Wisdom teeth are a set of the last erupting molars that are the third molars in both the upper and lower arches that can be completely or partially impacted in the gums and jawbone. Having an impacted wisdom tooth can lead to many oral health conditions like tooth decay, gum diseases, and many other leading infections like tooth abscesses. The only solution for this is to have a surgical operation and remove or extract the wisdom tooth. Time Of Wisdom Tooth Eruption Wisdom teeth erupt at the age range of 17 to 22 years of age. Some wisdom teeth erupt in correct alignment with the other teeth present anterior to them, but most wisdom teeth are not in proper occlusion, and that is what plays a major role in making them dangerous. Types Of Wisdom Teeth There are many types of wisdom teeth present which depend on the eruption pattern and their visibility in the oral cavity. They are as follows: -Completely impacted wisdom tooth: A completely impacted wisdom tooth is one which is entirely inside the gums and locked in the alveolar bone. This happens when the tooth does not have any space available to erupt in the oral cavity. -Partially impacted wisdom tooth: Partial impaction is when the wisdom tooth is partly in the gums and partly outside and is visible in the oral cavity. This occurs when only a little space is available in the oral cavity, so the wisdom tooth erupts at odd places, either in front or at the back of the other molars. -Non–impacted wisdom tooth: This wisdom tooth is fully erupted and is completely visible in the oral cavity. This is rare and occurs in only a small portion of the people. -Mesial impaction: This is the most commonly occurring impaction in wisdom teeth. In this, the tooth is angled towards the front of the mouth of the patient. -Distal impaction: In this, the wisdom tooth is angled towards the back of the oral cavity. -Vertical impaction: In this, the wisdom tooth is in the correct position to erupt in the oral cavity, but it is still trapped in the gums due to a physical barrier. -Horizontal impaction: In horizontal impaction, the impacted tooth is present on its side under the gums and mostly trapped in the basal bone. This is the most painful type of impaction because, owing to its position, it applies a lot of pressure on the opposite tooth root that can also cause resorption of the root leading to its exfoliation.

Symptoms Of Impacted Wisdom Teeth Mostly wisdom teeth do not cause any problems to the patient. Patients only present to the dentist when the tooth itself has become infected, is damaging the adjacent tooth, or is causing any other dental health problems. The symptoms, when present, are as follows: -Bleeding gums -Painful and inflamed gums -Pain in jaws -Bad breath (halitosis) -An unpleasant taste in the mouth -Difficulty when the person tries to open their mouth -Swelling around the jaw Causes Of Impaction Of Wisdom Teeth There are many causes that lead to the impaction of the wisdom teeth. Some of them are as follows: One of the main reasons for the impaction of wisdom teeth is that they do not have enough space to erupt in their proper positions. Secondly, wisdom teeth do not develop properly. In some people, the wisdom teeth erupt in proper alignment in the arches that are just behind the second molars. But in most people, the wisdom teeth are hindered by many physical barriers, which is mostly the crowding of the teeth that lead to the impaction of the wisdom teeth. Complications Of Having Impacted Wisdom Teeth Impacted wisdom teeth have many complications in the oral cavity. Some of them are as follows: -Damage to other teeth: If the wisdom tooth presses against the second molar, it may damage it or increase the risk of infection in that area. This pressure can also cause issues with crowding of the other teeth or require orthodontic treatment to straighten the teeth. -Cysts: The wisdom tooth develops in a sac within the jawbone. The sac fills with fluid, forming a cyst that can damage the jawbone, teeth, and nerves. Rarely, a tumor, usually a benign cyst, develops. This complication may require the removal of tissue and bone. -Tooth decay: Partially impacted wisdom teeth appear to be at higher risk of tooth decay than other teeth. This occurs because wisdom teeth are harder to clean, and food and bacteria get trapped between the gum and a partially erupted tooth. -Gum disease: The difficulty cleaning impacted, partially erupted wisdom teeth increases the risk of developing painful, inflammatory gums called pericoronitis in that area.

To Sum Up Impacted wisdom teeth are the third molars that, due to some physical barrier like crowding of the teeth, may be partially or fully impacted. The symptoms of impaction are redness and swelling of gums and jaw pain. The complications of wisdom teeth are tooth decay, the development of cysts, and gum diseases. FAQs -How do you know if a wisdom tooth is impacted? To see if a wisdom tooth is impacted, dentists do a full oral cavity x-ray to see the teeth and the position of their impactions. -Is it really necessary to remove impacted wisdom teeth? Yes, it is necessary to extract impacted wisdom teeth because the tooth may damage the adjacent tooth, tooth abscess formation is common, and it can cause tooth decay and the formation of a pocket. -What happens if you never get your wisdom teeth pulled out? The complications that follow are the development of gum diseases, cyst formation, and damage to the adjacent teeth.