What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the four molars located furthest back in the mouth. They usually grow in at around age 17-25, but some people do not grow wisdom teeth at all. Wisdom teeth often cause problems that are most easily solved by removing them. There are a couple of reasons why you might need to get your wisdom teeth removed.

When do wisdom teeth need to be removed?
The first potential problem is that there may not be enough room for additional teeth. A person with a small mouth is more likely to have problems with this. Not having enough room for the tooth to grow could cause an impacted wisdom tooth. This is when the wisdom tooth grows in sideways and impacts the tooth next to it. The wisdom tooth may be partially visable or hidden entirely under the gums.

What happens if you don’t remove problematic wisdom teeth?
It’s not easy to clean molars properly since they are not very accessable. When wisdom teeth do not grow in properly, it is even easier for food and bacteria to become trapped. As a result, the area may become infected causing discomfort and pain.

Next steps
As always, make sure to floss and brush your teeth, even when they’re hard to reach. X-rays taken at your check-up can show if your wisdom teeth might not grow in properly.