DENTAL IMPACTION Meaning and
Definition
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Dental impaction refers to a condition in which a tooth fails to fully emerge or erupt from the gums into its expected position in the dental arch. This commonly occurs when a tooth is obstructed by another tooth, bone, or soft tissue, preventing it from properly growing into its designated location.
Typically, dental impactions occur most frequently with the third molars, known as wisdom teeth. These teeth tend to emerge during late adolescence or early adulthood, and often encounter limited space within the jaw. Consequently, wisdom teeth may become partially or completely impacted, causing various symptoms and potential complications.
There are three main types of dental impaction: mesial impaction (when the tooth is angled towards the front of the mouth), distal impaction (when the tooth is angled towards the back of the mouth), and vertical impaction (when the tooth fails to fully erupt but remains in a relatively upright position). The symptoms of dental impaction can include pain, swelling, redness, and difficulty opening the mouth.
Treatment for dental impaction typically involves a dental professional, such as an oral surgeon or dentist, who may recommend extraction of the impacted tooth. This procedure often involves creating an incision or removing bone to access the impacted tooth, followed by removing it carefully to prevent damage to the surrounding structures. If left untreated, dental impaction can lead to the development of infections, cysts, damage to adjacent teeth, or misalignment of the dental arch.
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Confinement of a tooth in the alveolus and prevention of its eruption.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for DENTAL IMPACTION
- sental impaction
- xental impaction
- cental impaction
- fental impaction
- rental impaction
- eental impaction
- dwntal impaction
- dsntal impaction
- ddntal impaction
- drntal impaction
- d4ntal impaction
- d3ntal impaction
- debtal impaction
- demtal impaction
- dejtal impaction
- dehtal impaction
- denral impaction
- denfal impaction
- dengal impaction
- denyal impaction
Etymology of DENTAL IMPACTION
The word "dental" comes from the Latin word "dentes" meaning "teeth", while "impaction" comes from the Latin word "impingere" meaning "to drive against". Therefore, the etymology of "dental impaction" essentially refers to the situation where teeth are driven or pressed against each other, causing a blockage or obstruction.
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