An impacted tooth occurs when a tooth cannot fully emerge through the gum tissue and becomes trapped within the jawbone or beneath the gum line. Impaction commonly affects wisdom teeth due to their position at the back of the mouth and their tendency to erupt later than other teeth.

Occurs when the wisdom tooth partially erupts through the gum tissue but remains partially covered. This can create a flap of gum tissue that easily traps food debris, leading to inflammation and infection.

In this case, the wisdom tooth partially emerges from the jawbone but cannot fully erupt through the gum tissue. This can cause discomfort, swelling, and difficulty cleaning the area, increasing the risk of decay and infection.

The most severe form of impaction, where the wisdom tooth remains fully encased within the jawbone. This can lead to intense pain, swelling, and complications such as cyst formation around the impacted tooth.

Impacted wisdom teeth often require removal to prevent complications such as crowding, misalignment, infection, and damage to adjacent teeth or the jawbone. Oral surgeons typically recommend removal before these issues arise, often during the late teenage years or early twenties when the roots are not fully developed, making extraction easier and recovery faster. Proper evaluation by a dental professional is essential to determine the presence and severity of impaction and the appropriate course of treatment.