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Tooth retention is an anomaly in which the tooth could not erupt and is located in the soft tissues of the gums or in the bone tissues of the jaw. This can lead to patient pain, redness and swelling of the gums, as well as general malaise, weakness and fever. However, most often a person does not feel any inconvenience and discovers a “find” by chance during the examination. Extraction of an impacted tooth is a complex procedure and is performed only by a dental surgeon with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience.
Causes of delay and improper growth
There are many reasons for such a delay, for example, premature removal of milk teeth, improper placement of the rudiments of permanent ones, or lack of space due to too dense arrangement of teeth. In addition, general exhaustion of the body, chronic diseases, and even errors in the nutrition system of infants can also affect.
An impacted tooth is also formed due to too thick walls of the dental sac, too dense gums, which are difficult to cut through, or, conversely, too loose, which leads to the deviation of the germ from the vertical axis. Not the last role is also played by heredity.
Canines, small molars and wisdom teeth are most susceptible to retention. The latter make you go to the dentist most often. The incorrect growth of the “eights” is caused by the lack of space on the gums, since the human jaw had almost formed before they appeared.
There are such clinical forms of retention as single (individual teeth), multiple (significant amount) and complete (when there are no teeth in the dentition). They can be slightly visible above the surface of the gums (with partial retention) or hidden so that they are not visible at all in the oral cavity (with full retention). Further actions of the doctor will depend on these factors – to pull or remove the tooth.
Indications for the treatment of anomalies
If you have already encountered such a problem, then, first of all, you need to undergo a thorough examination, make an X-ray examination: an X-ray, a panoramic picture, and in especially severe cases, a computed tomography may be needed. This will help the doctor determine the number of impacted teeth, their placement, the shape and state of development of the roots. And if the tooth is healthy, does not interfere with neighboring ones, participates in the chewing process, or is suitable for supporting the prosthesis, then the doctor may decide to keep it. To do this, a surgical operation will be performed to pull the tooth. And this is not about removal, but a kind of treatment.
The procedure takes place in two stages with the close cooperation of a dental surgeon and an orthodontist. The first stage involves the procedure for installing an orthodontic button. To do this, make a small incision in the soft tissues and attach it to the exposed part of the canine or molar roots. Previously, if there is such a need, a part of the bone that covers the tooth is removed.
After the wound has healed, the orthodontist begins to work, who, with the help of special elastics, eventually pulls the tooth out.
Surgery to remove an impacted tooth
More often than not, however, molar retention entails extraction, even if the tooth does not appear to cause any pain or discomfort. According to dentists, inaction in this case leads to serious consequences:
- formation of an odontogenic cyst;
- resorption of the roots of the teeth, which are located in the neighborhood;
- their abnormal eruption;
- numbness of the face due to the effect on the nerve endings;
- displacement of the lateral teeth towards the impacted;
- violation of the functionality and aesthetics of the face.
In addition, the risk of infection increases, which will lead to an inflammatory process in the gums, the formation of caries, periodontitis, periodontal disease and other serious diseases.
In this case, the doctor will be forced to perform surgery. For this, an incision is made in the upper mucosa. If the tooth is located in the gum, then it will simply be dislocated and removed. When placed in the bone tissue of the jaw – you will need to drill a hole with a drill. Sometimes a too large tooth is divided into several parts and removed in turn. The last stage of the procedure is the antiseptic treatment of the wound and, if necessary, suturing.
Recommendations for the postoperative period
You must immediately be prepared for the fact that after three hours in the dental chair, time will also be needed for the rehabilitation period. So, for example, after the end of the action of anesthesia, severe pain and discomfort will appear, which local analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed by the doctor will help to cope with. It is recommended not to eat for at least 3 hours after the operation, and then not to eat hot or too hard food. In addition, swelling and spotting may be present for the first 3-5 days, which can be reduced by a cold compress.
It is worth refraining from visiting a solarium, a bath and not taking sunbaths these days, since such procedures lead to re-bleeding or increase it, and also contribute to the development of the inflammatory process.
Doctors also advise quitting smoking for a while so that the healing process is faster and more painless. And, of course, take good care of your mouth. By following these simple rules, the recovery process will be quick and without complications.