Wisdom Teeth and Pain

Sometimes wisdom teeth can be impacted -- they are enclosed within the soft tissue and/or the jawbone or only partially break through or erupt through the gum.

Partial eruption of the wisdom teeth allows an opening for bacteria to enter around the tooth and cause an infection, which results in pain, swelling, jaw stiffness, and general illness.

Partially erupted teeth are also more prone to tooth decay and gum disease because their hard-to-reach location and awkward positioning makes brushing and flossing difficult.