Partially Erupted Wisdom Tooth

Wisdom teeth are the last permanent molars to emerge and usually appear in the late teens or early twenties. These molars were important in ancient times for grinding and chewing hard foods but are not really necessary in the modern era. 

Because modern foods are more easily chewed the human mouth is smaller than that of our ancestors and there is now less room for teeth to grow. The result is that wisdom teeth sometimes cannot force their way through the gums or are forced up but out of alignment. 

The dentist will refer to these situations as partially erupted or impacted wisdom teeth. This can cause:

• Pain or stiffness in the jaw
• Pain or discomfort around the affected area
• Persistent bad taste in the mouth

Sometimes symptoms are so mild that people are not even aware of any problem. However, impacted wisdom teeth can cause an infection which can lead to serious dental issues so it is important to have them checked during regularly by the dentist. 

In the majority of cases, an extraction is the only permanent solution but this is a simple, quick and painless procedure. Read more at https://yourdentalhealthresource.com/what-is-a-partially-erupted-wisdom-tooth/