Everything You Need to Know About Impacted Teeth
Hello, Dr. Dayanayev, here from Steinway Family Dental Center. We get a lot of questions about impacted teeth. Today we're going to answer some of the most common questions from you.
What is an impacted tooth?
An impacted tooth is a tooth that did not grow out completely. When a tooth is grown, you can see it, right? Impacted means that it got stuck inside and cannot or will not come out, which may cause some trouble. It is impacted within the tissue, so it's not coming out.
What causes the tooth to become impacted?
Some teeth are impacted because there is a tooth in front of them, and they're not growing straight, so they get stuck within the bone. Or they simply did not grow out on time and are still sitting in the bone when they are supposed to be out. The space in front of that tooth might be insufficient for the tooth to come out because the teeth are too tight, not allowing the tooth to pass through.
What are the symptoms of the impacted wisdom tooth?
It is a specific tooth, the wisdom tooth, and if it is impacted, sometimes you feel absolutely nothing. You don't even know that something is there. Sometimes you feel pressure, like a toothache or an infection. The truth is it's just your wisdom tooth causing all this trouble.
How will an untreated impacted wisdom tooth affect your overall health?
If it's not letting you sleep due to pressure and it's moving your other teeth or drilling a hole in the tooth in front of it, it does affect you. You don't want to keep it in there because it could go from not feeling anything to unbearable pain. The sooner you get rid of it, the better it is for you.
What is the difference between a partially impacted wisdom tooth and a fully impacted wisdom tooth?
A full impaction means that there is tissue, either soft or hard, around that tooth. Sometimes the tooth has gone through the bone but not the gum, which is a soft tissue impaction. Sometimes it sits below the bone line, which is a full bony impaction.
How do you diagnose impacted teeth and handle severely impacted wisdom teeth?
You diagnose it by taking specific X-rays, like a panoramic X-ray that goes around your head, or a three-dimensional X-ray that shows precisely where the tooth is in relation to the rest of the teeth and other anatomical landmarks, such as nerves or sinuses. The X-ray will show where that wisdom tooth is or if it is impacted. If it's not impacted, you can just visually see it. If you haven't had your wisdom teeth pulled and don't know if you have them, the X-ray will show this to you and your doctor.
What are the treatments for impacted wisdom teeth?
The treatment can range from doing nothing to partial extraction or full extraction of the tooth.
What is the process for the removal of wisdom teeth?
First, you'll see a surgeon who will give you an injection to numb the area so you don't feel the work being done. They will open up and go through the soft and hard tissue to reach the tooth, removing it whole or sectioning it and taking it out in parts. Sometimes it's not possible to take the whole tooth out because the roots are tangled with the nerve that gives you sensitivity on that side. In those cases, they do a partial coronectomy, removing part of the tooth causing trouble and leaving the roots inside. With this procedure, it may not bother you for the next 50 or 60 years. By then, we may not know whether we need to remove it or if it will move away from the nerve, allowing for removal.
What is the cost of removal of the impacted wisdom tooth, and does insurance cover it?
Insurance coverage depends on your contract with your particular insurance. We offer a complimentary insurance check. You can contact our office, and someone will find out what insurance you have and get the information directly from them. Often, they may tell you everything is covered when, in reality, they don't pay anything. For accurate information, call our office, and we'll find out for you. As for the cost, if it is an impacted tooth, it should cost approximately $1,000 per tooth.
What should you expect after wisdom tooth removal?
Follow your surgeon's instructions. If told to use an ice pack on and off for 15 minutes, do so to avoid swelling. Follow instructions on not drinking from a straw and definitely don't smoke. Removing the blood clot from the extraction site is very painful, more so than before surgery. Follow your surgeon's instructions.
What if the impacted tooth is not a wisdom tooth but a canine?
Canine impaction is also common. The canine, located at the top or bottom, could be impacted if it's not growing straight. Teeth are generally impacted because they're not angled correctly to the surface. Sometimes an impacted canine doesn't need removal like a wisdom tooth. It could be brought into alignment with a complicated procedure involving an orthodontist and surgeon, or a regular dentist using Invisalign. Whether this is the best choice depends on your specific case, so consult your dentist.
How do horizontally impacted wisdom teeth differ from others?
When a tooth is horizontally positioned, it grows into the teeth in front of it instead of straight up. It's common and means you may need a partial or full extraction, depending on the roots and their proximity to the main nerve underneath.
I hope I've helped shed some light on impacted wisdom teeth. If you have more questions, call us, come in, and we can discuss it further. We can review your X-rays or take them and review them together. Call us at (718) 728-3314 to request an appointment.