What are “impacted” teeth?
Impacted teeth are teeth that have not erupted into the mouth for one of three reasons: first, because of severe crowding; secondly, because of a bony or hard tissue impaction or thirdly, because of a soft tissue impaction. Sometimes it is necessary to surgically uncover and actively pull the tooth into place. If this is necessary, the tooth is uncovered and a small button is cemented to the tooth; then the orthodontist guides the tooth to its proper position.
One usually refers to impacted teeth as teeth that are somehow prevented from erupting normally into the oral cavity. This could occur from being blocked by other teeth, or because they formed and grew into an abnormal direction, or sometimes they can become blocked by other obstructions such as a cyst, an extra tooth or tooth-like structure. In rare instances they may even ankylose (become fused) before having fully erupted. People often hear of impacted wisdom teeth (third molars) because those frequently lack enough space in the dental arch to erupt normally. Another tooth that is known to become impacted occasionally is the upper permanent canine. This tooth normally erupts in the teenage years. If it has not, you may want it checked by your dentist or orthodontist.
Impacted teeth are teeth that have not erupted into the mouth for one of three reasons: first, because of severe crowding; secondly, because of a bony or hard tissue impaction or thirdly, because of a soft tissue impaction. Sometimes it is necessary to surgically uncover and actively pull the tooth into place. If this is necessary, the tooth is uncovered and then the orthodontist guides the tooth to its proper position.
