Unerupted Tooth

An unerupted or impacted tooth is a tooth that has formed but not emerged into the mouth. Teeth that fail to erupt can damage surrounding teeth gums and supporting bone and lead to the formation of tumours and cysts that can severly disrupt the jaw. Because of this risk unerupted teeth are often extracted. Failure to erupt occurs most frequently among third molars better known as wisdom teeth. Third molars are last teeth to develop; thus by the time they are ready to erupt there is often no room for them in the jaw line and they remain beneath the gums. Cuspids the four pointy teeth surrounding your front teeth and bicuspids the teeth between your cuspids and molars are also known to become impacted.