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An impacted tooth, by definition, is any tooth that is prevented from reaching its normal position in the mouth due to “impact” (contact and pressure with) tissue,
bone or another tooth. In layman’s terms, impacted teeth are those that cannot come in straight because they are pushing against another tooth or the jawbone or even the gums.
Generally, the most common impacted teeth are the third molars or wisdom teeth. These teeth located in the back of the mouth are the last to develop. Often times, a person’s jaw does not grow large enough to accommodate the wisdom teeth coming in. When this happens, the wisdom teeth try to come in at an angle, impacting the other teeth and causing misalignment of all the teeth. Impacted wisdom teeth can also cause gum infections and decay (as they are very difficult to clean).
This condition of impacted molars is quite common. According to medical statistics, nine in every ten people have impacted wisdom teeth.
When left untreated, impacted teeth can cause serious dental problems. As the impacted teeth try to come in, the pressure against the jaw, gums or other teeth may cause severe pain in the back of the jaw. Since impacted teeth develop slower than normal teeth, they do not get cleaned properly which can lead to tooth decay, even under the gums. Severe gum infections can also occur if food particles or plaque builds up under the gum line.
If you are experiencing pain in the back of your jaw, an unpleasant taste when you bite down and bad breath, you may have an impacted tooth trying to emerge. Visit your dentist for an examination.
Your dentist will visually examine your mouth to check for impacted teeth. He/she may also require an x-ray to see just how impacted the teeth might be. Cases where the wisdom teeth are laying sideways along the jawbone are not uncommon.
A simple x-ray can be used to determine impaction.
Usually, the treatment of impacted teeth is extraction. This seems to be the easiest method of eliminating the cause and alleviating the symptoms. This procedure is usually performed on young and healthy adults and results in few complications.
Only your dentist can decide if an extraction is necessary. During a routine visit, he/she may decide that an extraction of one or more teeth is needed. The dentist might perform the extraction himself/herself or may even refer you to an oral surgeon.
The roots of your teeth are encased in your jawbone itself and held in place by ligaments under the gums. The tooth cannot be simply “pulled.” It needs to be rocked back and forth and rotated in order for the tooth to become worked out of its protection of the jawbone and removed. Naturally, most dentist and oral surgeons anesthetize the patient before undergoing an extraction.
When undergoing an extraction with a “local” anesthetic, you might feel some pressure, but no pain during the procedure. The dentist simply needs to work that tooth loose before it can be removed. If at any time you feel pain during the procedure, tell your dentist and more anesthetic can be administered.
Sometimes a tooth is so firmly anchored in place that it will need to be removed by sections. Sectioning the teeth for extraction is quite commonplace and your dentist should let you know beforehand if this procedure is required. There are no additional considerations or complications associated with sectional extraction.
Naturally, there will be blood when a tooth is extracted. In most cases, the blood can be controlled by placing moist, clean gauze over the extraction site and applying gentle but firm pressure.
The blood needs to clot in the extraction site. Like a scab, this blood clot protects the wound and helps it to heal quickly. You should avoid rigorous rinsing and spitting during the first twenty-four hours after an extraction to ensure the blood clot remains in place. Also, hot liquids tend to dissolve the blood clots, so avoid hot coffee or soup.
Swelling and pain are natural after an extraction and should be expected. These can be alleviated though regular pain medications and through prescriptions your dentist might give you. Your doctor might also give you some antibiotics to take to prevent infections. The pain and swelling should subsist in a couple of days. If the pain continues or if swelling or bleeding becomes excessive, contact your dentist.
A soft food or even liquid diet might be required for the first twenty-four hours following an extraction. You may also want to avoid cleaning the extraction site with a toothbrush and dental floss for a few days following an extraction allowing it to heal completely.
Impacted teeth are common and easily dealt with. Nine out of every ten people can have impacted teeth. Talk to your dentist if you are experiencing pain and possible infection from impacted teeth.
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