The average adult has 32 teeth by age 18, sixteen on top and sixteen on the bottom. Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to come in and usually appear in the teen years. When they align properly, and gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not have to be removed. They can be impacted, however, which means they have nowhere to grow. In these cases, they should be removed. This is usually determined by 16 or 17 years of age. Removal of wisdom teeth in this age group is recommended, because the roots are not fully formed and the bone surrounding the impacted tooth is less rigid, making surgery less traumatic. Because these teeth come in the teen years, or the age of wisdom, they are called “wisdom teeth.”

Procedure

Wisdom teeth often become trapped or impacted in the jawbone and cause crowding, displacement, decay, infection or gum disease. Impacted wisdom teeth grow in many different directions: horizontally, vertically, or at any angle.