impacted tooth
Noun: A tooth that is unable to emerge fully into its normal position in the mouth because it is blocked, typically by another tooth, bone, or soft tissue. This condition occurs when there is insufficient space in the dental arch, preventing the tooth from erupting normally through the gums.
An impacted tooth is a specific dental condition. It is most commonly used in medical and dental contexts to describe the state of the tooth itself. - The term is often modified by the tooth's location, e.g., "impacted wisdom tooth." - It is used to discuss diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment options.
- The dental X-ray revealed an impacted tooth at the back of his jaw.
- She experienced pain and swelling due to an impacted wisdom tooth.
- The orthodontist recommended surgery to remove the impacted canine tooth.
- "To become impacted": This verbal phrase describes the process of a tooth failing to erupt.
- The wisdom tooth became impacted because there was not enough room in her jaw.
- "To have an impacted tooth": A common construction to state the condition.
- The patient has an impacted molar that requires extraction.
- Impaction (n): The condition or process of being impacted; the state of a tooth that is impacted.
- Tooth impaction can lead to infection or damage to adjacent teeth.
- Impacted (adj): Used to describe the tooth. (Note: This is the adjectival form of the target noun phrase).
- The surgeon removed the impacted molar.
- Unerupted tooth: A more general clinical term for a tooth that has not emerged through the gum line. (Note: Not all unerupted teeth are impacted; an impacted tooth is specifically blocked from erupting).
- Blocked tooth: A less technical, descriptive synonym.
The term "impacted" has distinct meanings in other contexts (e.g., "impacted fracture" in medicine, "impacted stool" in gastroenterology, or "socially impacted" in sociology). However, the compound noun "impacted tooth" refers exclusively to the dental disorder described above.
- a disorder in which a tooth is so crowded in its socket that it cannot erupt normally