Impacted Teeth: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

At our family dental practice in Cadott, we frequently encounter people who are suffering from one or more tooth impactions. While this condition can be quite painful, the good news is that it is highly treatable. If you think you may be suffering from an impacted tooth, please take the time to read this.
Once you’ve finished, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. Practicing dentistry in Cadott has given us a great deal of experience, and we can help you just as we’ve helped countless others in your position.

What is an Impacted Tooth?
Simply put, an impacted tooth is a tooth that has not grown out of the gum correctly. When a tooth comes in (or “erupts”) it should be straight, and it should point either upwards (for the bottom teeth) or downwards (for the top teeth).
Sometimes a tooth comes in sideways, crooked, or even not at all. In the last category, you can have a tooth that is growing from the jawbone, but it is not coming out of the gum tissue.

Symptoms of an Impacted Tooth
There are several indicators that you may be suffering from an impacted tooth. If you are experiencing severe headaches, swelling or tenderness in the gum tissue, bad breath or a funny taste in your mouth, and difficulty or pain when you open your mouth, there is a chance it could be caused by an impacted tooth.
Keep in mind that symptoms will vary from person to person, so you should never try to diagnose this condition by yourself. Instead, come see us right away, and we will be more than happy to check you out.

Causes of Tooth Impaction
An impacted tooth could be caused by one or more of a number of factors. If your mouth is too small, or your jawbone has an unusual shape, it could result in an impaction. Sometimes a tooth simply begins to grow in crooked for no apparent reason at all. Whatever the cause, this is a condition that must be treated, as ignoring it in the hopes that it will resolve itself is futile.

Treatment for Tooth Impaction
The treatment regimen we, or any dentist in Cadott, pursue will be based largely on your unique situation. In some cases, we can use braces or another orthodontic apparatus to straighten the tooth and help it grow in straight.
In more severe cases, we may have to resort to surgery to correct the problem. Of course, we won’t ever do this without consulting with you first and making sure that you understand the problem and the reasons we suggest surgery.
The good news is that an impacted tooth is something that is very treatable. Once we have taken the necessary steps to correct the issue, you will be on your way with a minimal amount of time and trouble. Eventually you will be completely recovered, and you will be able to use your teeth and mouth exactly like anyone else.