Impacted tooth swelling
An impacted tooth with swelling may have inflamed tissue or an infection around a tooth that cannot erupt normally.
What can swelling around an impacted tooth indicate?
An impacted tooth with swelling may have inflamed tissue or an infection around a tooth that cannot erupt normally.
Why might an impacted tooth fail to erupt normally?
An impacted tooth is blocked by bone, gum, or another tooth, often involving a wisdom tooth. Swelling can result from inflamed gum tissue over the crown, trapped debris, or infection.
What should you avoid doing to swollen gum tissue?
Do not pick at the swollen gum or place aspirin on it. Rinse gently with warm salt water, keep the area clean, and arrange an urgent examination; a dentist may examine the pocket, take an X-ray, clean it, drain an abscess, prescribe medicine when indicated, or remove the tooth.
When does swelling around an impacted tooth need urgent care?
Seek urgent dental care for worsening swelling, fever, pus, difficulty opening the mouth, swallowing, or breathing. Breathing or swallowing difficulty requires emergency medical help.
What should you ask about treating the impacted tooth?
Ask whether the swelling is pericoronitis, an abscess, or another lesion, what the X-ray shows, and whether cleaning, drainage, monitoring, or extraction is appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first useful step?
Do not pick at the swollen gum or place aspirin on it.
When is it urgent?
Seek urgent dental care for worsening swelling, fever, pus, difficulty opening the mouth, swallowing, or breathing.
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Who wrote this page
This library is published by Dental Nation, a licensed dental group practising in the United Arab Emirates. Pages are written and overseen by the same clinical team that treats patients in our clinics, and are held to a fixed editorial standard for safety and accuracy.
This page is patient education, not medical advice, and cannot replace an examination. Anything urgent — facial swelling, trauma, uncontrolled bleeding or severe pain — needs a dentist or emergency care now.