IMPACTED TEETH

Impacted teeth are not always a problem— it is just in few cases it gives problem, and the affected teeth have to be removed. If you think you are having this, visit our dentist in London.

An impacted tooth is a tooth that can’t come to the surface of the gum for some reasons. Sometimes a tooth can be partially impacted; this means it has started to break through but stopped halfway.

An impacted tooth does not cause any discomforting symptoms most times, and they are mostly discovered during a routine X-ray.

Symptoms of Impacted Teeth

In most cases of impacted teeth, there are no symptoms, but in some, there will be, and some of them are:

• Bleeding, swollen, and red gum
• Difficulty opening your mouth
• Bad breath
• A bad or sour taste in your mouth
• Pains when chewing or biting
• Pains when opening your mouth

The symptoms might come and go after some weeks or months.

Causes of an Impacted Tooth

An impacted tooth is mostly caused by a lack of space in the mouth. When this happens, there won’t be enough space for all the teeth to grow. This is mostly caused by genetics or orthodontic treatments.

The Most Affected Tooth

The wisdom teeth, which is the last teeth to grow, is usually the most affected. The jaws have generally stopped growing by the time the wisdom teeth comes in. Therefore, the mouth and the jaw would be too small to contain them. In serious cases where this cause pains and other discomforts, the wisdom teeth are removed.

This would solve the problem, and you won’t have any disadvantage since there’s no real need for wisdom tooth. People with small jaws have the highest risk for impacted wisdom teeth. The second teeth mostly affected are the maxillary canines. They are also called the upper eyeteeth or the cuspid. Due to their importance, the dentist is unlikely to remove them.Instead, treatment that will encourage them to erupt will be given.

Treatment of Impacted Teeth

If you think you have an impacted tooth or teeth, see a dentist as soon as possible for proper diagnosis and treatment. An X-ray of your mouth would be taken and to know if an impacted tooth is responsible for what you’re feeling. Your teeth would also be examined carefully by a dentist.

If you have an impacted tooth, then they would discuss the treatment options with you, and also tell you of the risks and benefits of the treatments.

Some of the treatment options your dentist might consider are:

Wait and monitor

Your dentist might decide to use a wait-and-see approach, especially if your impacted tooth is not giving you any pain or symptom.

Instead of removing the teeth immediately through surgery, your dentist will prefer to monitor it regularly. This will help him/her know if any problem develops. This is an easy option to go for if your impacted tooth does not cause any problem, but you must go for regular dental checkups.

Eruption aids

Eruption aids are used to treat a canine tooth that is impacted. This helps the tooth to erupt properly. Common eruption aids used in dentistry are brackets and braces. The baby or adult teeth that are obstructing the canine can also be removed to clear the way for it to erupt. These methods are most effective for younger people.

The impacted tooth will have to be removed and replaced with a bridge or dental implant if it is not possible to achieve eruption.

Surgery

If your impacted tooth is causing you pains or other discomforts, an extraction surgery might be recommended by your dentist. This is common in the case of impacted wisdom teeth. Extraction will also be recommended if the impacted tooth has a negative effect on other teeth and your gum. This surgery is mostly done as an outpatient procedure at a dental surgeon’s office.

This means you can go home after the procedure. This extraction surgery lasts for 45 to 60 minutes,and you will be given local anaesthesia before the procedure commences. You might need around 7 to 10 days to recover fully, and you can return to school or work after you’ve undergone this procedure. Make sure the surgery is carried out by an expert.

You can call us on 020 71830755 to help out with your treatment process.

Complications Caused by Impacted Teeth

Impacted teeth can never break through the gum; this would cause pains in some cases and cleaning them would be difficult or impossible.

If the tooth is partially impacted, it would be more difficult to clean or care for them properly. This will increase your risks of dental problems such as:

• Gum disease
• Cavities
• Absorption of bone or the adjacent teeth
• Tooth decay
• Cysts which can cause damage to the bone or root of the nearby teeth
• Tooth infection and other oral infection
• Crowding of a nearby teeth

How to Manage Pains Caused by an Impacted Tooth

If your impacted tooth is causing you much pain, you can take painkillers such as ibuprofen or aspirin — this will give you temporary relief. Aspirin should not be given to children below the age of 18. It can increase their risk of a fatal condition called Reye’s syndrome.

You can apply ice on your cheeks to reduce the inflammation. You can also swish warm salt water around your mouth; this will relieve pain and kill harmful bacteria that can cause infection. If the pain is so severe and you can’t get relief from the above, talk to your London dentist to give you a prescription painkiller, but this should only be taken on a short-term.

An impacted tooth that causes serious pain is removed surgically or treated using other options. If the impacted teeth can cause infection, damage other teeth, or cause complications, they are usually removed. A good way to identify impacted teeth is to have a regular dental checkup from childhood. This will help the dentist detect this early and offer prompt treatment plan as needed.

Visit us at Cosmetic Dentistry Clinic today in London, and you will get a treatment that suits your case. Our dental team are friendly and well-experienced. Do reach out to us today!