Tooth impaction or buried teeth is a condition where the teeth are trapped in the gums and generally occur in the wisdom teeth of adults. Impacted teeth need to be treated properly because they can cause tooth decay and gum disease.
Tooth impaction occurs when wisdom teeth grow imperfectly because they do not get enough space to grow and come out of the gums. This condition can cause wisdom teeth or the last molars to grow sideways, namely toward or away from the adjacent molars, buried teeth, or teeth only partially growing. This condition can sometimes lead to tooth cysts.
Causes of Impacted Tooth
Tooth impaction is quite common and is often painless. However, it is different if wisdom teeth grow sideways or do not emerge from the surface of the gums, pain may be felt.
Tooth impaction can occur for a variety of reasons, including:
- Jaws are too small so there is not enough room for teeth to grow
- Teeth become crooked or tilted when they are trying to grow.
- The teeth have grown in an irregular position so that they block the wisdom teeth
Experts believe that tooth impaction has a domino effect, in that when a crooked tooth presses against an adjacent tooth, the teeth can grow erratically. These irregular teeth can cause problems in chewing.
Symptoms and How to Cope with Impacted Tooth
Buried or partially erupted teeth can cause food debris to get stuck. In addition, bacteria are also easier to enter, causing pain and swelling of the gums. The position of the hidden teeth at the back makes it difficult for a toothbrush to reach.
Food debris stuck in the area if not cleaned can trigger pericoronitis. Pericoronitis is an inflammation of the gum tissue around the teeth. Disorders that can arise due to impacted teeth can cause symptoms in the form of swollen gums, soft gums, and bad breath.
Other symptoms of impacted teeth include:
- Teeth only appear slightly on the surface of the gums
- Jaw pain
- Prolonged headache
- Swollen and red gums around buried teeth
- Difficulty opening mouth
- Swollen neck glands
- Toothache when biting, especially in the area where the tooth is impacted
To overcome these complaints, compress the area that is experiencing pain using a cold compress. In addition, gargling with a salt water solution and taking pain relievers such as aspirin can also help relieve the pain that appears.
Although these treatments can help relieve aches and pains, you are still advised to visit the dentist. Because if the condition continues, complications such as periodontitis, abscess of the tooth or gums, severe pain, malocclusion or irregular arrangement of teeth, formation of dental plaque, and nerve damage around the teeth are possible.
The treatment given by the dentist will be adjusted to the condition of the impacted tooth. If the results of the examination show that the impacted tooth has had a negative impact on other teeth, tooth extraction or wisdom tooth surgery will usually be recommended.
This procedure can actually be done at any time, but extraction of an impacted tooth before the age of 20 tends to be easier to do. The reason is that at this age, the roots of the teeth are not fully developed so they are easier to remove.
Impacted teeth sometimes do not cause complaints, but you are still advised to visit the dentist regularly so that the growth of wisdom teeth is monitored from time to time. Getting used to visiting the dentist regularly every 6 months is also important so that dental and oral health is maintained.