What is an Impacted Tooth?
An impacted tooth is one that fails to fully emerge through the gum line due to lack of space or obstruction by surrounding teeth, bone, or soft tissue. This is especially common with wisdom teeth, or third molars, which are the last to erupt—typically between ages 17 and 25.
At South Mississippi Oral Surgery & Implant Center in Gulfport, MS, we frequently treat patients with impacted wisdom teeth. These teeth often remain trapped in the jaw, partially emerge, or come in at an angle, which can lead to pain, infection, gum disease, and damage to adjacent teeth. Even if they are not currently causing symptoms, impacted wisdom teeth can create future oral health complications and are often best removed proactively by an experienced oral surgeon.
Types of Impactions
Wisdom teeth impactions are classified based on their position and how deeply they are embedded within the gums and jawbone. Understanding the type of impaction helps guide treatment planning and surgical approach.
Soft Tissue Impaction:
In this case, the wisdom tooth has partially erupted through the gum but has not fully broken through. A flap of gum tissue still covers part of the tooth, creating a pocket where food and bacteria can become trapped. This leads to frequent inflammation, swelling, and infection—a condition known as pericoronitis. These types of impactions are usually easier to extract but still require surgical precision.
Partial Bony Impaction:
Here, the wisdom tooth has partially emerged, but a portion of the tooth remains embedded in the jawbone. This type of impaction can be more complex to remove and often causes discomfort, swelling, and pressure against neighboring teeth. Surgical extraction is typically needed to prevent further complications, such as decay in adjacent molars or jaw stiffness.
Complete Bony Impaction:
This is the most severe form of impaction. The tooth is fully encased in the jawbone and has not broken through the gum at all. Complete bony impactions may cause pressure pain, cysts, and damage to surrounding bone or roots. Removal of a completely impacted wisdom tooth requires advanced surgical techniques and careful planning to avoid nerve injury or bone loss.