Impacted teeth are a common dental issue, especially among teenagers and young adults. An impacted tooth is one that fails to emerge properly from the gums due to crowding, misalignment or obstruction. While wisdom teeth are the most frequently impacted, other teeth, like canines or premolars, can also be affected. Left untreated, impacted teeth can lead to discomfort, infection and misaligned smiles. Fortunately, orthodontic treatment offers several effective solutions.
What Causes Impacted Teeth?
Impacted teeth occur when there is not enough room in the jaw for all the teeth to erupt properly. This can happen due to:
- Jaw size: Some people naturally have smaller jaws, leading to overcrowding.
- Misalignment: If nearby teeth grow in the wrong direction, they can block other teeth from erupting.
- Extra teeth or cysts: These can create physical barriers that prevent proper eruption.
- Genetics: Family history plays a role, as jaw size and tooth alignment are often inherited traits.
Symptoms of Impacted Teeth
Impacted teeth do not always cause immediate symptoms, but they can lead to:
- Pain or discomfort in the jaw or gums.
- Swollen or tender gums around the affected tooth.
- Difficulty chewing or opening the mouth.
- Misaligned teeth or crowding as adjacent teeth are pushed out of place.
- Chronic bad breath or unpleasant taste due to trapped bacteria.
If you notice any of these signs in your child’s smile, it is important to consider consulting a skilled orthodontist promptly for evaluation.
How Are Impacted Teeth Treated?
At Shirck Orthodontics, our experienced orthodontists, Dr. Jeff, Dr. Soo and Dr. Betina offer palatal expanders and lower expanders to help widen your child’s upper or lower jaw and avoid impacted teeth.
Palatal Expanders
- Purpose: Corrects a narrow upper jaw or overcrowded teeth to improve alignment, bite and overall smile.
- Function: Gradually widens the upper jaw by stretching the soft cartilage of the palate.
- Benefits:
- Prevents impacted teeth and overcrowding.
- Corrects crossbites and bite misalignment.
- Improves breathing and alleviates airway obstruction.
- Enhances dental health and creates space for permanent teeth.
- Contributes to a balanced, beautiful smile.
- Types: Available as removable or fixed appliances, tailored to your child’s needs.
- Long-Term Impact: Lays the foundation for healthy, well-aligned teeth and a confident smile for life.
Lower Expanders
- Purpose: Addresses a narrow lower jaw or overcrowded teeth to improve alignment, bite function and overall oral health.
- Function: Gradually expands the lower dental arch, creating space for proper alignment of the permanent teeth.
- Benefits:
- Prevents tooth overcrowding and potential misalignment.
- Corrects lower arch discrepancies and balances the bite.
- Reduces the risk of impacted teeth or damage to surrounding teeth.
- Supports improved chewing efficiency and comfort.
- Helps create a harmonious alignment with the upper jaw.
- Types: Designed as fixed appliances tailored to fit your child’s lower jaw and meet individual treatment goals.
- Long-Term Impact: Promotes better dental alignment, bite functionality and a healthier smile for years to come.
Why Prompt Treatment Matters
Addressing impacted teeth early prevents complications like tooth decay, gum disease or cyst formation. Moreover, timely treatment helps preserve the alignment of your child’s smile and prevents the need for more extensive interventions later on. Impacted teeth may sound daunting, but with the right care and guidance from one of our experienced orthodontists, you can restore comfort, confidence and balance to your child’s smile.
We Are the Orthodontist Near You
If you would like to learn whether orthodontic treatment can benefit your child, consulting with our team is a good first step to take. Shirck Orthodontics invites you to schedule their evaluation with one of our skilled orthodontists, Dr. Jeff, Dr. Soo and Dr. Betina. We have convenient locations in Powell, Newark, Westerville, or New Albany and Pataskala, Ohio. Please give us a call to see how our orthodontists can help!