Answering Routine Questions Concerning Impacted Teeth

Posted on: 20 November 2015

Dental problems can take a number of shapes, and it is important for you to be as informed as possible about these issues when you encounter them. In particular, impacted teeth is a fairly common issue that dental patients may need addressed. Regardless of which tooth is impacted, you may benefit from having the following couple of questions answered when deciding how to proceed with this issue.

Is An Impacted Tooth Always A Minor Problem?

Many patients assume that an impacted tooth will not cause major problems. While it is true that this is often not a problem, there can be instances where the impacted tooth starts causing problems for the patient.

One of the more obvious is that it may cause imperfections in your smile. This occurs because the impacted tooth will put pressure on the neighboring teeth, which can cause them to come out of alignment. Another common issue is that the tissue around the impacted tooth may be more susceptible to infection. This happens when food particles get trapped under the gums around the impacted tooth. If you are not experiencing these problems from your impacted tooth, you may not need to have it treated, but when these issues start arising, you will need to visit your dentist as soon as possible.

What Treatments Are Available For Impacted Teeth?

When an impacted tooth is causing problems, there are a couple of treatment options that may be used. For example, warm water rinses can ease any gum inflammation from the tooth and a prescription mouthwash can help reduce any infection that may be developing.

Unfortunately, if the tooth has suffered extensive decay or infection, extraction may be the only option. This may be upsetting if it is one of your front teeth, but your dentist can utilize either dental implants or bridges to repair the cosmetic issues that the extraction may cause. While you may not want to lose your natural tooth, it may be necessary to prevent infection or decay from the impacted tooth from affecting the surrounding teeth.

When you are suffering from an impacted tooth, you need to appreciate that this type of problem can lead to major issues if it is not addressed fairly soon. Also, it is important to understand that seeking treatment early may allow you to save the tooth from being extracted, but if this type of procedure is required to fix the issue, you can use bridges or implants to restore your smile's appearance. Contact a company like Central PA Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons LLC for more information.

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