Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone,
performed for positional, structural, or economic reasons. Teeth are often removed
because they are impacted. Teeth become impacted when they are prevented from
growing into their normal position in the mouth by gum tissue, bone, or other teeth.

Impaction is a common reason for the extraction of wisdom teeth.
Extraction is the only known method that will prevent further problems. Teeth may
also be extracted to make more room in the mouth prior to straightening the remaining
teeth (orthodontic treatment), or because they are so badly positioned that straightening
is impossible. Extraction may be used to remove teeth that are so badly decayed or
broken that they cannot be restored.

What are impacted wisdom teeth?
Most people have a set of 32 adult teeth. In a significant number of people, there is not enough ‘room’ in the jaws to permit the very back molars, or wisdom teeth, to erupt into a proper, healthy position. This can result in misaligned wisdom teeth that are able to only partially erupt through the gums, or even not erupt at all. These teeth are described as ‘impacted’. The wisdom teeth may also erupt through the gums, but still remain in a poor position because of their inclination or of the way the gum sits around the tooth. These
teeth are considered to be ‘malpositioned’. Impacted and malpositioned wisdom teeth both, can lead to gum and tooth disease as well as jaw disease.