Hello! I'm Drg. Stephanie Adelia Susanto, MM., Sp. Ort. As an orthodontist at Opal Dental Indonesia, one of the most common complaints I see in the clinic is misaligned teeth or mysterious pain in the jaw area. Did you know that one of the main culprits is often...impacted teeth?
Let's discuss more deeply about what tooth impaction is, why it can occur, the characteristics of tooth impaction and how we treat it.
Why Does Tooth Impaction Occur?
The process of changing teeth is a long process. Baby teeth begin to grow when babies are 4–6 months old and are complete by 2–3 years old. Around age 6, baby teeth begin to fall out to make way for new teeth.permanent teeth. Normally, adults have 32 permanent teeth, including 4 wisdom teeth that only appear between the ages of 17 and 25.
However, sometimes a tooth becomes "stuck" and cannot fully erupt through the gums. This is called impaction. This condition often occurs due to:
- Genetic Factors (Narrow Jaw):This is the most common case I see. A small jaw size prevents teeth (especially wisdom teeth) from having enough room to grow in properly.
- Late Falling Out of Baby Teeth:Baby teeth that remain in place for too long can block the growth path of permanent teeth underneath.
- Presence of Medical Barriers:Such as the appearance of tumors or cysts in the jaw area that block tooth growth.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Impacted Teeth
Impaction most often occurs in wisdom teeth, although it can also affect canine teeth. Interestingly, if the tooth is totally impacted (completely buried in the gum/bone), you may not notice any symptoms at first. However, the tooth can silently push against the teeth in front of it, causing your previously neat teeth to slowly become disorganized.
If the impaction is partial (only a small portion of the tooth emerges), food debris and plaque can easily become trapped in the gums. This can lead to infection, with symptoms such as:
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Swollen, red, and painful gums in the area where the tooth is about to grow (pericoronitis)
- Persistent headache or jaw pain
- A gap appears between the impacted tooth and the tooth next to it.
- Difficulty opening the mouth (trismus)
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck area
When Should You See a Dentist?
Don't ignore discomfort in the jaw or gums, especially if the pain radiates to the face, ears, neck, or head. Patients often think they're experiencing a migraine or nerve problem, when the underlying cause is actually an impacted tooth.
Seek medical attention immediately if you experience gum pain, swelling, or notice any teeth that are not growing normally.
If you want to discuss your dental condition directly, you can visit the websiteOpaldentalindonesia.com. There, you can see my practice schedule and that of other doctors, as well as makebookingeasily so you don't have to queue for long at the clinic.
Diagnostic Process in the Clinic
To determine whether your complaint is truly caused by impaction, I will conduct a medical interview and a clinical examination of your oral cavity. Next, we will need to perform supporting examinations, such as:
- Panoramic X-ray:To see the overall picture of the position of hidden teeth, as well as detect damage to neighboring teeth or jawbone.
- CT Scan (CBCT):If the case is complex enough, a CT scan helps me see the 3D position of the teeth, their position in relation to the jaw nerves, and the condition of the bones in great detail.
How is it treated?
Treatment for an impacted tooth depends largely on its location and severity. If it's safely located and there are no symptoms, I'll usually just recommend regular check-ups for observation. However, if it's causing problems, here are the steps we'll take:
- Regular Removal:This can be done if the tooth has erupted (appeared) to a large extent and its position allows it to be removed without surgery.
- Odontectomy Surgery (Extraction Surgery):This procedure is performed for teeth that are completely impacted or extremely crooked. The dentist will make a small incision in the gum, remove the tooth, and stitch it back together.
- Medication:I will prescribe pain relievers (such as mefenamic acid) and antibiotics if there is any indication of infection to help with the post-procedure recovery period.
- Orthodontic Treatment (Dental Braces):Well, as an orthodontist, this is a crucial step. If the impacted tooth has already distorted your teeth or altered your bite (bite), we need to straighten it again using braces orclear alignersafter the surgical wound heals.
Complications If Ignored
A problematic impacted tooth that is left untreated can become a ticking time bomb. Some serious complications that can occur include:
- Damage to the tooth structure (malocclusion) because it is pushed continuously.
- Recurrent infections and plaque buildup damage the gums.
- Formation of an abscess (pus pocket).
- The neighboring teeth also have cavities or the roots of the teeth are damaged due to pressure.
- Jaw nerve damage (mandibular nerve) if the cyst/infection gets bigger.
Prevention: Can It Be Avoided?
Because the majority of impacted teeth are triggered by genetic factors of a narrow jaw, we cannot completely prevent these teeth from becoming impacted. However, we can certainlyprevent complicationswith the following steps:
- Early Orthodontic Screening:Take your child to the dentist or orthodontist as soon as permanent teeth start to emerge to detect early any potential for a narrow jaw.
- Maintain Hygiene: Brush your teeth twice a dayand use mouthwash to prevent food debris from getting stuck in the back gum area.
- Routine Control:Have your teeth checked at least once every 6 months so that impaction can be detected by X-ray before it causes pain.
Having healthy, well-aligned teeth isn't just about aesthetics; it's also key to long-term health. Let's take care of your smile starting today!