From the Blog
Do wisdom teeth have to be removed?
Wisdom teeth are the third molars, located at the very back of the upper and lower jaws, typically erupting in the late teens to early twenties (some people are born without them). Patients often ask why we recommend taking wisdom teeth out — and since any surgery is a big undertaking, we want you to understand the reasons behind any treatment decision. The short answer: removal is often needed, but not always.
When wisdom teeth can stay
You don’t have to remove wisdom teeth that are:
- Healthy
- Fully erupted
- Not a hindrance to keeping the area clean
- Correctly positioned in the jaw, with proper contact against the opposing tooth
The most common reasons for removal
- Lack of space: when the jaw is too small, wisdom teeth may partially break through or stay hidden — becoming impacted, growing at odd angles, and creating passages that trap bacteria and food debris, leading to infections
- Lack of hygiene access: even with room to erupt, wisdom teeth sit so far back that optimal cleaning may be impossible, creating gum pockets where plaque and bacteria cause infection and decay
- Damage to adjacent molars: angled wisdom teeth cause food impaction against the second molars, decaying the neighbouring tooth
Signs & symptoms
- Repeated infections at the back of the mouth
- Cysts (fluid-filled sacs) around the third molars
- Tumours
- Damage to adjacent teeth
- Gum disease
- Extensive tooth decay
More FAQs
Between roughly ages 16 and 22. The crown of a tooth forms before the roots — in young adults the roots aren’t fully formed, which makes removal easier and reduces risks and complications.
As with any surgery, there’s a risk of infection. A dislodged blood clot causes the extra discomfort known as dry socket (more common in smokers). The most serious risk is nerve injury — numbness of the lip/chin or rarely the tongue — but that risk is very low when the roots aren’t fully formed, which is another reason earlier is easier.
No — we commonly see patients with symptomatic impacted wisdom teeth in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. There’s no age limit, though surgery is more difficult and the complication risk higher in older patients.
We suggest removal as soon as it’s recommended. Waiting makes removal more difficult, healing slower, and complications likelier — it’s not uncommon to see a patient who needed four extractions a few years ago now needing damage to the neighbouring molars treated too.
Wondering about your own wisdom teeth? Book an evaluation or call 204-415-5567 — and if surgery makes you nervous, ask about sedation dentistry.