Sometimes a tooth may fail to emerge into proper alignment and remains “entrapped” in the gum tissue and jaw bone. Such tooth is referred to as impacted. Impactions may occur due to various reasons. For example, the jaw may be too small and there may be insufficient space for the teeth to erupt. Teeth may also become twisted, tilted, or displaced as they try to emerge, resulting in impacted teeth.
The most common impacted teeth are wisdom teeth or third molars. Impacted teeth may result in swelling, pain and infection of surrounding gum tissue. Also, impacted teeth may cause permanent damage to nearby teeth or lead to the formation of cysts or tumors that can destroy sections of the jaw. Therefore, it is often recommend that impacted teeth be promptly removed.
X-ray showing two impacted lower canine teeth
X-ray taken before extraction of upper right third molar tooth
Surgical exposure of impacted teeth
Immediately after surgical removal of impacted lower canine teeth
Impacted wisdom tooth surgically removed atraumatically
X-ray showing 6 impacted teeth- upper right and left third molars and lower right and left third and second molars
Surgical exposure of lower right impacted teeth
Surgical exposure of lower left impacted teeth
All impacted teeth removed
X-ray showing teeth impacted in the lower right jaw region
Impacted teeth surgically removed
X-ray showing impacted upper right and left third molar teeth
Left tooth surgically exposed
Left tooth surgically exposed
Right tooth surgically exposed
Right tooth surgically exposed
Impacted teeth surgically removed