Most of us get our wisdom teeth removed because we just know that we have to. But why do we remove them? Many times, our wisdom teeth are not given enough proper room to grow in our mouth and can cause long term problems. Wisdom teeth can grow at various angles in the jaw, sometimes not vertically like all our other teeth, but horizontally too.

Some of the many issues that can occur are: 

• Remain completely hidden within the gums. If they aren't able to emerge normally, wisdom teeth become trapped (impacted) within your jaw. This can cause an infection or can cause a cyst that can damage the teeth roots or bone support.
• Emerge partially through the gums. Because this area is hard to see and clean, wisdom teeth that partially emerge creates a magnet for bacteria that cause gum disease and oral infection.
• Crowd nearby teeth. If wisdom teeth don't have enough room to come in properly, they may crowd or damage nearby teeth.



There is never a “good time” or the “best time” to have oral surgery for your wisdom teeth. It is always best to speak with your primary dentist and an oral surgeon to see what positions your wisdom teeth are in as well as its health to see when is the time for the removal.