Impacted tooth swelling

An impacted tooth with swelling may have inflamed tissue or an infection around a tooth that cannot 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.

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.

Seek urgent dental care for worsening swelling, fever, pus, difficulty opening the mouth, swallowing, or breathing. Breathing or swallowing difficulty requires emergency medical help.

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.