Food Impaction And Treatment

Food impaction is the forceful wedging of the food into the periodontium by occlusal forces.
Cusps that tend to forcibly wedge food inter-proximally are known as ‘Plunger cusps’.

Food Impaction Types

Vertical food impaction: Vertical food impaction results from the forceful wedging of food between the teeth by occlusal pressure.
Horizontal food impaction: Horizontal food impaction results from the wedging of food debris between the teeth by the action of cheeks and tongue during mastication.

Uneven occlusal wear: It can lead to food impaction because deflection of food away from proximal areas does not occur.
Loss of proximal contact: Most common cause is due to periodontal disease, nonreplaced missing teeth, proximal caries and abnormal biting habits.
Congenital morphologic abnormalities of teeth.
Improperly constructed restoration.
Lateral food impaction: Caused by occlusal forces, lateral pressure from cheeks, lips, tongue may force food interproximally.

Feeling of pressure and urge to dig the material between the teeth.

Vague pain that radiate deep in jaw.

Removal and correction of the etiological factors.
Missing tooth to be restored.
Recontouring of the occlusal and interproximal anatomy.
If the interproximal contact areas cannot be re-established, then the embrasure should be made self-cleansing.

Feeling of pressure and urge to dig the material between the teeth.
Vague pain that radiates deep in the jaws.
Gingival inflammation with bleeding and a foul taste in the involved area.
Gingival recession
Periodontal abscess formation.
Varying degrees of inflammatory involvement of periodontal ligament with an associated elevation of the tooth in its socket, prematurity in functional contact and sensitivity to percussion.
Destruction of the alveolar bone.
Root caries.