Partial Eruption/Impaction—The wisdom tooth has run into the adjacent molar before completely erupting. The gum tissue around the partial eruption can collect food debris and bacteria, leading to infection.
Vertical Impaction—The wisdom tooth has grown vertically (straight up and down), but too close to the adjacent molar, and became stuck before erupting.
Horizontal Impaction—The wisdom tooth has grown horizontally (sideways) against the adjacent molar. Discomfort is often severe until the tooth is extracted.
Mesial Impaction—The wisdom tooth has grown diagonally (at an angle) towards the other teeth, causing severe discomfort.
Distal Impaction—The wisdom tooth has grown diagonally, away from the other teeth. A distal impaction doesn’t cause other damage to the other teeth, though you may experience discomfort in the region of the wisdom tooth.
Bony Impaction—The wisdom tooth has remained within the jawbone, refusing to erupt at all.
Soft Tissue Impaction—The wisdom tooth has emerged slightly from the jawbone and into the gum tissue, but has not erupted and is not visible.