Most of us are too young to remember all the difficulties that came with teething. Anyone who has needed to deal with a teething child on the other hand? Odds are, that is an experience you’ll remember because it is so hard for parents to support their children as they experience the discomfort of emerging teeth.

But did you know that teeth that don’t emerge properly can become impacted? This creates a massive amount of dental discomfort and an impacted tooth can also cause a large risk to your dental health!

Thankfully your friends here at Fairchance Dental Arts are here to help! In this blog, we will take a look at impacted teeth, the causes, and what options you and your loved ones have in resolving this surprisingly common problem.

Just What Is an Impacted Tooth?

Ideally, our teeth will be able to emerge with minimal trouble. As mentioned with teething toddlers, this might not always be the most pleasant experience even if there aren’t any complications. Even the term used by many dentists to describe a new tooth’s arrival can cause a wince: eruption. We use this term because the tooth “erupts” through the gums.

But for many people, this process can be even more unpleasant thanks to a condition where a tooth can’t properly erupt/emerge above the gumline. This can be caused by a variety of reasons from genetics to orthodontic concerns, but the result is often referred to as an “impacted tooth.”

Shy Tooth or Impacted Tooth?

Each smile is unique! Naturally, developing those smiles can be a very unique process as well, meaning some teeth might take longer to emerge than others.

This certainly begs the question: how do you know whether a tooth is just being “shy” and taking longer to emerge, or if a tooth has become impacted? Well, there are a few warning signs to look out for. A few of the most noticeable are:

Oral and Facial Pain: Experiencing frequent, prolonged, and particularly intense headaches, jaw aches, and toothaches is an indicator a tooth is impacted and not able to emerge on its own.
Tenderness and Inflammation: If you are noticing tenderness, discoloration, and inflammation along the gums where a tooth should have emerged, it is likely due to an impacted tooth.
Bad Breath or a Bad Taste in the Mouth: An impacted tooth might also cause a sudden, foul taste in your mouth when you bite down or place pressure around the troubled area.

If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms or are worried about other common causes of impacted teeth (like having enough room for your wisdom teeth to properly emerge), don’t worry! Contact our office for a consultation.

Complications of Impacted Teeth

Impacted teeth are a surprisingly common issue. According to the National Library of Medicine, nearly 2% of people are affected by impacted canines. These aren’t even the most common teeth to become impacted! That would be wisdom teeth, which are so prone to becoming impacted.

We can remove wisdom teeth and other impacted teeth with oral surgery; it’s one of the most common dental procedures in the world.

But why? Can a single, impacted tooth be that much of a concern?

Yes! Even if there weren’t pain or discomfort to deal with, impacted teeth can cause a variety of dental health concerns including:

Diastema: This is the term for gaps between teeth. An impacted tooth doesn’t properly emerge from the gumline, meaning it can cause a gap in your smile.
Halitosis: The medical term for bad breath, usually caused by bacteria. An impacted tooth can expose your gums to harmful bacteria, including the sulphur-producing ones that cause halitosis.
Swelling: More often than not, swollen gums is one of the first signs a tooth is impacted. This can be very painful, but the swelling can also spread to your neck, especially if the impacted tooth doesn’t have enough space to emerge.
Ectopic Eruption: Also known as “abnormal eruption”, this is a condition where the impacted tooth is forced to emerge anywhere there is room. This can lead to serious issues like a tooth emerging sideways or causing a dental shift.

Oral Surgery Solution

Your friends at Fairchance Dental Arts are always here to help you find your beaming smile, but we are also here to ensure your dental health is optimized! So of course we have a straightforward solution to resolve any issues with impacted teeth: dental extraction.

With a simple oral surgery, we can easily remove any troublesome tooth that hasn’t properly emerged. This an outpatient procedure and we ensure this procedure is as comfortable as possible thanks to following three easy steps:

Numb the Patient: As this is an outpatient procedure, we will numb the area with localized anesthetics. If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from dental anxiety, consider asking about our sedation dentistry options during consultation.
Extract the Tooth: Once you are as comfortable as possible, we will extract the tooth using delicate and precise tools to gingerly remove the tooth. We’ll add stitches if necessary and pack the surgical site with gauze.
Give Post-Op Advice: By creating a truly personalized treatment plan, we ensure you are set up for a successful recovery! We will provide you with any necessary information to meet this goal, including needed prescriptions to assist in dealing with discomfort, swelling, or infection.

Call Today for Your Oral Surgery Consultation!

If you are a resident of Fairchance or one of the wonderful neighboring communities like Uniontown or Morgantown, then there is a great chance you already know our office is your home for your beaming smile!

Your friends at Fairchance Dental Arts provide a wonderful variety of services to keep your dental health in the best of shape.

So if you or a loved one is suffering from an impacted tooth, don’t hesitate! Call today to schedule your oral surgery consultation.