Impacted Teeth
We could begin by saying that there are basically two types of impaction: tissue and bone. In either event, an impacted tooth is one which has not erupted, i.e., it has not broken through and shown itself.
With tissue impaction, the tooth is out of the bone, but has not protruded beyond the gum tissue. With bone impaction, the tooth has not come out of the bone. Both conditions will be easy to see in a dental xray. The latter case is more serious than tissue impaction.
With tissue impaction, depending upon the situation, the doctor may elect to wait a little while and see what happens. If the tooth does not grow properly and eruption simply does not happen, the tooth may have to be extracted. If this is necessary, the gum is opened and the tooth is extracted, either intact or in pieces.
 A horizontal bone impaction is shown here, but there are also angular and vertical bone impactions. In any event, with bone impaction, there comes a time when there is little doubt about what will happen and the only option is these cases is usually extraction of the tooth. Anesthesia is required. The gum and bone will be opened and the tooth will be extracted, either intact or in pieces.
Once an extraction is done, the wound site is cleaned and sutured closed. Antibiotics (to help prevent infection), pain relievers, and periodontal rinses are usual after an extraction with the rinses aimed at helping not only to prevent infection, but also to aid in the healing process. Expect to eat soft food for a couple of days after the process. Also, expect at least one follow-up visit just to be certain all is going well.
If you are experiencing discomfort and have teeth that should have erupted but didn't yet, or if your dental Xray shows an impaction, Dr. Winchester will consult with you about the best options available to you under the circumstances.
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