Impacted Teeth
When we say a tooth is “Impacted,” it means that the tooth is not in a functional position in the mouth. There are levels of the depth of impaction:
Soft tissue- the tooth is covered by gum tissue only
Partial bony- the tooth is partially covered by bone
Complete bony- the tooth is completely covered by bone
Difficult/complex bony- the tooth is completely covered by bone, and is in a position that is more difficult to access
Teeth become impacted as they are developing in the jaw bone and making their way into the mouth. Generally, the reason a tooth becomes impacted is that, at the time that it is erupting, something is obstructing its path and it becomes stuck. Usually the obstruction is other teeth, but it can be other things too. Any tooth can become impacted, but the wisdom teeth and the canines are the most common teeth to become impacted.
A good pediatric dentist and orthodontist are very helpful in monitoring the eruption of developing adult teeth, and making sure that these teeth have enough space to erupt into, so that they don’t become impacted. This usually means serial extractions of baby teeth, at just the right times, to “invite” the adult successor teeth into place. Sometimes, a palatal expander is recommended, to increase the space in the jaw that exists, to be able to fit all of the erupting teeth.
Impacted teeth usually require some treatment, either to help bring them in to the mouth, or to remove them completely. Teeth should not remain impacted, because if they do, they are very likely to cause problems down the road. The two most likely things to happen if you leave impacted teeth in your jaw are infection and cyst formation.
When patients are referred to us because they have impacted teeth, we take a cone beam CT scan. This is a three-dimensional image of the jaws, showing the anatomy of the jaws, teeth, and vital structures. It becomes much clearer where these impacted teeth are and the problems they may be causing. We take this important image so that the doctor can properly diagnose and plan the most conservative, most appropriate management plan, and also that so that our patients can see the images and understand their options. When our patients understand their diagnosis and their options, and feel comfortable asking questions, this will lead to the most successful outcomes.
Call us today for your consultation.