What is an Impacted Tooth?

An impacted tooth is a tooth that does not emerge or only partially emerges from the gums. This causes pain and swelling around the impacted tooth while also damaging the surrounding teeth. The most common impacted teeth are wisdom teeth, which are often removed to prevent infection and other oral health issues. If you suffer from severe pain caused by the growth of wisdom teeth, contact our expert Brentwood periodontists Dr. Alexandre-Amir Aalam and Dr. Alina Krivitsky for a consultation at The CENTER for Advanced Periodontal & Implant Therapy.

Causes of an Impacted Tooth

When a tooth grows in, it can become twisted, displaced, or stuck in the gums. The area in the mouth may be too overcrowded with no room for the tooth to emerge. Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to emerge, typically in the late teens to early 20s, frequently leading to impaction and the need for wisdom tooth removal in Brentwood. An impacted tooth can lead to various health issues that can cause discomfort. The impacted tooth may cause pain or swelling in the gums surrounding the tooth. Food, plaque, and other debris can get trapped in the gum tissue surrounding a partially emerged tooth, which can lead to infection, inflammation, or bad breath, particularly if the patient does not practice good oral hygiene habits like regular brushing and flossing. An impacted tooth can also lead to misalignment in the jaw if it pushes against the surrounding teeth. Tooth removal is recommended for patients experiencing any pain, swelling, or damage due to an impacted tooth. Antibiotics may also be prescribed before tooth extraction if the tooth is infected.

The Impacted Tooth Removal Procedure

During the procedure, the patient is given IV sedation and pain medication to ensure the utmost comfort during the surgery. Under IV sedation, patients are awake but completely relaxed and experience no discomfort. The doctor will perform the extraction depending on the state of the impacted tooth. If the tooth is partially emerged, the doctor may perform a simple extraction by removing the tooth in one piece. If the tooth has not emerged, the doctor will make an incision in the gum tissue around the tooth and push back the tissue. The tooth is then separated into several pieces and removed.

Potential Complications of Tooth Extraction in Brentwood

While the tooth extraction procedure is generally a safe and effective treatment for impacted teeth that are causing pain or discomfort, the success of your surgery depends on the experience and qualifications of your periodontist. At the CENTER, we only use state-of-the-art technologies and treatments that are designed to minimize side effects and improve your oral health and wellness.

Contact the CENTER for Advanced Periodontal and Implant Therapy Today

To ensure the success of your impacted tooth extraction, choose an expert periodontist in West Los Angeles with training, experience and expertise you can trust. If you are in need of an impacted tooth removal, contact Dr. Aalam and Dr. Krivitsky at the CENTER for your consultation today by calling 310-826-8242. Next, see a Brentwood Impacted Tooth video testimonial from one of our happy patients!

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