What are impacted wisdom teeth?

What are impacted wisdom teeth?
Sep 28, 2007
BMJ Publishing Group Ltd

In this section
Key points for people with impacted wisdom teeth
Your wisdom teeth
When your wisdom teeth get impacted
Problems caused by impacted wisdom teeth
How does my dentist know I have impacted wisdom teeth?

Your wisdom teeth are the last adult teeth to appear. There are four of them, right at the back of your mouth. But sometimes they don't come through the gum properly. This usually happens when there isn't enough space, or when the teeth are growing in the wrong direction. When this happens, they're called impacted wisdom teeth.

You may wonder if you need to have your impacted wisdom teeth taken out. But as long as these teeth are not giving you symptoms such as pain, or causing damage to other teeth, you probably do not need to have them removed. Having them taken out can be painful. And, like any surgery, the operation has risks.

You might like to find out how much you know by taking our Wisdom teeth quiz.

Key points for people with impacted wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth are normal adult teeth.
Sometimes they don't come through the gums properly.
When this happens, dentists describe them as impacted.
Unless your wisdom teeth are causing you trouble, you probably do not need to have them taken out.1
But if they are causing pain, are damaging other teeth or your jawbone, or keep causing infections, you need to have them removed.
Your wisdom teeth

The four wisdom teeth usually come through your gums when you are in your late teens or 20s. Sometimes they come through a lot later. They got their name because they come through later than your other teeth, when you're 'lder and wiser'.

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars to come through your gums.

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars.
Molars are the big teeth towards the back of your mouth that you use for chewing food.
You get your first set of molars at the age of 6 or 7 and the second set between 11 and 13. Before your late teens, you'll normally have two molars on both sides of your upper and lower jaw.
Not everyone has wisdom teeth. In some people, they never appear.
When your wisdom teeth get impacted

Sometimes wisdom teeth don't come through the gums properly. This usually happens