The Impact Of Impacted Teeth
Painful — that’s usually the first word people use to describe life with an impacted tooth. They have trouble eating and speaking, plus the constant discomfort makes it difficult to go about their daily routine. That’s why we recommend taking care of an impacted tooth sooner rather than later. Not only will the pain go away so you can resume life as usual, but you will also prevent further consequences on your oral and overall health.
What Is An Impacted Tooth?
When we say that a tooth is impacted, we mean that it has not fully erupted. Instead, it’s trapped under the gums or in the jawbone. For some patients, the tooth may have partially emerged, but for others, it’s fully hidden from sight.
What Does an Impacted Tooth Do?
Some patients are fortunate not to have any residual effects from an impacted tooth. However, that’s not the case for many others. The impacted tooth may cause tooth pain and swelling that ranges from mild and manageable to absolutely unbearable. Other common symptoms include:
- bleeding
- jaw pain
- bad breath
- swollen lymph nodes
What to Do About an Impacted Tooth
More often than not, your dentist will recommend extracting an impacted tooth, especially if it is causing pain or other symptoms. They may refer you to our practice even if the tooth isn’t currently giving you any trouble because leaving an impacted tooth in your mouth can lead to oral health problems, such as:
- bleeding
- jaw pain
- gum or facial swelling
- tooth decay
- gum disease
- bone loss
- abscess, cyst, or tumor
- bad breath
- damage to surrounding teeth
When to Get Treatment
With the proper dental X-rays, your general dentist can determine the likelihood of tooth impaction as early as age seven. However, most of the time, wisdom teeth are the problem. They erupt in the late teens and early 20s. Wisdom teeth are not the only teeth that can become impacted as they erupt, though. That is why preventive measures, including annual X-rays, are imperative for developing children and teens. The earlier impacted teeth are diagnosed, the easier it is for our team to collaborate with your general dentist to get you and your loved ones the right treatment at the right time to ensure everyone in the family can enjoy long-term oral health.
If you’re worried about an impacted tooth or your dentist has recommended tooth extraction for any reason, call our office located in Tampa, FL today. We are the experts in periodontal care, and we’re here to help.
