Causes and risk factors:
Failure of eruption of tooth occurs if the size of the tooth is large as compared to the socket in the jaw. In cases where the mouth is already crowded due to other teeth and no place remains for the teeth to erupt, it gets impacted. The teeth tries to erupt laterally or wherever it gets a way out to move other than its normal position.
Clinical presentations:
The tooth can either be fully impacted or partial impaction of tooth can occur. In some cases, the patient can remain asymptomatic while in others, impacted tooth can give rise to symptoms like pain in teeth and difficulty in chewing food. The pain is severe and it can radiate to ear or can also lead to headache. Redness and swelling of the gums can be seen. Halitosis is the other presenting symptom. The impacted tooth can cause pressure on the adjacent teeth. Due to the existing pain, brushing becomes difficult. The food lodged can give rise to caries. Pericoronitis is the common complication seen. It can also lead to loss of bone or development of cyst or tumor around the impacted tooth.
Diagnosis and investigations:
The symptoms narrated by the patient and the local examination carried out by the dentist will help in confirming the diagnosis. A dental x-ray is diagnostic.
Treatment:
Pain reliving medicines are given to relieve the pain. Under local anesthesia, surgical removal of the tooth is done. However, in cases where the incisors are involved, surgical removal is not done. Use of orthodontic braces are advised.
Facts and Figures:
9 out of every 10 people suffer from this condition.
