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9735 Landmark Parkway Dr.
Suite #16 St. Louis, MO 63127
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(314) 270-5817
Impacted Teeth
Dr. Kelly Jobe | Pediatric Dentist | St. Louis, MO
Impacted Teeth
If your child has an impacted front tooth or baby tooth, a tooth growing high up in the gum, or other tooth eruption problems, have no fear! These are common problems, and can be fixed.
An impacted tooth is a permanent tooth that can’t erupt (or grow) where it is supposed to. This is usually caused by surrounding teeth that block the emerging permanent tooth, or by a stubborn baby tooth that won’t fall out. Sometimes the erupting permanent tooth doesn’t grow in at all, or it starts growing to the side of surrounding teeth.
The most common teeth that get impacted are wisdom teeth and canines. It’s common for wisdom teeth not to have enough room in the jawline to grow in properly. That’s why they often need to be removed in late adolescence.
However, any type of tooth can get impacted by all kinds of reasons – genetics, the child’s mouth may be small, or the tooth had a mind of its own and felt like growing in a different direction than we would hope.
When permanent (adult) teeth don’t erupt as expected, that can create even more problems down the road (like gum disease, cysts or even bone loss). The earlier an impacted tooth is caught, the easier it is to treat! So the fact that you are aware of the problem and looking for answers, is a great step in the right direction.
Is my child’s tooth impacted?
The signs of an impacted tooth that needs exposed are fairly easy to see, you just have to know what to look for:
- Permanent teeth that never appear
- Baby teeth that don’t budge
- Surrounding teeth that shift
- A rogue tooth that erupts high in the gum line
When an emerging permanent tooth has to fight with its older siblings for its rightful place in the jawline, that can cause a lot of discomfort. This is because impacted teeth can damage the root system of surrounding teeth, causing roots to break down and potentially creating cysts.
So if your child complains of pain while chewing, or you notice any speech problems, that could be a sign of an impacted tooth as well. Our pediatric dental team will find out for sure.
Even if you don’t see any obvious sign of an impacted tooth, it’s always best to visit a pediatric dentist regularly. Pediatric dentists have the knowledge and tools needed to catch subtle problems that might cause bigger issues down the road.
How do you fix an impacted tooth?
The two main treatments for fixing an impacted tooth are extractions and braces, or a combination of both.
We commonly perform extractions when a baby tooth is the only thing standing in the way of freedom for the emerging permanent tooth. In some cases, braces might be necessary to get the surrounding overcrowded teeth out of the way or get the impacted tooth fully erupted. If multiple teeth are involved, a combination of extractions and braces might be necessary. In extreme cases, surgery might be needed to widen the jaw.
Questions for Dr. Jobe or the Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry team?
Dr. Kelly Jobe and the team at Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry are committed to providing the best pediatric dental care in the greater St. Louis, MO area! Please contact us with any questions regarding your kid’s dental health, we are here to help!
FAQs
An impacted tooth is a permanent tooth that is unable to grow in where it is supposed to. This happens when surrounding teeth, a stubborn baby tooth that will not fall out, or limited space in the jaw blocks the emerging tooth from erupting normally. In some cases, the tooth may not come in at all, or it may start growing sideways toward neighboring teeth. At Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in St. Louis, MO, Dr. Kelly Jobe evaluates and treats impacted teeth in children of all ages.
Wisdom teeth and canines are the teeth most frequently affected by impaction. Wisdom teeth often lack enough room in the jaw to erupt properly, which is why they are commonly removed in late adolescence. Canine teeth, which play an important role in bite alignment and overall dental function, can also become blocked by neighboring teeth or by a baby tooth that refuses to come out. That said, any tooth has the potential to become impacted depending on the size of your child’s mouth, genetics, or the direction the tooth chooses to grow.
There are several things to watch for. Permanent teeth that never appear, baby teeth that do not loosen or fall out on schedule, surrounding teeth that appear to shift position, and a tooth that seems to be erupting high up in the gum line are all potential signs of impaction. Your child may also complain of pain while chewing, or you might notice changes in their speech. If you observe any of these signs, scheduling an evaluation with our St. Louis pediatric dental team is the best next step.
When a permanent tooth cannot erupt as expected, the consequences can extend well beyond a crooked smile. Impacted teeth can put pressure on the roots of neighboring teeth, causing those roots to break down over time. They can also lead to the development of cysts, gum disease, or even bone loss in the jaw. The earlier an impacted tooth is identified and treated, the simpler the solution tends to be. Catching it late often means more involved treatment down the road.
Diagnosis typically involves a clinical exam combined with dental X-rays. X-rays allow Dr. Jobe to see what is happening beneath the gum line and get a clear picture of where the impacted tooth is positioned, which direction it is growing, and how it relates to surrounding teeth and bone. This is one of the reasons routine dental checkups are so valuable, many cases of impaction are identified before any visible symptoms appear.
The two most common treatments are extraction and orthodontics, and in many cases a combination of both is needed. If a stubborn baby tooth is the only thing preventing the permanent tooth from coming through, removing it is often all that is needed. When surrounding teeth are crowded and blocking the path of the erupting tooth, braces may be used to create enough space for it to come in correctly. In more complex situations involving multiple teeth or significant jaw crowding, surgery to widen the jaw may be recommended.
Dr. Jobe and the team at Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry prioritize your child’s comfort throughout every procedure. Whether the treatment involves an extraction, orthodontic intervention, or a more involved approach, appropriate anesthesia and sedation options are available to keep your child comfortable and at ease. Our team uses child-friendly language to walk kids through what to expect, so there are no surprises on the day of treatment.
If you suspect your child may have an impacted tooth, or if it has simply been a while since their last checkup, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with our team. Early detection makes a significant difference in how straightforward treatment can be. Call Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry at (314) 270-5817 or book online. Our office is located at 9735 Landmark Parkway Dr., Suite 16, St. Louis, MO 63127.
Have more questions about your child’s dental health? Contact St. Louis, MO’s award-winning Pediatric Dentist, Dr. Kelly Jobe!
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Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
9735 Landmark Parkway Dr.
Suite #16 St. Louis, MO 63127 - (314) 270-5817
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