An impacted tooth is a tooth that has not fully erupted through the gums and remains partially or completely covered by the bone and gum tissue. This often occurs with third molars, commonly known as wisdom teeth. However, any tooth can become impacted, including canines and premolars. Impaction can result from lack of space, tooth misalignment, or other factors.
Wisdom tooth extraction specifically refers to the removal of impacted or problematic wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that typically emerge in late adolescence or early adulthood. Due to limited space in the mouth, these teeth frequently become impacted and can lead to various issues, such as pain, infection, damage to adjacent teeth, and misalignment. Wisdom tooth extraction is a common dental procedure, often performed by an oral surgeon.
Surgical teeth extraction is a more general term that encompasses the removal of teeth that cannot be easily extracted with a simple procedure. This includes impacted teeth, teeth with curved or long roots, teeth that have not fully erupted, or teeth that are broken or fractured below the gumline. Surgical extractions typically involve making an incision in the gum tissue to access and remove the tooth. It may also involve cutting the tooth into smaller pieces for easier removal.
The extraction of impacted teeth, including wisdom teeth, often falls under the category of surgical teeth extraction. The procedure is more complex than the extraction of fully erupted teeth and may require local anesthesia, sedation, or general anesthesia depending on the complexity of the case and the patient's preference
