Tooth Impaction: Symptoms and Treatments
An impacted tooth is a tooth that remains trapped in the bone and gum, in whole or in part, and does not emerge from the gum. It is a rather frequent condition, which can have various causes and mainly (but not exclusively) affects the wisdom teeth. A correct diagnosis is made through an X-ray. The RX, in fact, allows you to see the dental situation correctly.
Depending on the position of the tooth and how much it protrudes from the gum, it is possible to distinguish different cases:
- totally impacted tooth: it is all within the jawbone;
- partially impacted tooth: it is visible outside the gum, although less than it should;
- horizontal inclusion: compared to the teeth that flank it, the impacted one is in an unnatural horizontal position, therefore parallel to the gum;
- vertical occlusion: the position is correct, but the tooth is below the level of the gum, attached to the neighboring one;
- angular inclusion: the tooth is in a slightly inclined position, ending up pushing on the one next to it.
Furthermore, depending on how long the inclusion lasts, a distinction can be made between:
- permanent, in which the tooth never erupts;
- temporary, the tooth erupts with an extreme delay compared to the physiological times (in this case, it is more correct to speak of a retained tooth).
The main causes of dental impaction
The occurrence of a dental impaction is generally connected with a lack of space for the teeth. This, in turn, can be the consequence of several events:
- early loss of baby teeth: if the teeth fall out too early, in fact, and the definitive tooth is not yet ready to appear, its space is occupied, and this blocks its development;
- dental ankylosis;
- dental crowding and crooked teeth;
- narrow palate and congenital malformations;
- trauma.
Symptoms and consequences of impacted teeth
There are cases in which impacted teeth do not cause any disturbance, remaining practically invisible. More often, however, they manifest themselves with different symptoms and neglecting them can give rise to even very serious problems. The alarm bells that reveal a dental inclusion are:
- toothache;
- abscess;
- gingivitis and gum bleeding;
- bad breath;
- headache and facial pain.
In the long run, an impacted tooth can be a real killer of dental health. Firstly, because it makes correct oral hygiene difficult and therefore favors the onset of caries. Secondly, because it can cause misalignment of the rest of the teeth. Finally, in extreme cases, this disorder can also lead to widespread cysts that attack the bone.
How to treat an impacted tooth
In cases where the impacted tooth does not bother you, not even aesthetically, you can avoid treating it. Otherwise, the possible remedies are different and depend on the tooth affected by the problem and the seriousness of the situation. The options available for de-inclusion are extraction, orthodontics, or autograft. We recommend making sure you visit your dentist regularly for checkups, where they can diagnose and treat impacted teeth.