Fix impacted teeth

In most people, baby teeth fall out and are soon replaced with adult teeth. Sometimes, these adult teeth don’t emerge properly aligned, and orthodontic treatment may be needed. This treatment, which usually involves either braces or Invisalign, helps shift the teeth into the proper position, lining up the bite and relieving crowding. Sometimes, however, the adult teeth never erupt at all, despite being fully developed and existing in the jawbone. These teeth that are trapped in the jawbone are known as impacted teeth. The most common reason that teeth become impacted is because of crowding of the teeth. Quite simply, if there is no room in the mouth for a new tooth to erupt, it may remain stuck in the jaw and under the gums. Teeth can be either partially or fully impacted. A partially impacted tooth may be slightly visible, with the very tip of the tooth emerging above the gumline, while a fully impacted tooth remains firmly in place in the jawbone and never emerges to or through the gums.

The two most common types of teeth to become impacted are wisdom teeth and upper canines. Wisdom teeth are often impacted because of crowding in the mouth, or because they are crooked or threatening to erupt sideways, thus threatening to damage the roots of nearby teeth. Upper canine teeth tend to be impacted for genetic reasons; if you have a family history of impacted canines, you may also have them. Sometimes, only one canine is impacted, and sometimes, both are. These upper canines may become impacted because they are usually the last teeth to emerge in the upper row, and they may not be left with enough room to comfortably erupt once the other teeth have appeared.

It is possible to have an impacted tooth or impacted teeth and have no symptoms other than the absence of the tooth in its row. Clearly, upper canines are important for aesthetic reasons, since they provide a frame for the upper front teeth. They are also integral to the proper function of the teeth, absorbing considerable chewing pressure and providing support to the adjacent teeth. Impacted teeth can cause problems, though, if they are left unaddressed. They may push adjacent teeth and their roots and lead to cavities, gum disease, infection, or even nerve damage. These conditions may lead to bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth, tenderness or pain in the teeth, headaches, aches in jaw, swelling of the gums or lymph nodes, and visible gaps in the teeth. While there is no way to prevent a tooth from becoming impacted, impacted teeth can be removed or relocated with oral surgery and orthodontics. Extraction of the wisdom teeth is one of the most common types of oral surgery, and impacted upper canines can be exposed with minor surgical methods and then relocated with orthodontic treatment. An examination that includes x-rays will allow your dentist or orthodontist to determine if either of these courses of treatment is appropriate for your impacted teeth.

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