Impacted wisdom teeth are third molars at the back of the mouth that don’t have enough room to emerge or grow normally. Wisdom teeth are the last adult teeth to come into the mouth (erupt). Most people have four wisdom teeth at the back of the mouth — two on the top, two on the bottom.
Impacted wisdom teeth can result in pain, damage to other teeth and other dental problems. In some cases, impacted wisdom teeth may cause no apparent or immediate problems.
But because they’re hard to clean, they may be more vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease than other teeth.
Impacted wisdom teeth that cause pain or other dental complications are usually removed. Some dentists and oral surgeons also recommend removing impacted wisdom teeth that don’t cause symptoms to prevent future problems.
Impacted wisdom teeth don’t always show symptoms. However, when an impacted wisdom tooth becomes infected, it damages other teeth or causes other dental problems, you may experience some of these signs or symptoms:
• Pain
• Red or swollen gums
• Tender or bleeding gums
• Swelling around the jaw
• Bad breath
• An unpleasant taste in your mouth
• Headache
Complications
• Damage to other teeth. If a wisdom tooth pushes against the second molar, it may damage the second molar or make it more vulnerable to infection. This pressure can also cause problems with crowding of the other teeth or orthodontic treatments to straighten them.
• Cysts. The wisdom tooth grows in a sac within the jawbone. The sac can fill with fluid, forming a cyst that can damage the jawbone, teeth and nerves. Rarely, a tumour — usually a noncancerous tumour — develops. This complication may require removal of tissue and bone.
• Decay. Partially impacted wisdom teeth appear to be more vulnerable to tooth decay (caries) than other teeth. This probably occurs because wisdom teeth are harder to clean and because food and bacteria get easily trapped between the gum and a partially erupted tooth.
• Gum disease. The difficulty of cleaning impacted, partially erupted wisdom teeth also makes them a vulnerable site for the development of a painful, inflammatory gum condition called pericoronitis (per-ih-kor-o-NI-tis).
When to see a doctor
See your dentist if you experience pain, swelling or other symptoms in the area behind your last molar that may be associated with an impacted wisdom tooth.
Impacted wisdom teeth causing pain or other dental problems are usually surgically removed, or extracted.
If you have medical conditions that may increase surgical risks, your dentist will likely ask you to see an oral surgeon to discuss the best course of action.
Keep all regularly scheduled dental appointments for cleanings and checkups. Regularly updated dental X-rays may indicate impacted wisdom teeth before any symptoms develop.
