There are two times in one’s life that teeth pass through the gum. The first is in infancy and the second is after the baby teeth have fallen out and the permanent teeth begin to emerge. During this time, a tooth may come out partially or many not show up at all. This is a tooth that is considered impacted. Many times impaction occurs with the wisdom teeth, which are the last molars – third set, to emerge. These teeth usually show up between age seventeen and twenty-one. Wisdom teeth removal Melbourne is necessary in such a case.
There are several reasons for impaction as follows:
- The tooth could be stuck in the bone or the gum tissue
- There may be no room for the tooth to emerge due to overcrowding
- The tooth may have become tilted, displaced or twisted as it was emerging
Impacted teeth are not at all uncommon and are a major reason for wisdom tooth removal Sydney. Many times they are painless but it is thought by some professionals that this impacted tooth will push on the next one and may cause your bite to be misaligned.
It is important to note that if you have a tooth that is impacted, it can trap plaque, food and some other debris leading to tenderness, inflammation and halitosis. This condition is known as pericoronitis and many times this retained debris leads to the wisdom tooth decaying or in some cases, the tooth next to it.
Symptoms of an Impacted Tooth
If you have some or all of the following symptoms, you could be having an impacted tooth:
- Occasionally, you have a hard time opening your mouth
- A prolonged jaw ache or headache
- Swollen neck lymph nodes from time to time
- A gap that can be seen where your tooth did not break through
- Bad breath
- Tenderness or pain in the jaw bone or gums
- The gum is swollen and red where the impacted tooth is located
- An unpleasant taste whenever you bite down or close to that area
Bio: The author has been a dental surgeon for many years now performing oral surgery of different kinds. He assesses each case on an individual basis, options are discussed and the appropriate cause of action taken. All care is given in the best interest of his clients and in some cases that means simple monitoring.