If a tooth fails to erupt above the gum line and settle in its expected position, it’s considered impacted. Impacted teeth can cause pain and discomfort. If you have any troublesome impacted teeth, schedule an appointment with our general dentistry/dentists located in Basking Ridge & Morristown, NJ for proper diagnosis and treatment. Please continue reading as we explore what you need to know about impaction.
What is an Impaction?
An impacted tooth is essentially a tooth that doesn’t grow in as it should. Instead, it remains trapped in your gums or jawbone. While some impacted teeth cause significant pain, swelling, and infection, others don’t cause any symptoms. Impaction primarily affects wisdom teeth and canines. However, it can happen to any tooth, especially if you have a small mouth and there isn’t enough room for a tooth to erupt. There are several types of impacted teeth:
- Soft tissue impaction: This occurs when a tooth grows in through the jawbone but doesn’t break through the gums.
- Partial bony impaction: This occurs when only part of the tooth erupts through the jawbone but some of the tooth remains trapped. Essentially, no part of the tooth breaks through the gums.
- Full bony impaction: This occurs when the tooth stays completely trapped in the jawbone. No part of the tooth erupts through the bone or gums.
Impacted teeth are quite common. According to research, 9 out of 10 people will have at least one impacted tooth by their late teens or early 20s. However, not everyone will need to undergo surgery to remove an impacted tooth.
How Serious is an Impacted Tooth?
An impacted tooth can stay stuck in the gum tissue or bone for various reasons. For instance, the area may be overcrowded, leaving no room for the teeth to emerge. Whether an impacted tooth is serious depends on several factors including:
- The tooth’s position within the jaw
- Whether you experience any pain or swelling
- The proximity to nerves (like the mandibular nerve)
- The degree of impaction (fully or partially)
- Your oral hygiene (ability to clean around the impacted area- affects your risk of infection)
- Your age (whether you still have any baby teeth)
Ultimately, the seriousness of an impacted tooth is determined by how much the impaction disrupts normal functioning and your normal oral hygiene practices.
What Are Common Symptoms?
An impacted tooth might not cause any issues at all. However, there is a chance that it can become infected, put pressure on neighboring teeth, or result in other oral health problems. As such, it’s crucial to be aware of the warning signs. There may not be any symptoms for a fully impacted tooth, but the symptoms of a partially impacted tooth may include:
- Pain or tenderness
- Redness or swelling
- Tender or bleeding gums
- Bad breath (Xerostomia) or unpleasant taste in the mouth
- Difficulty opening the mouth
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Prolonged headache or jaw ache
- Visible gap where a tooth didn’t emerge
As mentioned above, if left untreated, an impacted tooth can lead to various complications including gum infections, cysts, and damage to other teeth. As such, if you suspect you have you have an impacted tooth, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.
At Dental Associates of Basking Ridge, we are prepared to help regardless of whether you need a simple routine cleaning or a more significant issue. Call our office today for more information.
