdom tooth, that could be a sign of wisdom tooth impaction. If proper care is not taken, the gum tissue around the wisdom teeth can get infected.
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Jaw pain
Another symptom of impacted wisdom teeth is jaw pain. This is because the pressure of the wisdom teeth on the surrounding teeth can cause discomfort. Wisdom teeth can decay and cause cavities in surrounding teeth which can lead to pulp infections, damaged blood vessels, and nerves that can lead to jaw pain.
If you have jaw pain close to your wisdom teeth, you might have wisdom tooth impaction
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Swelling
If you have swollen cheeks or jaws, or even a swollen neck, that can indicate a severe inflammation due to infection from a tooth impaction. Additionally, if there is an abscess in your wisdom teeth, it can cause the infection to spread to other body parts. It is important that if you have any swelling in your jaw or mouth, you should see your dentist or orthodontist right away.
Are Impacted Teeth Bad For The Health Of Your Mouth?
Impacted teeth can be bad for your mouth, depending on what is impacted and where. It is important that you seek out the advice of your orthodontic professional if you believe you have impacted teeth or have any of the symptoms impacted wisdom teeth above.
How to Treat Impacted Teeth?
If you have impacted teeth, or your child has impacted teeth, you might be interested in treating impacted teeth. They are often found by taking x-rays of impacted wisdom teeth or other teeth.
- Treating Impacted Baby Teeth
If a baby tooth is impacted, and blocking a permanent tooth, it might require an extraction.
- Treating Impacted Adult Teeth
The removal impacted wisdom teeth may be the most common treatment for an impacted wisdom tooth. Speak to your orthodontist about treating any other impacted teeth you may have.
If you have questions on the following:
- Treating Impacted Teeth With Braces
Sometimes, your orthodontist might use braces to fix any overcrowding. If multiple teeth are involved in the overcrowding and impaction, your orthodontist might combine extracting the teeth with braces.
- Treating Impacted Teeth With Invisalign Clear Aligners
Invisalign might be used to adjust the position of any crooked teeth that might have been poorly aligned because of an impacted tooth. Your best bet is to speak to your orthodontist, who will be able to offer you more information regarding treatment.
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Reference:
Dodson, T. B., & Susarla, S. M. (2014). Impacted wisdom teeth. BMJ clinical evidence, 2014, 1302.
