If You Don’t Remove Impacted Teeth
Have you recently been dealing with mouth pain, difficulty biting and chewing, an unpleasant taste in your mouth, or persistent bad breath? These symptoms might signal various underlying issues affecting your oral health. Among these, an impacted tooth is a relatively common concern that can cause these discomforts.
But what is an impacted tooth? Is it serious? What happens if you don’t remove it? Below is more about what impacted teeth are, what happens if you don’t remove an impacted tooth, and the removal process.
What Are Impacted Teeth?
An impacted tooth is a dental condition wherein a tooth struggles to emerge naturally in its intended position. Numerous factors can contribute to this situation, such as obstruction from retained baby teeth or limited space for proper tooth alignment within the mouth. Consequently, the affected tooth might find itself trapped—either partially breaking through the gumline or completely concealed beneath the gums.
What Happens If You Don’t Remove Impacted Tooth?
Dismissing an impacted tooth can lead to severe consequences, including overcrowding, structural damage, gum disease, tooth decay, and more. Despite the fact that not all impacted teeth cause immediate pain or discomfort, it's of paramount importance to closely monitor them and, in certain scenarios, seek professional intervention. Viable treatment options include guiding the impacted tooth to its rightful position or, when deemed necessary, extraction.
What Causes Impacted Teeth?
Impacted teeth can occur due to various causes, often associated with space limitations and misalignment. Factors include:
• Misaligned Growth: Teeth not following their natural growth path.
• Overcrowding: A lack of space leading to teeth competing for room.
• Restricted Jaw Size: Physical limitations preventing proper tooth emergence.
• Large Tooth Size: Teeth that are too big for the available space.
• Genetic Factors: Inherited traits affecting tooth growth.
• Accidental Damage: Injuries causing misalignment or blockage.
It's worth noting that since we experience two sets of teeth—primary and permanent—the risk of an impacted tooth can occur at either stage.
Addressing Impacted Teeth
When grappling with an impacted tooth, the standard and often recommended solution is extraction. After a thorough assessment by a dentist, an appropriate treatment plan is devised. In cases where infection has taken hold, antibiotic treatment might be prescribed to manage the infection before oral surgery.
However, not all impacted teeth necessitate immediate action. In some instances, they might remain symptomless and cause no complications, leading to extraction being unnecessary. Meeting with a dental professional is key to determining whether extraction is necessary.
Reach Out for Assistance
If you suspect an impacted tooth or are contending with discomfort, persistent bad breath, or other oral health issues, don't hesitate to get in touch with us. We'll gladly arrange an appointment for a comprehensive dental examination and pinpoint the root cause of your concerns. Should an impacted tooth be the issue, our team of experts will decide on the optimal treatment strategy to effectively tackle the problem.