Wisdom teeth that do not have enough space to grow properly are known as impacted wisdom teeth [1]. They do not fully erupt into the mouth.
As a result, they start growing in the wrong direction, coming out sideways, at a wrong angle, or sometimes they erupt only partially, thus affecting nearby teeth and causing several problems.
These can lead to various problems like [2]:
- Crowding
- Decay and cavity in the adjacent tooth
- Infection of the tooth or gums due to food impaction
- Chronic mouth discomfort
- Misalignment of teeth
- Plaque caught between teeth and gums
- Ear pain
- Jaw pain
- Cyst. The wisdom tooth develops in a sac within the jawbone. The sac can fill with fluid, forming a cyst that can damage the jawbone, teeth and nerves.
References:
1. Dodson TB, Susarla SM. Impacted wisdom teeth. BMJ clinical evidence. 2010;2010:1302. Accessed December 12, 2019.
2. wisdom teeth - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. Published 2018. Accessed December 12, 2019.
