The common perception of an impacted tooth tends to indicate the presence of a wisdom tooth, because of the trouble it causes. If you suffer from impacted tooth, it would be ideal to consult a dentist. The dentist may call for an orthopantomogram as it will reveal which tooth will be impacted.

Sometimes a permanent tooth may not erupt at all or it may erupt at a wrong place. A misdirected tooth can push the roots of other teeth or move it from its position to an unhealthy position. This can cause poor bite, tenderness, pain, and poor chewing.

Wisdom teeth are the last to erupt, and they do so when a person is 17 and 21 years. This tooth generally causes significant pain and takes a long time to fully come out.

If the wisdom teeth are not erupting in their right position, they can trap food particles and cause tooth decay, thus making oral hygiene difficult. A partially erupted third molar can allow bacteria to enter the gum and cause gum infection. A wisdom tooth, which does not have space, can erupt sideways and cause crowding. An obstructed wisdom tooth can get fused with the jaw and form a cyst.

There are five types of wisdom teeth:

• A full bony impacted tooth is where the tooth is completely joined with the jaw bone, and it is the most difficult to remove.
• In partial bony impaction, only a part is joined with the jaw.
• In soft tissue impaction, the extraction of the tooth is relatively simple.
• The fourth type is the erupted wisdom tooth, and this is the simplest in terms of extraction.
• The fifth type is the asymptomatic impacted wisdom tooth.

In other instances of wisdom tooth, the gum is cut to expose the teeth and jaw bone. However, in severe compaction, the jaw, tooth, and the roots may be cut into different pieces and taken out separately. It is essential to follow the instructions and follow-up checkups.

The most serious complication is the dry socket wherein the jaw bone is exposed. It is very painful and increases the chances of infection. Infection from food and bacteria getting trapped in the socket is a common complication. Structures in proximity like adjacent teeth, the sinus floor, the nerve, and jaw bone can all get injured during the procedure.