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Posted on 5/30/2019 by Dick Hikade, DDS |
 When you were a child, you had a whole set of baby teeth that you lost, one tooth at a time. While you were losing teeth, there were also teeth that were coming in at the same time. Teeth have an order of erupting in your mouth. For most people, each tooth erupts at the time that it is supposed to. For example, most babies begin to get their first four teeth, two on the top, and two on the bottom between 6-12 months of age. While each tooth eruption is usually in order, they aren't always. There are people walking around the earth right now who have no 12-year-old molars. Some people have no wisdom teeth. They just aren't in the mouth to begin with. What happens when the tooth is there, but it refuses to erupt? Keep reading to find out! What Is An Impacted Tooth?An impacted tooth is a tooth that is unable to erupt from the mouth normally, which means it cannot break through the gum to take its place in your jaw. There are lots of reasons a tooth can't break free. Sometimes, the tooth becomes stuck because the gum tissue is too thick or strong. Teeth can become stuck in the jawbone as well. There may not be enough space for the tooth to break through because the jaw is crowded. The tooth might also come in at an angle, and cause the other teeth to be squeezed together.So, What Do You Do? If you have an impacted tooth that is causing no trouble, you may be able to leave it alone. If you start having tooth pain, headaches, and mouth pain, it is best to have someone look at your tooth. You may need to have it removed. If you have questions about your teeth, or you worry one of your teeth might be impacted, why not give us a call? We love to talk teeth! |
