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Impacted teeth might not cause any problems, so you might not know you have them. At Mandana Mozayeni Orthodontics, with locations in Chardon, Cuyahoga Falls, Cleveland, and Middleburg, Ohio, Mandana Mozayeni, DDS, MSD, and her team can locate impacted teeth using an X-ray and help them erupt safely. To find out whether you have impacted teeth and whether they need treatment, call the office or book an appointment online today.
Impacted Teeth Q & A
What are impacted teeth?
As you grow and your jaw develops, your adult teeth emerge above the gumline. Once this happens, you can see them when you open your mouth and use them for their intended purposes of chewing and speaking. Impacted teeth are teeth that never emerge above the gumline or emerge only partially. You can’t see them if they’re still under your gums, but your dentist or oral surgeon can locate them using an X-ray.
Your wisdom teeth, the molars in the far back of your mouth, are the most likely to become impacted because of a lack of space for them to emerge.
How can I tell if I have an impacted tooth?
A tooth might be impacted because of overcrowding, extra teeth, poor positioning, or other reasons. It might push on other nearby teeth as it attempts to develop and erupt. It doesn’t always cause symptoms, which is why it’s important to get regular dental X-rays as your dentist recommends.
Possible signs of an impacted tooth include:
- Jaw pain or sensitivity
- Consistent headaches or jaw aches
- Red or swollen gums
- A visible gap among your teeth
You should always report any discomfort or changes in your bite to your dentist. Using imaging, they can tell you if you have impacted teeth and whether or not you need treatment.
How are impacted teeth treated?
The key to successful treatment for impacted teeth is early detection. If you’re still in adolescence, there is a chance that your impacted tooth will eventually erupt on its own. The chances of this happening decline as you age and your jaw becomes more rigid and developed.
Before starting your treatment, the team at Mandana Mozayeni Orthodontics must determine whether your impacted tooth is an adult tooth, whether there are extra teeth or other growths blocking it in its position, and whether it is a permanent tooth. They make sure there is space for your tooth to erupt with surgery.
The most common procedure for an impacted tooth involves wearing braces and a wire on your teeth, at least your upper arch. Your provider then makes an incision in your gums to expose the tooth. They bond the tooth to an orthodontic bracket, which is attached to a chain. The other side of the chain attaches to the wire on your braces.
Over the course of about a year, your provider applies intermittent light traction forces to your tooth, gradually pulling it into position. You might need gum surgery to ensure your gums can support it in its new position.
Impacted teeth may or may not cause discomfort and other complications. To find out if you have an impacted tooth and if it needs surgical treatment, call Mandana Mozayeni Orthodontics or book an appointment online today.