A condition in which a tooth is closely pressed against other teeth and cannot grow normally.
Teeth embedded in the gums or jawbone that have not erupted because of a physical obstruction or overcrowding. An impacted tooth fails to erupt or erupts only partially because it is blocked by bone or gum tissue, or because it is jammed against another tooth. Some teeth tend to be involved more frequently. The teeth usually include the third molars (also called wisdom teeth), the upper canines (eye teeth), and the second premolars (teeth between cuspids and molars). Supernumerary teeth (extra teeth) may also be involved. The wisdom teeth often only partially erupt, and the surrounding gum is susceptible to infection. They may sometimes erupt normally if left untreated.
Impaction refers to a tooth’s inability to fully break through the gum. This might happen due to overcrowding in the mouth or if a tooth grows in an incorrect direction.
Impacted wisdom teeth often occur when these teeth emerge during early adulthood. If they don’t cause any symptoms, there’s no need for removal. However, in some instances, impacted wisdom teeth only partially pierce the gum, leaving a flap of tissue covering most of the tooth’s crown. This situation can lead to the accumulation of plaque, bacteria, and food particles between the tooth and the gum, resulting in pain and inflammation in the gum tissues. If this issue continues, it becomes necessary to remove the affected teeth.
A situation where a tooth that hasn’t emerged gets trapped against the adjacent tooth and cannot break through the gum.