Conditions
Impacted tooth
An impacted tooth is a tooth that does not come in normally. It stays stuck under the gum or in the bone, or only partly comes through.
If a tooth does not come in, or emerges only partially, it is considered to be impacted. An impacted tooth remains stuck in the gum tissue or bone. It most commonly affects wisdom teeth.
Impacted teeth do not always cause symptoms. Whether one is a concern depends on a few factors, such as its position. When it does cause trouble, signs can include pain, swelling, bad taste or gum infection around it, called pericoronitis.
A dentist finds an impacted tooth with an exam and x-rays. Some are watched over time. Others are removed. Our office describes removals on its tooth extraction page. See also impacted wisdom teeth.