An impacted tooth is a tooth that fails to grow into the mouth for various reasons. Impactions can be caused by improper positioning of the developing tooth bud. Early loss of primary teeth or crowding of the permanent teeth can also cause impactions.

Wisdom teeth are the most commonly impacted teeth, but canines and premolars are also occasionally impacted.

This problem should be corrected because it can:

• cause damage to the root structure of adjacent teeth
• interfere with the sinus cavity
• leave unwanted spaces
• lead to improper chewing function
• lead to cyst development
• case asymmetric alignment of the teeth

How can impacted teeth be orthodontically corrected? Usually, a space must be made in the mouth with braces for the impacted tooth. If it does not then erupt on its own, it will need to be exposed by an oral surgeon and over the course of several months, moved orthodontically into the correct position in the mouth. Some impacted teeth are not salvageable and must be extracted.

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