Impacted Teeth are more common than most people realize—especially wisdom teeth and upper canines. An impaction happens when a tooth cannot fully erupt into its normal position because it’s blocked by bone, gum, another tooth, or there simply isn’t enough space. Some people notice pain and swelling; others have no symptoms at all until a dental exam or X-ray reveals the issue.
Impacted Teeth: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Feel
What Are Impacted Teeth?
An impacted tooth is one that stays trapped in the gums or jawbone instead of growing in as expected. Any tooth can be affected, but wisdom teeth (third molars) and canines are the most frequent.
Which Teeth Are Most Often Impacted?
Third molars top the list, followed by maxillary canines; premolars and lower canines can also be involved. Contributing factors include limited jaw space, abnormal tooth position, or blockage along the eruption path.
Types Of Impaction You May Hear About
Dentists often describe impactions as soft-tissue, partial-bony, or full-bony, depending on how much of the tooth is covered by gum and bone. This helps guide planning and recovery expectations.
Why Do Impactions Happen?
Impactions usually result from crowding, a tooth erupting at an unusual angle, extra teeth, or other obstacles. Family history can play a role as well.
Space And Crowding
A small jaw or a crowded dental arch leaves little room for a tooth to move into place, increasing the chance it will stall beneath the gumline.
Tooth Angle And Eruption Path
If a tooth develops or turns at an off-angle, it can collide with neighboring roots or bone and stop short of its normal position.
Other Blockers
Occasionally, supernumerary (extra) teeth, cysts, or localized pathology restrict a tooth’s path and lead to impaction.
Symptoms And Complications To Watch For
Not all Impacted Teeth hurt. When symptoms do occur, they may include jaw tenderness, swollen or red gums near the tooth, bad breath, or a bad taste from trapped food and bacteria. Problems that can develop include gum infections around partly erupted teeth (pericoronitis), tooth decay, gum disease, cysts, and damage to nearby teeth.
Signs You Might Notice
Pain or swelling near the back of the mouth, difficulty opening your mouth fully, food impaction around a partially erupted tooth, and recurring tenderness under a gum flap are common flags.
Dental Problems They Can Trigger
Untreated impactions can raise the risk of cavities, gum disease, cyst formation, and inflammation of the gum overlying the tooth (pericoronitis). In select cases, they may affect adjacent teeth.
When There Are No Symptoms
If an impacted wisdom tooth isn’t causing problems, dentists often monitor it at routine checkups rather than remove it right away. This approach avoids surgical risks when there’s no clear benefit to removal.
Treatment, Recovery, and Why Our Dental Clinic Is the Right Place for Impacted Teeth Care
How Dentists Diagnose And Plan Care
Your dentist starts with a clinical exam and dental imaging. A panoramic X-ray typically shows the tooth’s position. When the tooth lies close to vital structures (like the lower jaw nerve), 3-D cone-beam CT (CBCT) imaging may be used to map anatomy and plan a safer procedure.
Imaging And Assessment
Imaging helps determine whether observation, orthodontic traction, or removal is the best next step, and it guides decisions about anesthesia and surgical technique.
When Observation Is Reasonable
Asymptomatic, disease-free wisdom teeth are often monitored with periodic exams and X-rays. Your dentist will re-evaluate if pain, infection, or damage to nearby teeth develops.
Treatment Options
Care depends on which tooth is involved, your age, symptoms, and what imaging shows.
Exposure And Bonding (For Impacted Canines)
For impacted canines—critical for bite and smile—dentists and orthodontists commonly expose the tooth surgically and attach a small bracket or chain. Gentle orthodontic traction then guides the tooth into its proper place over time. This approach is well documented in orthodontic literature.
Removal Of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
If a third molar is painful, infected, damaging nearby teeth, or associated with cysts, extraction is typically recommended. Depending on the complexity, removal may be done under local anesthesia, with options for sedation.
Comfort Options And Safety
Your clinician will recommend numbing and, when appropriate, sedation based on your health, the tooth’s position, and the procedure’s complexity; planning is guided by established oral-surgery parameters.
Recovery, Self-care, And Prevention Basics
Most people feel better each day after treatment, with swelling peaking around 48–72 hours. Avoid strenuous exercise early on, skip straws, and stick with soft foods until your surgeon clears you.
The First 24 Hours
Don’t rinse, spit, or brush directly over the site the first day. After 24 hours, gently brush around the area and start warm salt-water rinses as advised.
Days 2–3: Normal Swelling Peak
Expect the worst swelling between days two and three; use cold then warm compresses as directed, rest, and keep activity light. Most people resume normal fitness in 48–72 hours unless told otherwise.
Protect The Healing Site
Avoid smoking or tobacco during healing and skip hard, hot, or crunchy foods that can disturb the clot and slow recovery. Watch for worsening pain, heavy bleeding, or fever, and contact your dentist if they occur.
Can You Prevent Future Impactions?
Early dental visits, timely orthodontic evaluations, and good home care help reduce crowding risks and catch issues before they become painful. Regular exams let your dentist monitor any unerupted teeth over time.
Get Help For Impacted Teeth At Our Dental Clinic
If you’re dealing with jaw soreness, swollen gums near a partly erupted tooth, or repeated gum infections around a wisdom tooth, don’t wait. Our dental clinic offers careful assessment, modern imaging, and clear, step-by-step treatment plans for Impacted Teeth—from watchful monitoring to surgical care and orthodontic coordination for canines. Book a visit today to protect your smile, ease discomfort, and prevent future complications.