An impacted tooth is one that doesn’t break fully through the gum. MedlinePlus explains this most often happens with wisdom teeth, the last teeth to erupt, usually between ages 17 and 21. Many impacted teeth cause no trouble, but partly emerged ones can lead to gum infection and decay. Here is what to know.
Why teeth become impacted
According to MedlinePlus, a tooth may stay stuck in gum tissue or bone because:
- the area is overcrowded, for example the jaw is too small for wisdom teeth
- the tooth becomes twisted, tilted or displaced as it tries to emerge
Some professionals believe an impacted tooth can push on neighboring teeth and eventually cause a misaligned bite.
Symptoms
A fully impacted tooth may cause no symptoms. A partly impacted tooth can trap food, plaque and debris, leading to inflamed, tender gums and odor (pericoronitis). MedlinePlus lists:
- bad breath and an unpleasant taste when biting near the area
- pain or tenderness of the gums or jaw
- red, swollen gums around the tooth
- prolonged headache or jaw ache
- occasionally, trouble opening the mouth or swollen neck lymph nodes
- a visible gap where a tooth didn’t come in
As gums swell over a wisdom tooth, then drain and tighten, it may feel like the tooth came in and went back down.
Diagnosis
A dentist looks for swollen tissue and signs of infection such as redness, drainage and tenderness. MedlinePlus says dental X-rays confirm teeth that haven’t emerged. See our dental X-rays guide.
Treatment
- Watching: no treatment may be needed if an impacted wisdom tooth isn’t causing problems.
- Braces: for an impacted tooth toward the front, braces may help guide it into position.
- Comfort: over-the-counter pain relievers. Warm salt water (one-half teaspoon of salt in one cup of water) or over-the-counter mouthwash may soothe gums.
- Removal: the usual treatment for an impacted wisdom tooth, done in the office, most often by an oral surgeon. Antibiotics may come first if the tooth is infected.
For what removal involves, see our wisdom teeth guide, extraction recovery and dry socket.
Timing matters
MedlinePlus says having wisdom teeth removed before age 20 often has better results. Roots aren’t fully developed yet, so removal and healing are easier. With age, roots lengthen and curve, bone becomes more rigid and complications can develop.
Possible complications if untreated
MedlinePlus lists abscess, ongoing discomfort, infection, poor tooth alignment, plaque trapped between teeth and gums, gum disease on the neighboring tooth, and nerve damage if the tooth is near the jaw’s mandibular nerve. See tooth abscess signs.
When to contact your dentist
Contact your dentist if you have an unemerged or partly emerged tooth and gum pain or other symptoms (MedlinePlus).
Frequently asked questions
Do all impacted wisdom teeth need to come out?
No. MedlinePlus says some cause no problems and may not need treatment.
Which specialist removes impacted teeth?
Most often an oral surgeon. See dental specialists explained.
Sources
By the Dentist Review Editorial Team.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Talk to a licensed dentist about your own situation. See our disclaimer.
Featured image: “Idealpano” by Roquex, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC0. Resized and compressed for the web.
Our guides are written and reviewed by the Dentist Review editorial team. We research each topic using public, authoritative sources such as the CDC, the National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIDCR), the American Dental Association (ADA) and CMS, and we update guides when guidance changes. Guides are for general information only and are not dental or medical advice; please read our disclaimer and learn more about us.