IMPACTED TEETH

An impacted tooth is a tooth that, for some reason, has been blocked from breaking through the gum. Sometimes a tooth may be only partially impacted, meaning it has started to break through. Oftentimes, impacted teeth cause no obvious symptoms and are only discovered during a routine X-ray at the dentist's office.

Symptoms include:
  1. Swelling of the gum in the back of your mouth
  2. Difficulty opening your jaw
  3. Bad breath
  4. A bad taste in the mouth
  5. Pain when you open your mouth
  6. Pain when chewing or biting
  7. Wisdom tooth Pain can occur for several days and then disappear. It can come back weeks or months later.

You can sometimes relieve minor irritation by rinsing with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water). Over-the-counter pain relievers also may help in wisdom tooth pain.

If the wisdom tooth pain continues to cause pain, is infected or interferes with nearby teeth, the usual treatment is to take it out. Extracting one tooth can take 5 to 30 minutes, depending on where it is. In some cases, an infection requires antibiotics.

Patients are often referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to have an impacted tooth removed. Before removing the tooth, your dentist or surgeon will discuss the procedure and the type of anesthesia and sedatives he or she will use. You will not be able to eat for six hours before surgery. If you take any medicines, keep on schedule with them. Someone should drive you to the appointment and drive you home.

After the surgery you may have swelling of the cheeks and jaw. It may be hard to eat certain foods. Follow your dentist's or surgeon's instructions carefully for the best recovery. Complications of surgery are rare, but do occur.

An impacted tooth may not bother you or affect nearby teeth. In this case, you will not immediate treatment. However, your dentist probably will recommend that the tooth be taken out to avoid future problems.

Many people have all four of their wisdom teeth taken out at once. Sometimes this surgery is done before the teeth have started coming in. This prevents future problems. This usually is done in an oral and maxillofacial surgeon's office with sedation and local anesthesia. Often, it is better to have your wisdom teeth taken out before you turn 21. The surgery usually is less complicated. The tissue and bone also heal better.