Impacted teeth are teeth that fail to fully erupt into the mouth or grow in the wrong position, usually because they are blocked by bone, gum tissue, or other teeth. This condition most commonly affects the third molars (wisdom teeth) but can also involve canines or other teeth.
🦷 What Is an Impacted Tooth?
An impacted tooth is:
- Stuck under the gum or in the jawbone
- Partially erupted (visible but not fully in place)
- Often misaligned or growing at an angle
🧠 Commonly Impacted Teeth
- Third molars (wisdom teeth) — most commonly impacted
- Maxillary canines (upper eye teeth) — especially important for alignment
- Premolars or supernumerary (extra) teeth — less common
🔍 Types of Impaction (Based on Angle or Location)
🔸 Soft Tissue Impaction
- Tooth is covered by gum tissue
🔸 Bony Impaction
- Tooth is partially or fully covered by jawbone
🔸 Angulation Types:
- Mesioangular (angled toward the front of the mouth) — most common
- Distoangular (angled toward the back of the mouth)
- Vertical (straight but fails to erupt)
- Horizontal (lying sideways in the jawbone)
⚠️ Signs & Symptoms
- Swollen, red, or bleeding gums
- Pain or tenderness in the jaw
- Difficulty opening the mouth
- Bad breath or unpleasant taste
- Headaches or earaches
- Crowding or shifting of other teeth
- No symptoms at all (often found on X-rays)
🧫 Causes
- Lack of space in the jaw
- Genetics
- Delayed eruption
- Over-retained baby teeth
- Tumors or cysts blocking eruption
🛠️ Diagnosis
- Clinical exam by a dentist
- Dental X-rays or panoramic radiographs
- CBCT (Cone Beam CT) for surgical planning
🛠️ Treatment Options
✅ If Asymptomatic and Not Causing Issues:
- Monitoring only, with periodic X-rays
❗ If Symptomatic or Risky:
- Surgical extraction (most common for wisdom teeth)
- Orthodontic traction (for impacted canines)
- Exposure and bonding (to help guide eruption)
🛡️ Risks of Untreated Impacted Teeth
- Infection (pericoronitis)
- Abscess or cyst formation
- Damage to nearby teeth or roots
- Gum disease or decay in surrounding teeth
- Misalignment or crowding of adjacent teeth