The following blog post is authored by Dr. Rubins Noel, DDS, owner of Aspen Dental offices in Cheektowaga, NY; Dunkirk, NY; Lockport, NY; Tonawanda, NY; Hamburg, NY and Erie, PA.

Wisdom teeth have been a discussion topic for decades – should they stay or should they go?

Your wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last teeth in the mouth to develop and break through the gum line, usually between the ages of 16 and 18 (which is why we call them “wisdom” teeth). Historically, dentists have suggested that wisdom teeth should be removed in almost all cases. After all, they do not perform a vital function and often cause issues by not fitting properly in the mouth and getting stuck below the gum line.

But this traditional approach is changing – if your wisdom teeth are healthy, your dentist may not suggest having them removed. The decision to remove or keep your wisdom teeth should be discussed with your dentist.

What’s the argument for removing your wisdom teeth?

According to an article from the New York Times, roughly 60 to 70 percent of patients with wisdom teeth eventually experience trouble. In only 10 percent of patients – according to an article from USA Today,– are all four wisdom teeth healthy.

Common issues experienced with wisdom teeth include:

• Impacted teeth that are unable to fully or partially break through the gum line and settle alongside other teeth;
• Tooth erupting at an angle, posing potential problems to the structure of your mouth and alignment of your teeth; and
• The positioning of wisdom teeth (lower than other teeth or at a different angle), which can make it difficult to brush or floss teeth, trapping bacteria and leading to tooth decay and gum disease.

If you are experiencing any pain from your wisdom teeth, they may be posing a risk to other teeth or causing weakness in the jaw, and you should consider having your wisdom teeth removed.

There are a variety of different ways your wisdom teeth can be removed including extraction or surgical intervention. Your dentist and/or oral surgeon will be a guide to helping you choose the procedure that is right for you.

Why keep your wisdom teeth?

If your wisdom teeth come in without pain and settle normally in relation to your other teeth, there may be no need to remove them. According to USA Today, one in three wisdom teeth seen by oral surgeons can be considered disease-free. And it is common for people to not have their wisdom teeth form or erupt at all due to the nature of our diet. In fact, 30% of people are missing one or more wisdom teeth according to an article from Best Health Magazine (Canada).

Whether or not to remove your wisdom teeth is a decision best left to each individual’s dentist based on all of the factors outlined above. Good oral hygiene will remain extra important if you keep your wisdom teeth – the teeth in the back of the mouth are harder to clean well. If you do keep your wisdom teeth, it is important to continue to undergo regular exams and x-rays in order to catch any signs of trouble – visiting your dentist will help you maintain a healthy mouth!

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