The Dangers of Impacted Teeth

After you lose your primary (baby) teeth, larger, permanent teeth replace them. Healthy adult teeth fully emerge from your gums to fill out your smile, but sometimes a tooth gets stuck, or impacted.

Impacted teeth either emerge partially from your gum or not at all. Any permanent tooth could become impacted, but wisdom teeth are most commonly affected.

Impacted teeth can be very painful and could cause other oral health issues down the road. Avoid the dangers of untreated impacted teeth with comprehensive care at Touni Orthodontics in Sunnyvale, California.

Walied Touni, DDS, MSD, and our dental team treat impacted teeth to eliminate pain and prevent related complications. Whether the tooth is affecting you or your teen, it’s time to learn more about impacted teeth.

The risks of having an impacted tooth

Your wisdom teeth are at the back of your mouth. Most people get their wisdom teeth in their late teens or early 20s. These teeth often cause problems because they emerge years after all your other permanent teeth.

When a tooth gets trapped below your gum line, it can cause inflammation and other painful symptoms. In some cases, it might not cause pain, but it could put your overall oral health at risk.

Painful symptoms

Impacted teeth can be very uncomfortable. Some common symptoms that could indicate an impacted tooth include:

You might notice gum sensitivity when you brush or floss your teeth. The affected area may be swollen or painful.

Compromising your oral health

You could have an impacted tooth without any noticeable symptoms. If your wisdom teeth haven’t emerged yet, it could be because they’re impacted. Our team can identify partially or fully impacted teeth with an oral exam and dental X-rays.

Even if your tooth isn’t causing you pain, it’s important to have it treated. Ignoring an impacted tooth could have a cascading effect on your overall oral health. Untreated impacted teeth may cause:

An impacted tooth also could put you at increased risk for decay, because cleaning it may be difficult or impossible. 

Treating impacted teeth

Dr. Touni and our team take a comprehensive approach to impacted teeth. We evaluate your teeth with a dental exam and take dental X-rays if the tooth is fully impacted below your gum line.

Depending on your situation, we may recommend eruption aides to help your tooth fully emerge through your gums. If one or more of your wisdom teeth is impacted, Dr. Touni may recommend removal. Wisdom tooth removal can eliminate discomfort and protect the integrity of your other teeth.

Whether that impacted tooth is painful or not, you shouldn’t ignore it. Schedule a dental consultation at Touni Orthodontics to learn more about your treatment options by calling our office or requesting an appointment online today.

You Might Also Enjoy...

When Traditional Braces Are Better Than Clear Aligners

Are you dreaming of straighter teeth? You have options — and while clear aligners are gaining popularity, they’re not the best choice for everyone. Find out when traditional braces might be a better option for the smile you’ve always wanted.

Helping Your Teen Cope With Needing Braces

Getting braces is a big adjustment — especially for teens who might already be self-conscious about their appearance. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do as their parent to help them cope. Get tips from a board-certified orthodontist here.

Nighttime Grinding and TMJ: What's the Connection?

If you grind your teeth at night, you probably know it makes your jaw feel fatigued and sore. But can nighttime grinding put you at risk of a more serious condition? Learn the connection between bruxism and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

Can Clear Aligners Correct My Overbite?

An overbite is a dental problem that puts you at risk of jaw pain, tooth wear, and more. The good news? You might not need traditional metal braces to fix it. Find out how clear aligners can correct your bite and straighten your teeth discreetly.