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에스(S)리더치과병원 건대입구역, 서울 광진구 소재 · S리더치과병원 · August 21, 2026
Hello, this is S Leader Dental Hospital, a dental clinic at Konkuk University Entrance that is celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year. A wisdom tooth does not necessarily have...
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This page is an English translation of a Korean Naver Blog archive entry. For exact wording and source context, verify against the Korean archive original and the original Naver post.
Clinic: 에스(S)리더치과병원 건대입구역, 서울 광진구 소재
Original post date: August 21, 2026
Translated at: August 21, 2026 at 5:01 AM
Medical note: This translation does not guarantee medical accuracy or suitability for treatment decisions.
Hello, this is S Leader Dental Hospital, a dental clinic at Konkuk University Entrance that is celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year.
A wisdom tooth does not necessarily have to cause pain for a problem to develop. If a wisdom tooth has emerged to some extent beyond the gums, relatively noticeable symptoms such as food becoming trapped or swollen gums may appear. However, an impacted wisdom tooth hidden within the gums or bone may remain in place for a long time without causing any particular discomfort.
For this reason, quite a few people discover by chance during a checkup that they have an impacted wisdom tooth. At such times, common questions include, “Do I really need to have it removed even though it does not hurt?” and “Can an impacted wisdom tooth affect the molar next to it?”
Depending on its position and direction, an impacted wisdom tooth may remain without causing any particular problems in the surrounding tissues. On the other hand,
it may affect the second molar directly in front of it and become a cause of tooth decay or gum inflammation.
Therefore, rather than assessing the condition based only on whether the wisdom tooth itself hurts, it is important to check the direction in which it is positioned and how close it is to the adjacent tooth.
Today, S Leader Dental Hospital at Konkuk University Entrance will discuss how an impacted wisdom tooth can affect the adjacent tooth and when more careful evaluation may be necessary.
A wisdom tooth generally refers to the third molar located at the very back. It usually begins to erupt around adulthood, but if there is not enough space in the jawbone or the tooth grows at an angle, it may not reach its normal position.
When part or all of a wisdom tooth is buried within the gums or jawbone in this way, it is called an impacted wisdom tooth.
The degree and direction of impaction vary from person to person. In some cases, the wisdom tooth is positioned relatively vertically but remains buried beneath the gums. In others, it may be tilted forward or lie in a direction that is almost horizontal.
In particular, if the crown of the wisdom tooth is directed toward the premolar or molar directly in front of it, the space between the two teeth may become narrower, making it difficult for a toothbrush or dental floss to reach properly.
The problem is that these changes do not necessarily appear as pain from the beginning.
The presence of an impacted wisdom tooth does not mean that the tooth in front of it will be damaged in every case. However, depending on the position and angle of the wisdom tooth, hygiene care around the adjacent molar may become difficult, or ongoing inflammation may develop and affect it.
In particular, a space where food and bacteria can easily remain may form between the wisdom tooth and the second molar in front of it.
Even when there appears to be no major problem from the outside, an issue may begin deep inside the area, which is why
regular checkups are important.
When an impacted wisdom tooth is tilted forward or has only partially erupted, food can easily become trapped between the wisdom tooth and the molar in front of it.
However, because this area is located at the very back of the mouth, a toothbrush often cannot reach it sufficiently, and using dental floss or an interdental brush may also be difficult.
If this situation continues repeatedly, tooth decay may develop not only in the wisdom tooth itself but also on the back surface of the molar directly in front of it.
In particular, because it is difficult to examine the back surface of the adjacent molar directly with a mirror, decay may not be discovered until it has progressed to some extent.
There may be no noticeable pain at first, followed by sensitivity when eating cold or sweet foods or discomfort when chewing, which may lead the person to visit a dental clinic.
Therefore, if you have an impacted wisdom tooth, the condition of the adjacent molar should be checked along with the wisdom tooth itself.
When a wisdom tooth has only partially emerged beyond the gums, a small space may form between the tooth and gums.
Food or bacteria can enter this space and cause inflammation in the gums around the wisdom tooth, commonly referred to as pericoronitis.
In the early stages, it may begin with swelling around the wisdom tooth or bleeding while brushing, but as the inflammation worsens, pain,
bad breath, and discomfort when chewing may also occur.
If the inflammation recurs, it may affect not only the area around the wisdom tooth but also the gums and surrounding tissues that support the molar directly in front of it.
In particular, if the same area repeatedly swells and then subsides, it is necessary to consider the position of the impacted wisdom tooth rather than viewing it simply as a temporary gum problem.
When a wisdom tooth is positioned close to the molar in front of it, it may be difficult to clean thoroughly even the inner gum area between the two teeth.
If plaque and tartar continue to accumulate, gum inflammation in that area may recur, and depending on the situation, the condition of the surrounding tissues supporting the tooth may also be affected.
In particular, even after the wisdom tooth has been removed, there are cases in which the gum condition behind the front molar must also be checked and managed.
Removing the wisdom tooth does not cause tooth decay or gum problems that have already developed to disappear naturally.
This does not occur with every impacted wisdom tooth. However, if the wisdom tooth is positioned very close to the root of the tooth directly in front of it, the relationship between the surrounding teeth should be examined more carefully.
The overall position can be assessed through a routine oral examination or panoramic radiograph, and if necessary,
additional imaging tests may also be used.
The important point is not to assume that “a wisdom tooth lying sideways will inevitably cause a problem.” Instead, it is necessary to check how close it actually is to the front tooth and whether changes such as tooth decay or inflammation are present in the surrounding area.
Not every impacted wisdom tooth necessarily needs to be removed.
If it is in a normal position, does not affect the surrounding teeth or gums, and can be kept clean, it may be monitored regularly.
On the other hand, if the wisdom tooth is tilted or lying horizontally close to the molar in front of it, if food repeatedly becomes trapped and inflammation develops, or if tooth decay is found in an adjacent tooth, removal may be considered.
In other words, it is difficult to decide whether to remove it based solely on whether there is pain.
It is important to make the decision after comprehensively evaluating its current position and direction, the condition of the surrounding teeth, and the condition of the gums.
If food frequently becomes trapped around the rearmost molar while an impacted wisdom tooth is present, or if the gums repeatedly swell and bleed, it is advisable to have a dental examination.
Also, if you notice bad breath or an unpleasant taste in a specific area, or if discomfort repeatedly occurs when chewing with the back molars, it is worth checking whether there is inflammation around the wisdom tooth or decay between the adjacent tooth surfaces.
However, these symptoms alone do not confirm that the problem is caused by an impacted wisdom tooth.
Similar discomfort can also result from various causes, including tooth decay, periodontal disease, or bite-related problems. The exact condition should be assessed through an oral examination and any necessary imaging tests.
Because wisdom teeth are located at the very back of the mouth, it is difficult to check their condition directly during daily life. In particular, when an impacted wisdom tooth is buried in the gums or bone, it is difficult to determine the tooth’s direction and its relationship with the surrounding teeth based only on what can be seen from the outside.
Therefore, when checking an impacted wisdom tooth, it is important not only to examine the wisdom tooth itself but also to evaluate the molar directly in front of it for tooth decay, the condition of the gums, and the angle and position of the wisdom tooth.
Even a wisdom tooth that has caused no symptoms may make it difficult to care for the front tooth depending on its position. Conversely, even if it is impacted, it may be monitored regularly if there are no particular problems in the surrounding tissues.
Ultimately, what matters is not simply the fact that a wisdom tooth is present, but what effect it is currently having on the surrounding teeth.
At S Leader Dental Hospital at Konkuk University Entrance, we also believe that when evaluating an impacted wisdom tooth, it is important to look beyond simply deciding whether to remove it and examine its position and direction, its relationship with the adjacent molar, and the condition of the surrounding gums and oral cavity.
If food often becomes trapped around the rearmost molar or the gums repeatedly swell, it is advisable to have your current condition checked rather than waiting until the discomfort becomes severe.
Konkuk University Entrance Dental Clinic :: S Leader Dental Hospital.
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