Your tooth might not be coming through your gum because it's impacted, meaning it's blocked or stuck. This can happen for several reasons.
Potential Reasons for Impacted Teeth:
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Blockage: Something, like another tooth, could be physically obstructing the path the tooth needs to take to erupt.
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Insufficient Space: Your jaw might simply not have enough room for all your teeth, causing the tooth to get stuck.
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Abnormal Position: The tooth may be growing at an incorrect angle, preventing it from erupting properly.
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Dense Gum Tissue: Occasionally, particularly thick or dense gum tissue can hinder a tooth's emergence.
What is an Impacted Tooth?
In dentistry, an impacted tooth is one that is blocked from erupting fully into its correct position in the mouth. This is a fairly common issue, affecting approximately 2-3% of the population.
What to Do
If you suspect you have an impacted tooth, it's important to:
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Consult a Dentist: A dentist can examine your mouth and take X-rays to determine the cause of the impaction and the best course of treatment.
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Discuss Treatment Options: Treatment options vary depending on the severity of the impaction, and could include:
- Monitoring: If the tooth isn't causing any problems, the dentist may simply monitor it.
- Extraction: Removal of the impacted tooth.
- Surgical Exposure: A procedure to expose the tooth and allow it to erupt naturally, sometimes with the help of orthodontics.
