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Impacted Tooth

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What is Impacted Tooth?

An impacted tooth is a tooth that fails to fully pass through the gums.



Alternative names

Tooth - unemerged; Unemerged tooth; Dental impaction; Unerupted tooth



Causes

Teeth start to pass through the gums (emerge) during infancy, and again when the primary (baby) teeth are replaced by the permanent teeth. If a tooth fails to emerge, or emerges only partially, it is considered to be impacted. The most common teeth to become impacted are the wisdom teeth (the third set of molars). They are the last teeth to emerge, usually between the ages of 17 and 21. An impacted tooth remains stuck in gum tissue or bone for various reasons. It may be that the area is ju...



Add to my favorites

What is Impacted Tooth?

An impacted tooth is a tooth that fails to fully pass through the gums.

Add to my favorites

Alternative names

Tooth - unemerged; Unemerged tooth; Dental impaction; Unerupted tooth

Add to my favorites

Causes

Teeth start to pass through the gums (emerge) during infancy, and again when the primary (baby) teeth are replaced by the permanent teeth.

If a tooth fails to emerge, or emerges only partially, it is considered to be impacted. The most common teeth to become impacted are the wisdom teeth (the third set of molars). They are the last teeth to emerge, usually between the ages of 17 and 21.

An impacted tooth remains stuck in gum tissue or bone for various reasons. It may be that the area is just overcrowded and there's no room for the teeth to emerge. For example, the jaw may be too small to fit the wisdom teeth. Teeth may also become twisted, tilted, or displaced as they try to emerge, resulting in impacted teeth.

Impacted wisdom teeth are very common. They are often painless and cause no apparent trouble. However, some professionals believe an impacted tooth pushes on the next tooth, which pushes the next tooth, eventually causing a misalignment of the bite. A partially emerged tooth can trap food, plaque, and other debris in the soft tissue around it, leading to inflammation and tenderness of the gums and unpleasant mouth odor. This is called pericoronitis.

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Symptoms & Signs

  • Bad breath
  • Difficulty opening the mouth (occasionally)
  • Pain or tenderness of the gums (gingiva) or jaw bone
  • Prolonged headache or jaw ache
  • Redness and swelling of the gums around the impacted tooth
  • Swollen lymph nodes of the neck (occasionally)
  • Unpleasant taste when biting down on or near the area
  • Visible gap where a tooth did not emerge
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Exams and Tests

Your dentist will look for swollen tissue over the area where a tooth has not emerged, or has only partially emerged. The impacted tooth may be pressing on nearby teeth. The gums around the area may show signs of infection such as redness, drainage, and tenderness. As gums swell over impacted wisdom teeth and then drain and tighten, it may feel like the tooth came in and then went back down again.

Dental x-rays confirm the presence of one or more teeth that have not emerged.

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Treatments

No treatment may be needed if the impacted tooth is not causing any problems.

Over-the-counter pain relievers may help if the impacted tooth causes discomfort. Warm salt water (one-half teaspoon of salt in one cup of water) or over-the-counter mouthwashes may be soothing to the gums.

Removal of the tooth (extraction) is the usual treatment for an impacted tooth. This is usually done in the dentist's office, but difficult cases may require an oral surgeon. Antibiotics may be prescribed before the extraction if the tooth is infected.

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Prognosis

Impacted teeth may cause no problems for some people and may never require treatment. Treatment is usually successful when it does cause symptoms.

It is often preferable to have wisdom teeth removed before age 30 due to the flexibility of bone, which will allow an easier removal and better healing. As a person ages, the bone becomes more rigid and complications can develop.

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Possible Complications

Complications of an impacted tooth include:

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When to contact a medical professional

Call your dentist if there is an unemerged tooth (or partially emerged tooth) and pain in the gums or other symptoms have developed.

Content provided by:

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch). The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2008 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Review Date: .5/28/2008

Reviewed By: Jason S. Baker, DMD, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Private Practice, Yonkers, New York. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.5/28/2008

Impacted Tooth Articles

  • 3 Ways to Treat an Impacted Tooth

    ...st treatment is noninterference when an impacted wisdom tooth is minding its own business and not causing any trouble. Problems arise when the wisdom tooth, in trying to erupt into the oral cavi...

  • 3 Ways to Prevent an Impacted Tooth

    ... originated. The only way to prevent an impacted tooth in a child is to make space for the incoming molars. Unfortunately, unless teeth have already come in sporadically and number fewer than 28...

  • Symptoms of Needing to Remove Wisdom Teeth

    Around age 17 to 25 years, your third molars or wisdom teeth appear. These are the teeth located in the back of your mouth. Sometimes your wisdom teeth come in with no problems. In other cases, the...

  • 5 Things You Need to Know About Tooth Extractions

    ...ommon reasons for an extraction. A baby tooth that dies may require extraction, and then a metal spacer maintains the space until the adult tooth grows in. Sometimes you have too many teeth and ...

Show More

Impacted Tooth Images

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Conversations On Impacted Tooth

  • UGH! Root canal...


    • Posted On June 9, 2008 08:31:37 PM

      ... to vent that out. My jaw hurts, but my tooth is feeling much much better. I'm skipping classes tomorrow and i'm going to go relax on the beach with my friend Rachel. I think I need it! Read More

    • Posted On June 9, 2008 08:50:08 PM

      ...t today. Blegh...not much fun. Two were impacted as well. Even with insurance it was 1,000. What the hell??? honestly! Read More

  • Wisdom teeth extractions..


    • Posted On January 3, 2008 11:01:06 AM

      ...ken out about a year ago. they were ALL impacted, which means more invasive surgery. It took about 15 minutes, i was so drugged up didnt know it. I was fine the next day, eating and whatnot, pai... Read More

    • Posted On January 3, 2008 11:57:30 AM

      I was "put-under" for my wisdom tooth removal, I hate oral surgery. It was almost 8 years ago, but from what I remember, you should be up to your normal activities within 3-5 days. My biggest pro... Read More

  • Wisdom teeth out, when does the pain stop!!


    • Posted On December 9, 2008 02:33:13 PM

      ...t it. yeah no thanks, I'll keep my lone tooth thank you very much. So I went in and had some Gas which didn't seem to do much and freezing. The enitre thing was pretty much horrible, none of my ... Read More

    • Posted On December 9, 2008 03:29:25 PM

      ... meant that if I wanted to have the 4th tooth out in the future I would have to be put out due to the pain. If I don't have to have it out then I won't, I don't think my jaw or wallet can handle... Read More

  • Holy Teeth Pain!!


    • Posted On January 2, 2009 07:37:37 PM

      ... the pain is right behind where my last tooth is on the bottom left. could this be one of my molars coming in?? when i try to feel for something i always feel like the tiniest little poke, but t... Read More

    • Posted On January 2, 2009 07:58:05 PM

      ...isdom teeth have grown in and are fully impacted beneath your gums... that could be what's causing the pain. Symptoms are often headaches, jaw aches, ear pain, etc. Your dentist will have to d... Read More

  • wisdom teeth SUCK!


    • Posted On February 10, 2008 11:12:27 AM

      ... mine taken out a while ago. all 4 were impacted, so it was a surgery type thing. my face looked like a potatoe after annnnd food would get stuck in the holes. gross huh. good luck! Read More

    • Posted On February 10, 2008 06:57:18 PM

      ...itches, and you know the hole where the tooth used to be? well it didnt close up. so yeah that sucked. Read More

  • Wisdom teeth gone since 11am!


    • Posted On July 7, 2008 08:21:04 PM

      ...omorrow then making an appt. to get one tooth pulled/same day get the bridge placed in and I am done Read More

    • Posted On July 7, 2008 08:23:54 PM

      ...omorrow then making an appt. to get one tooth pulled/same day get the bridge placed in and I am done See? It's going to be okay. You'll be grinning again in no time! Read More

Show More

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Members Who Dare

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Talk

dentalpoland: Wisdom tooth extraction, surgical extraction of an impacted wisdom tooth - painless treatment only with www.DentalPoland.com

michelleisapunk: finally went to the dentist today after pushing it back for months:( My wisdom tooth on top is in partially impacted & has a huge cavity

phenphan: horizon impacted tooth #38 .... แต่หัววัน หงึกหงึก

donaldc4: RT @utbrp: RT @Proudlib: I miss Ronald Reagan, just like I miss that impacted wisdom tooth.// LMAO

pamsez: RT @utbrp: RT @Proudlib: I miss Ronald Reagan, just like I miss that impacted wisdom tooth.// LMAO

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