Impacted Teeth

An impacted tooth can cause severe pain, infection, and bite changes until it’s properly treated. At Associated Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons in Danbury, Southbury, and Ridgefield, Connecticut, dental implant specialists Roger Badwal, DMD, MD, and Anthony Camillo, DMD, treat all types of impacted teeth. The team even has privileges at nearby hospitals to remove impacted teeth that have developed cysts or benign tumors. Call Associated Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons today or book an appointment online to learn more about impacted teeth.

What are impacted teeth?

An impacted tooth remains trapped beneath the gumline. Since the tooth can’t erupt on its own, it can’t serve its function. The unerupted tooth can also lead to other complications, including pain and infection. 

Some impacted teeth can grow horizontally into surrounding teeth, while others attempt to erupt at an angle. Even teeth that do develop vertically can become trapped. 

A comprehensive dental exam is essential to diagnose and treat impacted teeth. At Associated Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, the team invests in state-of-the-art digital X-rays and 3D cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans to identify impacted teeth and plan your treatment.

What are the different types of impacted teeth?

Any of your teeth can become impacted beneath the gumline or partially erupt, including:

Canines

Canines are the pointed teeth next to your incisors — the four front teeth in your upper and lower jaw. Everybody has four canines, one on each side of your incisors. Canines are the most common teeth that fail to erupt.

Since canines are essential for your bite and proper chewing, prompt treatment is necessary to preserve your oral health, tooth function, and appearance.

Molars

Molars play a key role in your chewing abilities and maintain your facial structure. There are four in your upper arch and four in your lower arch. One of the most common causes of impacted molars is overcrowding — when there isn’t enough room in your jaw to support all of your teeth.

Wisdom teeth

Also called your third molars, wisdom teeth develop between ages 17 and 21. Your jaw has already reached full development at this point, so your mouth may not have enough room to support wisdom teeth.

Impacted wisdom teeth can cause dangerous and uncomfortable complications, so surgical removal is usually the best treatment.

How do I know if I have impacted teeth?

Impacted teeth can be identified through digital X-rays, but other signs include:

• Pain when chewing
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or jaw
• Bad breath
• Visible empty space
• Swollen gums
• Headaches
• Jaw pain

An abscess, a fluid-filled cyst, can also form around your impacted teeth. Abscesses contain harmful bacteria that may spread into your bloodstream if ruptured. 

The team at Associated Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons has extensive experience treating cysts, abscesses, and benign tumors that can aggravate impacted teeth.

How do dental surgeons treat impacted teeth?

While the most common method for treating impacted teeth is extraction, the team can help some teeth erupt. The team works with you to determine the best approach for treating impacted teeth.

Call Associated Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons today or book an appointment online to learn more about impacted teeth..