An impacted tooth is one that has failed to erupt normally into the mouth and remains partially or totally covered by the gums and/or bone. Impactions can be caused by improper position of the developing tooth bud, premature loss of primary teeth and crowding. Wisdom teeth are the most commonly impacted teeth, but canines and premolars are also commonly impacted.
This problem should be corrected because it can:
Cause damage to the root structure of adjacent teeth
Leave unwanted spaces
Lead to improper functioning of the teeth
Cause asymmetric alignment of the teeth
How can impacted teeth be orthodontically corrected?
Usually the impacted tooth is exposed and orthodontically moved into the correct position. Correction of impacted teeth often involves a minor surgical procedure performed by an oral surgeon working closely with our practice. This will allow us to guide the impacted tooth into the proper position.
