At Mission Implant Center, Dr. Al Manesh and his outstanding team have helped thousands of patients navigate the often-confusing world of impacted wisdom tooth treatment with a level of precision, compassion, and clinical excellence that truly sets them apart.
Dr. Al Manesh’s remarkable dedication to patient outcomes and his commitment to using the most advanced techniques available make him a trusted name in oral care.
An impacted wisdom tooth is one of the most common dental concerns in young adults and one of the most misunderstood. Whether you’re feeling unexplained jaw pain, worried about a recommendation for surgery, or just curious about what “impacted” actually means, this guide has you covered.
We’ll walk you through everything: what impaction is, the warning signs you shouldn’t ignore, your treatment options, what recovery looks like, and what it costs all backed by research and real clinical expertise.
What is an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?
An impacted wisdom tooth occurs when the third molars at the back of your mouth do not have enough room to emerge or develop normally. Instead of growing straight, they become trapped under the gum or bone.
According to research published in the National Library of Medicine, nearly 72% of young adults have at least one impacted wisdom tooth, making it one of the most common dental issues globally.
Common Types of Impaction
Impaction Type | Description |
Mesial impacted wisdom tooth | The tooth grows at an angle toward the front of the mouth (most common). |
Horizontal impacted wisdom tooth | The tooth grows at a 90-degree angle, lying completely on its side. |
Vertical Impaction | The tooth is upright but remains trapped beneath the jawbone. |
Distal Impaction | The tooth angles toward the back of the mouth. |
What are the Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth?
Some people with impacted wisdom teeth won’t notice any problems at all, while others will have obvious symptoms.
An impacted wisdom tooth might break through the gums, and part of the gums can be seen. This is called a partially impacted wisdom tooth.
A partially impacted wisdom tooth may cause food to become trapped and can make cleaning the tooth more difficult. For some people, a partially impacted tooth is very painful.
If the tooth becomes infected or causes other issues, you may have symptoms such as:
- pain or swelling around the jaw
- red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- bad breath
- an unpleasant taste in your mouth
- problems opening your mouth
In other cases, the affected tooth may never break through the gums. This is known as a fully impacted wisdom tooth.
Is Impacted Wisdom Tooth Dangerous?
Yes, if untreated.
An impacted wisdom tooth can lead to:
- Infections (pericoronitis)
- Damage to nearby teeth
- Cysts or jawbone damage
- Crowding and misalignment
Early diagnosis significantly reduces complications.
Treatment for Impacted Wisdom Tooth
The primary treatment involves a surgical extraction where a specialist removes the tooth to prevent infection, cysts, or damage to surrounding molars.
1. Monitoring (Mild Cases)
- No pain or infection
- Regular checkups recommended
2. Medications
- Pain relievers
- Antibiotics for infection
3. Surgical Removal (Most Common)
- Minor oral surgery under local or sedation anesthesia
- Safe and routine procedure
Best solution: Removal is often recommended to prevent future complications.
Diagnosis: How Dentists Identify the Problem
Dentists use:
- Clinical examination
- Digital X-rays or 3D scans
These help determine:
- Tooth position
- Severity of impaction
- Risk to surrounding structures
What Does the Complete Removal of Wisdom Teeth Involve?
If the wisdom tooth has not fully erupted into the mouth it is often necessary to make a cut in the gum over the tooth. Sometimes it is also necessary to remove some bone surrounding the wisdom tooth. The tooth may need to be cut into 2 or 3 pieces to remove it.
Once the wisdom tooth has been removed the gum is put back into place with stitches. In the majority of cases these stitches are dissolvable and take around two weeks to disappear.
Recovery: What to Expect After Surgery
Recovery is a vital phase to avoid complications like “dry socket.”
- First 24 Hours: Rest is essential; avoid strenuous activity and do not use straws.
- Days 2-3: Swelling usually peaks during this window. Use ice packs to manage inflammation.
- Diet: Stick to soft foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes, and smoothies.
- Hygiene: Gently rinse with warm salt water after the first 24 hours to keep the site clean.
Is Impacted Wisdom Tooth Removal Painful?
Short answer: No, during the procedure.
- Local anesthesia ensures no pain during surgery
- Mild discomfort may occur after, but is manageable with medication
- Most patients describe it as less painful than expected
According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), impacted third molars are associated with increased risk of infection and adjacent tooth damage.
What Are the Main Possible Risks of Removing a Wisdom Tooth?
Most patients will recover fully with no problems.
Bleeding
There may be a little bleeding at the time of the extraction this usually stops very quickly and is unlikely to be a problem.
If you are at home and the area bleeds again this can usually be stopped by applying pressure over the area for at least 10 minutes with a rolled up handkerchief or swab. If the bleeding does not stop, please contact the department where you had your operation.
Altered Sensation to the chin, lower lip or tongue
Two nerves lie quite close to the lower wisdom teeth. The nerves can vary in their proximity to wisdom teeth. The lingual nerve provides sensation in your tongue whilst the inferior dental nerve gives sensation to the lower lip and skin overlying the chin. Occasionally these nerves may be bruised during tooth removal.
If this happens then you may have either numbness or pins and needles in either the tongue, lower lip, skin over the chin or any combination of these.
Infection
An infection in the in the socket can occur or the blood clot from extraction socket has dissolved away which may result in a dry socket. The incidence of this happening is low being in the order of 2%.
According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), impacted third molars are associated with increased risk of infection and adjacent tooth damage.
It can be minimized by keeping the area clean with rinsing with water or a mouthwash starting this the day after your procedure.
Weakening of the Jaw
In exceptional cases wisdom tooth removal can cause significant weakening of the jaw with the resultant possibility of jaw fracture. The incidence of this happening is extremely low and is less than 1% (less than 1 in 100).
Food to Eat and Foods to Avoid
Staying hydrated and eating well is important for recovery, though you might not have a very good appetite directly after surgery. Ask your doctor for specific instructions on what you can eat the first few days of recovery.
Think of food that will be easy to eat without much chewing, and food that won’t disrupt your blood clot or stitches.
Start with very soft food at first, such as:
- cottage cheese
- apple sauce
- pudding
- soup
- mashed potatoes
- smoothies
When eating, avoid:
- extremely hot food that can burn the site of the surgery
- nuts or seeds that could get stuck in the hole where your wisdom teeth used to be
- drinking from a straw, or slurping too vigorously from a spoon, which can dislodge your blood clot or ruin stitches
- Slowly begin eating heartier food when you feel ready.
It can be serious if untreated, leading to pain, infection, gum disease, or damage to nearby teeth.
The pain may temporarily subside but usually returns until the underlying issue is treated.
Leaving it untreated can cause infections, cysts, tooth decay, and damage to surrounding teeth and bone.
It is typically treated by surgical removal performed by a dentist or oral surgeon.