Impacted Wisdom Tooth

An impacted wisdom tooth may cause no symptoms. When it does cause trouble, a person may notice pain at the back of the mouth, swelling or tenderness around the gum, difficulty opening the mouth, bad taste or breath, or pressure near nearby teeth.

Impaction can occur when there is not enough room for the tooth, the tooth is angled, or another tooth or bone blocks its route. The position of the tooth and the surrounding structures determine what happens next.

A wisdom tooth may be partly visible, fully covered by gum, or held within bone. The important distinction is whether it is cleanable and symptom-free, or whether its position is linked with pain, infection or damage around it.

Risk depends on the tooth position, the room available for eruption, and whether food and plaque can collect around a partly erupted tooth. A clinical examination is needed to judge an individual tooth.

A dentist examines the back of the mouth and uses dental imaging to see the tooth position, its relationship with nearby teeth and the surrounding bone. That information guides the treatment discussion.

A symptom-free tooth may be monitored when examination supports that approach. A tooth causing repeated symptoms or local problems may need removal. The choice depends on the clinical and imaging findings.

The cost is shaped by the examination, dental imaging, and whether removal is needed; an infected tooth may also require antibiotics before extraction.

An impacted tooth can be associated with pain, infection, decay, or damage involving nearby structures. Dental examination and imaging show which of these problems is present.

A blocked wisdom tooth cannot be made to erupt correctly with a home method; earlier assessment may be useful because removal before age 20 often heals more easily.