Impacted & Unerupted Teeth

Management of wisdom teeth, impacted canines, and other unerupted teeth.

Impacted teeth are teeth that fail to erupt into the mouth properly. This is most common with wisdom teeth and upper canines, but can occur with any tooth.

Early diagnosis and timely treatment help prevent complications and maintain long-term oral health.

What Are Impacted Teeth?

A tooth is considered impacted when:

It is blocked by bone or another tooth
It erupts in the wrong direction
There is not enough space for eruption
It remains under the gum for too long

Impacted teeth can cause pain, infection, pressure, or misalignment.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth (Third Molars)

Wisdom teeth are the most commonly impacted teeth. Problems may include:

Pain or swelling behind the molars
Infection or gum inflammation
Food trapping
Decay in nearby teeth
Cysts or bone defects
Jaw stiffness or discomfort
Damage to adjacent molars

When Removal Is Recommended

Wisdom teeth may need surgical removal when they are:

Painful
Infected
Causing swelling
Damaging nearby teeth
Causing cysts or pathology
Horizontally or deeply impacted

Impacted Canines

Upper canines are the second most commonly impacted teeth. They guide bite alignment and play an important role in dental aesthetics.

Impaction may occur when:

There is crowding
The tooth changes direction
It becomes stuck in bone
Eruption pathway is blocked

Treatment Options for Impacted Canines

Surgical exposure of the tooth
Attachment of an orthodontic bracket so the orthodontist can guide the tooth into position
Removal in rare cases when the tooth cannot be properly aligned

Early evaluation increases the chances of saving and aligning the canine.