What Are the Causes and Symptoms of an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?

Understanding Impacted Wisdom Teeth

An impacted wisdom tooth occurs when a wisdom tooth doesn’t have enough room to fully emerge or grows in the wrong direction. As the tooth develops and pushes against surrounding teeth or gum tissue, it can create pressure and discomfort. Sometimes, the tooth grows sideways, diagonally, or remains trapped beneath the gum — all of which can lead to pain and inflammation.

Common Causes

Impaction typically happens because the jaw is too small to accommodate the new teeth. As a result, the wisdom tooth may press against nearby teeth, gum tissue, or even bone. This constant pressure often leads to swelling, soreness, and in some cases, infection.

Symptoms to Watch For

Signs of an impacted wisdom tooth can vary, but the most common include:

• Persistent pain or tenderness at the back of the mouth
• Swollen, red, or bleeding gums
• Jaw stiffness or difficulty opening the mouth
• Swelling around the affected area
• Bad breath or an unpleasant taste caused by trapped bacteria

If left untreated, gum inflammation can worsen, allowing infection to spread and causing nearby teeth to shift out of position — leading to crowding or crookedness.

Why Extraction May Be Needed

In many cases, wisdom tooth extraction is recommended to prevent ongoing pain, infection, and long-term misalignment. Removing the impacted tooth helps protect the rest of your smile from decay and gum disease.

If extraction is advised but delayed, the surrounding area can become more vulnerable to infection and bone loss, increasing the risk of gum disease and even tooth loss over time.