An impacted tooth can be painless, and you may not even realize it's there. However, when an impacted wisdom tooth tries to erupt, the overlying gum may swell and cause pain, which may also be felt in nearby teeth or the ear on that side. A partially erupted tooth can collect food and other debris, which can lead to gum swelling and an infection called pericoronitis. If untreated, this infection can spread toward the throat or into the neck. Impacted teeth also can cause problems if they develop decay or if they push on the neighboring molar, which could lead to tooth movement or decay, as well as changes in the bite (the way the teeth come together). Impacted teeth also can cause cysts and other benign (harmless) jaw tumors. These can lead to bone destruction. However, this is rare.

You can sometimes relieve minor irritation by rinsing with warm salt water or by taking painkillers. If the tooth continues to cause pain, is infected or is interfering with nearby teeth, the usual treatment is for the tooth to be extracted. This can be done in our dental clinic by our Consulting Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon with a local anaesthesia. Extracting/Disimpacting one tooth can take 5 to 30 minutes, depending on the position of the tooth.