Impacted Wisdom Teeth

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Teens Smiling

Third molars are commonly referred to as wisdom teeth. They are usually the last teeth to develop and are located in the back of your mouth, behind your second molars.

Wisdom Teeth development is usually completed between the middle teenage years and early twenties, a time traditionally associated with the onset of maturity and the attainment of wisdom.

Wisdom teeth are often removed when they become impacted because there is not adequate room for them in the jaw.

Wisdom Teeth Presentation

To provide you with a better understanding of wisdom teeth, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to wisdom teeth are discussed.

Wisdom Teeth Presentation

Do You Need Relief from Wisdom Teeth Pain?

Don’t suffer any longer! Dr. Bui can gently extract wisdom teeth to prevent future complications.

What Is An Impacted Tooth?

Although most people develop and grow 32 permanent adult teeth, many times their jaws are too small to accommodate the four wisdom teeth. When inadequate space prevents the teeth from erupting they are called impacted. This indicates their inability to erupt into the proper position for chewing and cleaning.

X-ray and Illustration of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom Teeth impacted in the jaw: Patient x-ray on the left and illustration on the right

Types Of Impactions

We will need to see you for a consultation to determine if you will benefit from wisdom tooth removal. A special x-ray of your mouth and jaws (panorex) will be taken to determine if your wisdom teeth are impacted if there is room for them to erupt, and how difficult it will be to have them removed.

  • Soft Tissue Impaction: There is not enough room to allow the gum tissue to retract for adequate cleaning of the tooth.
  • Partial Bony Impaction: There is enough space to allow the wisdom tooth to erupt partially. However, the tooth cannot function properly in the chewing process and creates cleaning problems, among others.
  • Complete Bony Impaction: There is NO space for the tooth to erupt. It remains embedded in the jaw bone or if even partially visible requires complex surgical techniques for removal. The impacted wisdom tooth may also be in an unusual position and difficult to remove. This situation can also arise when the shape or size of the jaw bone and other facial structures make the removal of this tooth significantly more complex.

Illustrations Showing Types of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Jaw illustration: Impacted lower Wisdom Teeth affecting the soft tissueSoft Tissue
Jaw illustration: Partial Bony Impaction by lower Wisdom ToothPartial Bony
Jaw illustration: Complete Bony Impaction by lower Wisdom ToothComplete Bony

For more information or to schedule a Consult appointment with Dr. Bui, call us: Worcester MA Oral Surgery Office Phone Number 508-799-2550.