Is My Tooth Impacted?
An impacted tooth is when a tooth has not erupted through the gumline to grow into position on its own. The tooth remains stuck, or impacted, in the gum tissue or bone. This can lead to dental problems and other health concerns if left untreated.
There are various causes of impacted teeth, and an assortment of methods for treating the issue (which may include extraction). The following is a brief review to help you understand impacted teeth, why it can be important to treat this condition, and how your dentist can provide a successful solution.
What Are Impacted Teeth?
Impacted teeth occur when the teeth cannot erupt properly on their own. Something is obstructing their movement, such as baby teeth not falling out, or there is not enough room for all your teeth. This will cause the teeth to get stuck, sometimes barely erupting out from the gumline, or not visible at all, remaining under the gums.
You may have several impacted teeth, or just one, or none. This all depends on the causes of your impacted teeth and how your teeth grow in. It all depends on your unique teeth.
While impacted teeth may not cause you any pain or discomfort, and you may not even know they are there, it is important to keep an eye on them, and in some cases treat accordingly.
What Causes Impacted Teeth?
There are several causes of impacted teeth, and an impacted tooth can be caused by one or multiple of the following factors. Common causes of impacted teeth:
- The tooth has twisted or grown in at an angle that will not fit, so its progress is stopped.
- Other teeth in the arch are overcrowded leaving no space for the tooth to grow into.
- The arch or jaw is too small to fit more teeth.
- The tooth is too large to fit in the space.
- Genetic factors which affect your teeth or jaw.
- Accidental damage to a baby tooth can affect the erupting adult tooth beneath, resulting in the adult tooth becoming impacted.
What are the Signs or Symptoms of Impacted Teeth?
You might be able to see the impacted tooth. Sometimes it is visible at the gumline but stuck from growing in further. Or, it may be still entirely embedded in the gums, and you cannot see it.
X-rays help your dentist evaluate and identify the position of the impacted teeth, even when you cannot see it.
Other signs that may be evidence of an impacted tooth:
- You have constant bad breath.
- A bad taste in your mouth.
- Tender gums or pain.
- Swollen, red, or painful gums.
- Gaps appearing between your teeth.
- Frequent headaches.
- Constant jaw aches.
- Pain when you open your mouth.
- Difficulty or pain when biting, chewing, or swallowing.
- Either premature or delayed loss of baby teeth.
If you have crowded teeth in an arch, it can be difficult to determine whether a tooth has grown in by looking at your teeth. An evaluation by your dentist is important since they will take x-rays to locate and identify which teeth may not have grown properly.
If you have any of these signs, schedule an appointment with your dentist to examine your teeth, take x-rays and diagnostic records, and evaluate whether there is a need for treatment.