Impacted Tooth Management: Watchful Waiting or Preventive Extraction?

Impacted teeth are common, and can affect both kids and adults. Knowing how to respond is important, but it isn’t always easy to know the right course of action, especially when a tooth does not seem to be causing any obvious problems. 

At Cannon Oral Surgery, we pride ourselves on providing patients with the full spectrum of treatment options and the patient education needed to make an informed decision. If you’re unsure how to approach an impacted tooth, we encourage you to visit our Chattanooga, Tennessee, office to explore all available options. 

What is an impacted tooth?

All of our teeth are initially located beneath the gumline. Our first set of teeth (baby teeth) emerges through the gums during infancy. We lose our baby teeth as we grow through childhood, and a second set of teeth (permanent teeth) comes in shortly afterward. 

An impacted tooth becomes fully or partially “trapped” beneath the gums or jawbone. Some impacted teeth remain fully embedded within the jawbone. Others are partially trapped within the jawbone but don’t emerge through the gums. You can also have an impacted tooth that emerges from the jawbone but remains within your gum tissue. 

Numerous conditions can lead to an impacted tooth. In some cases, there simply isn’t enough room in your jaw for all of your teeth to emerge properly. You might also have a tooth that’s situated in a sideways or other abnormal position. Many people develop impacted teeth because of overcrowding, and some people have a genetic predisposition for impacted teeth. 

Impacted teeth are incredibly common, and most people will experience this condition at some point. 

Why are impacted teeth a problem?

Not all impacted teeth need to be removed, and many cases will resolve on their own. However, there are circumstances in which an impacted tooth can cause problems. 

To begin, an impacted tooth can be more challenging to clean than a tooth that has grown into a normal alignment pattern. This can increase your risk of developing cavities and gum disease. Pericoronitis is a condition in which the gum tissue around your back teeth becomes inflamed and swollen. 

Impacted teeth can also lead to cyst formation. These fluid-filled sacs can grow beneath your gums and can be painful. You might also develop an abscess, a painful pocket in your gum tissue filled with pus. 

Impacted teeth can negatively affect your bite, leading to a poor distribution of force when you bite down or chew. In some cases, an impacted tooth can damage your mandibular nerve, which is located in your lower jaw. 

When is it OK to take a “wait-and-see” approach?

If your impacted tooth is not causing any issues, Dr. Cannon might suggest a period of watchful waiting. This involves leaving the tooth in place and checking it along with the rest of your teeth during your routine dental exams. 

This is often the best approach when a child develops an impacted tooth. As long as there’s no pain or other problems, time might be all that’s needed for the situation to resolve itself. There’s a lot of movement and change in a child’s jawbone, and there’s a possibility that an impacted tooth can emerge on its own once the other teeth come in. 

Of course, impacted teeth that are causing pain or other complications should be removed. In these cases, waiting can make things worse, lead to unnecessary discomfort, and increase the risk of developing the other issues discussed above. 

What is preventive extraction, and when is it necessary?

Preventive extraction means removing an impacted tooth to avoid potential problems down the road. It’s a choice that gives you the peace of mind that you aren’t likely to develop an abscess or nerve damage due to an impaction. 

It should also be noted that impacted wisdom teeth are often easier to remove in the teenage years than in adulthood. That’s because the wisdom teeth roots are still developing during adolescence. Younger people also tend to heal more efficiently, which can make the recovery from wisdom teeth extraction easier to manage. 

If you have impacted canine teeth, extraction might not be your only option. There are dental devices called eruption aids that can help impacted teeth emerge properly. A device called a palate expander can help reduce crowding by gradually creating more space in the upper jaw. 

How do I choose the right treatment path?

When you come in to discuss impacted teeth, Dr. Cannon begins with a thorough dental exam and imaging, if needed. This provides the information he needs to explain your treatment options and help you find the right approach

You are encouraged to ask questions and express concerns, and there is plenty of time during your visit to discuss your options in detail. We’re here to help you find the best possible treatment path and to understand the ins and outs of every available path. 

When you’re ready to book at Cannon Oral Surgery, you can reach us by phone or through our easy online booking tool.