Third molars, also known as “wisdom teeth,” typically appear in the mouth between the ages of 17 and 25. Wisdom teeth help you chew just like every other tooth in your mouth, but when they’re misaligned or don’t erupt properly, they need to be removed. If they’re not, they can cause crowding, infections, and severe pain. Every situation is unique, but generally wisdom teeth need to be removed because they are usually hard to take a good care.
When wisdom teeth extraction is necessary:
- There is pain or infection
- There are cysts or tumors
- There is gum disease around the wisdom tooth area
- There is tooth decay that’s beyond repair
- You have an orthodontic, restorative or periodontal treatment plan and your wisdom teeth will hinder that treatment’s effectiveness
- The wisdom teeth are partially erupted, making them more prone to bacteria and infection
- There is evidence of poor alignment, they are positioned horizontally, angled toward or away from the second molars or angled inward or outward