---
title: "What Is Impacted wisdom tooth? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "An impacted wisdom tooth is a third molar trapped in the jawbone or under the gum. It cannot come in fully, which can cause pain or infection."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/impacted-wisdom-tooth
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Oral Surgery

# Impacted wisdom tooth

An impacted wisdom tooth is a third molar trapped in the jawbone or under the gum. It cannot come in fully, which can cause pain or infection.

An impacted wisdom tooth is a third molar that is partially or fully trapped in your gums or jawbone, as Cleveland Clinic describes. MouthHealthy says wisdom teeth can cause trouble when there is not enough space to surface or they come through in the wrong position.

Food and bacteria can get trapped, which can lead to decay or infection. A partly erupted tooth can allow bacteria to enter the gums, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness in the jaw. An impacted tooth can also form a cyst or harm the roots of nearby teeth.

Surgical removal is often recommended for impacted wisdom teeth. Your dentist uses an X-ray to see how the tooth sits. See [impacted tooth](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/impacted-tooth), [pericoronitis](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/pericoronitis), and [wisdom tooth removal](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/wisdom-tooth-removal). The [tooth extraction](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/tooth-extraction) page describes the practice's own service.

[Town Center Dental can helpTooth Extraction](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/tooth-extraction)

## Related terms

-   [Impacted tooth](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/impacted-tooth)
-   [Pericoronitis](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/pericoronitis)
-   [Wisdom tooth removal](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/wisdom-tooth-removal)
-   [Wisdom teeth (third molars)](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/wisdom-teeth-third-molars)
-   [Panoramic X-ray](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/panoramic-x-ray)

## Sources

1.  [Cleveland Clinic: Impacted Wisdom Teeth](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22296-impacted-wisdom-teeth)
2.  [Cleveland Clinic: Impacted Wisdom Teeth](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22296-impacted-wisdom-teeth)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)