Impacted teeth are teeth that don’t come out completely through the gums or have only partially come out. Often, the third molars, commonly referred to as ‘wisdom teeth’, are found to be impacted and may require treatment. Extraction is the most common course of action for impacted teeth, but over-the-counter pain medications and salt water rinses may be sufficient in some cases. Some patients may not require any treatment at all for impacted teeth.
Your orthodontic specialist at our Port Coquitlam and Richmond orthodontist office can examine impacted teeth (through digital x-rays) to determine the type of necessary treatment. Impacted teeth that aren’t promptly treated can cause abscesses, chronic pain, infection, plaque/tartar and malocclusion/misalignment.
Teeth can also become impacted due to trauma, lack of space in the jaw and crowded teeth. Contact your Richmond and Port Coquitlam orthodontic specialist as soon as possible if you suspect your teeth are impacted or experience any of the following symptoms:
- Tenderness/pain in the jaw bone or gums
- Occasional difficulty opening the mouth
- Persistent bad breath
- Persistent head or jaw ache
- Occasional swelling of the neck lymph nodes
- Unpleasant taste when biting near impacted teeth
For more information on impacted teeth, or to book a consultation, please contact HGS Ortho in Richmond and Port Coquitlam today.
