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What Is an Impacted Tooth?

Most people have 32 permanent adult teeth grow in. However, in many cases, their jaws do not have sufficient space to accommodate the four third molars (wisdom teeth). The lack of space preventing the teeth from breaking through the gums is called impacted teeth.

Types of Impacted Teeth

Come in for a consultation with Dr. Jiries Mogannam, Dr. Vicente Chavez and Dr. Christopher Chow to determine if you need wisdom teeth removal. Dental X-rays of your mouth and jaw will be taken so our oral surgeons can see if your third molars are impacted, if there is enough room for them to grow in and how difficult it will be to remove them.

There are several types of impactions, including:

  • Soft Tissue Impaction: Insufficient room for the gums to retract for proper cleaning of the tooth.
  • Partial Bony Impaction: The wisdom tooth only partially erupts. However, the tooth cannot chew and be cleaned properly.
  • Complete Bony Impaction: There is no space for the tooth to erupt. It remains completely embedded in the jaw. Even if the tooth is partially visible, complex surgical techniques would be required for removal. Complex bony impaction can also occur when the size or shape of the jawbone and facial structures make removal of the wisdom tooth more complex.

We welcome you to contact Sonoma County Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center at 707-566-7300 today to learn more about treatment for impacted wisdom teeth in Santa Rosa, California, and to set a consultation with our oral surgeons.

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