Why Do Dentists Cut the Gum to Remove an Impacted Tooth?

Cutting the gum is a minor surgical step that gives your dentist access to an impacted tooth stuck beneath the gum or bone. Impacted teeth don’t always erupt on their own. When they’re stuck beneath gum or bone, a surgical approach may be safest. If you’re researching tooth dental extractions in Rutherford, New Jersey, this guide explains why your dentist may make a tiny incision, what happens during treatment, and how to recover comfortably with practical, step-by-step care.

What Is an Impacted Tooth

A tooth is called impacted when it fails to erupt normally and remains blocked by gum tissue. Wisdom teeth are the most common, but canines and premolars can be impacted as well. Causes include inadequate jaw space, a tooth angled toward its neighbor, thick overlying tissue, retained baby teeth, or developmental anomalies.

Left unaddressed, impactions can lead to swollen gums, recurrent infections, damage or decay on adjacent teeth, cyst formation, and bite changes. Early evaluation helps determine whether monitoring, exposure with orthodontic guidance, or removal is the safest path. Dental X-rays and, when indicated, 3D imaging reveal the tooth’s position relative to nerves, sinuses, and neighboring roots.

When Does a Dentist Need to Cut the Gum

This surgical extraction may include a small gum incision to expose the tooth safely. Your dentist or oral surgeon recommends it when:

• The tooth is fully or partly covered by gum or bone.
• The crown is tilted, the roots are curved, or the tooth is fragile, raising the risk of breakage with forceps alone.
• A tight gum flap or operculum keeps trapping food and bacteria, causing repeat infections.
• Imaging shows close proximity to anatomical structures, requiring precise, controlled access.

What happens during the procedure: After numbing the area, a tiny flap is lifted so the tooth is visible. A thin rim of bone may be smoothed away to expose the crown. Sometimes the tooth is sectioned into smaller pieces to remove it gently with minimal pressure. The site is irrigated, the gum is replaced, and dissolvable sutures are placed. This approach improves visibility, protects nearby teeth, and helps prevent unnecessary trauma.

Does Cutting the Gum Hurt?

During treatment, local anesthesia blocks sharp sensation; you’ll feel pressure and vibration but not pain. For highly anxious patients or complex cases, options such as oral or IV sedation can be discussed. After numbness fades, expect mild to moderate soreness for one to three days. Discomfort is usually managed with over-the-counter pain relief, cold packs on the first day, and good oral hygiene. For smoother healing, stay away from smoking, alcohol, and any hot, crunchy, or spicy foods that could irritate the site.

Recovery After an Impacted Tooth Extraction

Most people resume normal daily activities within 24–72 hours, while soft-tissue healing continues for one to two weeks.

Your simple aftercare roadmap:

• Keep firm pressure with clean gauze for the first hour to control oozing.
• Use cold packs 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off during day one to limit swelling.
• Begin gentle toothbrushing the same day, avoiding the socket; start warm salt-water rinses after 24 hours.
• Choose soft, cool, or room-temperature foods: smoothies (with a spoon), yogurt, eggs, oatmeal, mashed vegetables, and soups at lukewarm temperatures.
• Sleep slightly elevated the first night, and avoid drinking through straws for several days.

Call your dentist promptly if you experience worsening pain after day three, persistent bleeding, fever, swelling that increases after day two, or a bad taste/odor; these can signal dry socket or infection and deserve timely care.

How to Know If You Need Impacted Tooth Surgery

Consider an evaluation if you notice:

• Gum swelling, tenderness, or redness behind your last molars
• Pain when chewing or opening wide
• Repeated gum infections around a partially erupted tooth
• Shifting or crowding of nearby teeth
• Abnormal findings on routine X-rays, even without pain

A dentist in Rutherford, New Jersey, will review your medical history, assess imaging, and recommend a simple or surgical extraction based on access, safety, and long-term oral health. When appropriate, they coordinate with orthodontics if a canine can be guided into place instead of removed.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

A small gum incision allows precise access, protects neighboring teeth, and helps your dentist remove an impacted tooth with confidence. With good anesthesia, clear aftercare, and follow-up, most patients recover quickly and return to normal routines. For individualized guidance, schedule a consultation with Tailor-Made Smiles to review your X-rays, discuss options, and map out a smooth, healthy recovery.