Impacted wisdom teeth can cause several problems in your mouth if you do not get them pulled when necessary. 

• Damage to adjacent teeth. When an impacted wisdom tooth is tilted toward the second molar, it exerts pressure on the second molar, increasing the chances of infection in the area or causing it to shift, leading to crowding in the jaw. 

• Formation of cysts or cancerous lesions. Wisdom teeth develop in sacs within the jawbone. In some instances, these sacs can fill with fluid, forming cysts that can damage nearby structures like the jawbone, teeth, and nerves. Although rare, tumours may also develop. 

• Tooth decay and gum disease. Partially impacted teeth are hard to clean and thus more susceptible to decay, cavities, and gum disease. They also allow trapped bacteria to gain entry into the soft tissues supporting the tooth and the underlying bone, inviting infection. 

If you delay the extraction, you could have severe problems after surgery, such as heavy bleeding and fractured teeth, severe numbness and minor loss of movement in your jaw. These troubles could last a few days or continue throughout your lifetime.

You can’t prevent impactions from happening, but you can avoid any painful symptoms by seeing your dentist every six months. Regular dental visits allow your dentist to carefully monitor the growth and emergence of your wisdom teeth, which is especially important if they predict complications, and extract them before they cause damage or pain.