Teeth (Impacted) (Impacted Teeth)

Overview

An impacted tooth is one that fails to fully surface through the gums. This can happen with any tooth but it is by far more common with the third molars also known as wisdom teeth. It most often occurs when a person is in their late teens or early twenties.

Causes

There are two main reasons a tooth will become impacted:

  1. Overcrowding of the teeth within the jaw. Through the centuries the human jaw has become smaller but our teeth are similar in size to those of our early ancestors. Consequently another tooth or perhaps part of the jaw bone gets in the way and prevents a tooth from surfacing as it should.
  2. Misaligned teeth. A tooth that doesn't emerge straight may be blocked by adjacent teeth.

Symptoms

When a tooth fails to fully surface food often gets trapped in and around it. As a result the tooth can more easily become infected. One of the most common symptoms then is inflammation as your body tries to fight off this infection. This can be painful and also give you bad breath. In some cases you may notice that you have a swollen jaw.

Treatment

You'll need to see your dentist. While waiting for an appointment try rinsing with warm salt water. If necessary take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Your dentist may prescribe an anti-bacterial mouthwash. Once any infection clears he or she may recommend that you have the impacted tooth pulled especially if it has decayed.

If you have an impacted tooth pulled you will suffer some pain and discomfort especially over the next 8 hours or so. Aspirin or ibuprofen may provide relief. You'll also have to ensure that the gauze that is placed in the tooth's socket after extraction remains in place for at least 30 minutes to control bleeding. For swelling rotate an ice pack on and off the area every 20 minutes. The following day rinse out your mouth with warm saltwater every couple of hours. Call your dentist if you have any problems. Otherwise your dentist will want to see you again in a week or so to make sure you are healing properly.

Prevention

Because wisdom teeth are notoriously difficult to clean and floss many dentists believe they should be removed as a matter of course to prevent future problems. There are however potential complications especially if you are older. You should discuss the pros and cons with your dentist and possibly get a second opinion before proceeding.