What is it?
Wisdom teeth usually erupt between 17 and 25, and the jaw often has insufficient room for them. Without enough space the tooth tilts, erupts only partially, or stays fully buried in the bone.
The real trouble comes with partially erupted teeth: the flap of gum covering them cannot be cleaned underneath, setting up recurrent infection (pericoronitis). A tilted tooth can also press on the molar in front, causing decay and bone loss there.
Signs
You will not necessarily have all of these at once.
Why does it happen?
- 01
Jaw size
The modern jaw simply doesn't leave enough room for third molars in most people.
- 02
The angle of the tooth
Tilting forward, backward or sideways stops the tooth reaching a normal position.
- 03
Thick bone or gum covering
Even a correctly angled tooth can be blocked by the tissue over it.
How is it treated?
Not every impacted tooth is removed. One that is fully within the bone, not pressing on its neighbour and causing no problems can be monitored with periodic radiographs. The decision is made from a panoramic X-ray or 3D scan.
Where there is recurrent infection, decay in the adjacent tooth, cyst formation or an orthodontic need, surgical extraction is carried out. The procedure is done under local anaesthetic; swelling and limited mouth opening for two to three days afterwards are expected.
- Marked difficulty opening your mouth
- Swelling spreading toward the neck or affecting swallowing
How is it prevented?
- Have the position assessed with a panoramic X-ray in your early twenties
- Clean carefully around a partially erupted tooth with an interdental brush
- Don't treat recurring gum swelling there as a passing problem
Frequently asked questions
- Should a painless impacted tooth be removed?
- Not necessarily. If imaging shows no pressure on the adjacent tooth, no decay and no cyst, it can be monitored. The decision rests on imaging, not on age.
- Does removing wisdom teeth straighten the others?
- No. The idea that wisdom teeth cause crowding of the front teeth is not supported by current evidence.
This content is for general information and does not replace an in-person examination. Symptoms overlap between conditions, and a diagnosis can only be made clinically.