Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Get the Compare Your Your Quiz Your Summary Wisdom teeth are the upper and lower third molars, located at the very back of your mouth. They are the last teeth to surface in the mouth. They are called wisdom teeth because they usually come in when a person is between 17 and 21 years old—old enough to have gained some "wisdom." Some people have their wisdom teeth for their entire lives. Other people choose to have their wisdom teeth removed, sometimes before these teeth have broken through the gums. If your jaw is not big enough to make room for your wisdom teeth, they may get stuck (impacted) in your jaw and not be able to break through your gums. An impacted wisdom tooth can crowd other teeth and create painful, swollen, and infected flaps in your gums. Wisdom teeth that have broken through your gums may cause cavities and gum disease, because they can be hard to clean. Sometimes a cyst can form that can damage the bone or roots. Most problems with wisdom teeth happen when a person is 15 to 25 years old. Few people older than 30 have problems with their wisdom teeth that require them to be removed. Most dentists feel that if you're 16 to 19 years old, you should have your wisdom teeth looked at. Some dentists and oral surgeons think it's best to have impacted wisdom teeth removed (extracted) before you're 20 years old, because it's easier to take them out when the roots and bones of your teeth are softer and not fully formed. As you get older, the bones around your teeth grow and get hard. This makes it harder to remove the teeth. And when you're older, it may take longer for you to heal after you have had them removed. After you have your wisdom teeth removed, you may have: There is a small risk of death or other problems whenever a general anesthetic is used. The decision to have your wisdom teeth removed if they're not impacted has to be weighed against the risks and benefits of having them removed. Problems may occur if you don't have your wisdom teeth removed. For example: Your dentist may suggest that you have your wisdom teeth removed if: Compare What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. My dentist suggested that I have my wisdom teeth removed because already one of them is impacted. My parents and I agreed that the teeth should be removed, and I'm having it done now, while I am young. Zach, age 17 My wisdom teeth came in when I was younger, but they haven't caused me any problems yet, so I am not having them removed. My dentist told me that few people older than 30 have problems with their wisdom teeth, and I don't want to deal with surgery unless I have to. Suzanne, age 33 I had my wisdom teeth removed because they were not coming in straight. I felt it was best to take care of them then, rather than wait and take a chance that they would cause problems later on. Shaila, 29 I am not having my wisdom teeth removed, because I can't afford it. I don't have insurance and don't have enough money for the procedure. I know that there is a chance that my wisdom teeth may cause problems later, but I hope that by then I will be able to afford the surgery. Besides, I don't want to have surgery unless I really need it. I will try to prevent any problems by going to my dentist regularly. Nate, age 22 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to have your wisdom teeth removed Reasons not to have your wisdom teeth removed I'm not afraid to have my teeth pulled. I don't want to have my teeth pulled unless I have to. I want to do whatever I can now to avoid problems with my wisdom teeth later on. I want to wait and see if I have problems with my wisdom teeth before I decide to have them removed. I'm not worried about how much the oral surgery costs. I don't have insurance, and I can't afford to pay for the oral surgery myself. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Having my wisdom teeth removed NOT having my wisdom teeth removed Check the facts Decide what's next Certainty 1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Wisdom teeth are the upper and lower third molars, located at the very back of your mouth. They are the last teeth to surface in the mouth. They are called wisdom teeth because they usually come in when a person is between 17 and 21 years old—old enough to have gained some "wisdom." Some people have their wisdom teeth for their entire lives. Other people choose to have their wisdom teeth removed, sometimes before these teeth have broken through the gums. If your jaw is not big enough to make room for your wisdom teeth, they may get stuck (impacted) in your jaw and not be able to break through your gums. An impacted wisdom tooth can crowd other teeth and create painful, swollen, and infected flaps in your gums. Wisdom teeth that have broken through your gums may cause cavities and gum disease, because they can be hard to clean. Sometimes a cyst can form that can damage the bone or roots. Most problems with wisdom teeth happen when a person is 15 to 25 years old. Few people older than 30 have problems with their wisdom teeth that require them to be removed. Most dentists feel that if you're 16 to 19 years old, you should have your wisdom teeth looked at. Some dentists and oral surgeons think it's best to have impacted wisdom teeth removed (extracted) before you're 20 years old, because it's easier to take them out when the roots and bones of your teeth are softer and not fully formed. As you get older, the bones around your teeth grow and get hard. This makes it harder to remove the teeth. And when you're older, it may take longer for you to heal after you have had them removed. After you have your wisdom teeth removed, you may have: There is a small risk of death or other problems whenever a general anesthetic is used. The decision to have your wisdom teeth removed if they're not impacted has to be weighed against the risks and benefits of having them removed. Problems may occur if you don't have your wisdom teeth removed. For example: Your dentist may suggest that you have your wisdom teeth removed if: These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. "My dentist suggested that I have my wisdom teeth removed because already one of them is impacted. My parents and I agreed that the teeth should be removed, and I'm having it done now, while I am young." — Zach, age 17 "My wisdom teeth came in when I was younger, but they haven't caused me any problems yet, so I am not having them removed. My dentist told me that few people older than 30 have problems with their wisdom teeth, and I don't want to deal with surgery unless I have to." — Suzanne, age 33 "I had my wisdom teeth removed because they were not coming in straight. I felt it was best to take care of them then, rather than wait and take a chance that they would cause problems later on." — Shaila, 29 "I am not having my wisdom teeth removed, because I can't afford it. I don't have insurance and don't have enough money for the procedure. I know that there is a chance that my wisdom teeth may cause problems later, but I hope that by then I will be able to afford the surgery. Besides, I don't want to have surgery unless I really need it. I will try to prevent any problems by going to my dentist regularly." — Nate, age 22 "I have had my wisdom teeth for many years, and they don't bother me. I have a hard time cleaning around them, though, and my dentist says my wisdom teeth and the teeth and gums right next to them are in danger of starting to have problems. I have diabetes that's pretty well controlled right now, so I'm going to have my wisdom teeth out now. My dentist said that if I wait until I have real damage to my teeth, my diabetes may be worse by then and I could have trouble healing up after the surgery." — Rosa, age 42 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to have your wisdom teeth removed Reasons not to have your wisdom teeth removed I'm not afraid to have my teeth pulled. I don't want to have my teeth pulled unless I have to. I want to do whatever I can now to avoid problems with my wisdom teeth later on. I want to wait and see if I have problems with my wisdom teeth before I decide to have them removed. I'm not worried about how much the oral surgery costs. I don't have insurance, and I can't afford to pay for the oral surgery myself. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Having my wisdom teeth removed NOT having my wisdom teeth removed 1.
If my wisdom teeth are impacted, I might need to have them removed. 2.
It may be better to have my wisdom teeth removed when I'm younger than to wait and see if I have problems later on. 1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? 1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. Current as of: August 6, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review BoardWisdom Teeth: Should I Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Wisdom Teeth: Should I Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
1
Facts2
Options3
Feelings4
Decision5
Yourself6
Get the facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What are wisdom teeth?
What causes problems with wisdom teeth?
What are the risks of having your wisdom teeth removed?
What are the risks of NOT having your wisdom teeth removed?
Why might your dentist recommend having your wisdom teeth removed?
Compare your options
Personal stories about having wisdom teeth removed
What matters most to you?
Where are you leaning now?
What else do you need to make your decision?
Your Summary
Your decision
Next steps
Which way you're leaning
How sure you are
Your comments
Your knowledge of the facts
Key concepts that you understood
Key concepts that may need review
Getting ready to act
Patient choices
Credits and References
Author Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.Wisdom Teeth: Should I Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
1. Get the Facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What are wisdom teeth?
What causes problems with wisdom teeth?
What are the risks of having your wisdom teeth removed?
What are the risks of NOT having your wisdom teeth removed?
Why might your dentist recommend having your wisdom teeth removed?
2. Compare your options
Have your wisdom teeth removed Don't have your wisdom teeth removed What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? Personal stories
Personal stories about having wisdom teeth removed
3. What matters most to you?
4. Where are you leaning now?
5. What else do you need to make your decision?
Check the facts
Decide what's next
Certainty
By Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
FAQs
Have your wisdom teeth removed Have your wisdom teeth removed
Don't have your wisdom teeth removed Don't have your wisdom teeth removed
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Credits
You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.
Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
FAQs
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Equally important
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That's right. Your dentist may recommend that you have your wisdom teeth removed if they cause pain or an infection, crowd other teeth, or get impacted and can't break through your gums.
That's right. Some dentists think it's best to have impacted wisdom teeth removed before you're 20 years old, because it's easier to take them out when the roots and bones of your teeth are not fully formed.
Not sure at all
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Very sure
Credits