While wisdom tooth extractions are not always necessary, a healthy mouth with a full set of wisdom teeth is pretty rare. Most people need to get them removed, usually the sooner the better.
Wisdom teeth often get impacted or “stuck” because there’s simply not enough room in your jaw. They can cause problems like infections in the tooth root and below the gumline. They might even start crowding your other teeth and undo all that work you did if you already straightened your teeth with braces or clear aligners.
If you’re between the ages of 17 and 24 and your wisdom teeth haven’t come in yet, here’s what you need to know.
When Are Wisdom Tooth Extractions Necessary?
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Full Impaction
A fully impacted wisdom tooth is trapped below the gums or inside the jaw and can’t erupt at all. Even if it isn’t causing pain right away, an impacted wisdom tooth can put pressure on your other teeth or damage the roots of the nearest molars.
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Partial Impaction
In some cases, wisdom teeth only emerge from the gums partway. These teeth are impossible to clean properly, so they’re more susceptible to cavities. Partially erupted wisdom teeth also tend to trap food and bacteria beneath the gums, increasing the risk of tooth infections and gum disease.
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Crowding
Even when wisdom teeth erupt fully, they often don’t have enough room to fit comfortably inside the mouth. This puts pressure on nearby teeth that causes them to shift or overlap. Crowding can also cause jaw pain and misalignments.
5 Signs Your Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed
It’s not always obvious that your wisdom teeth are impacted, especially when they first start growing in. We’ve had patients be shocked by their x-rays when we point out their impacted wisdom teeth, saying they had no idea because they felt no pain.
At other times, impacted wisdom teeth can cause noticeable symptoms:
- Tooth pain at the back of the mouth
- Swollen or tender gums around the back molars
- A stiff jaw, or trouble fully opening your mouth
- Shifting teeth or teeth that look a little crooked
- Persistent sinus pain
Wisdom Tooth Extractions in Flagstaff, Arizona
Getting your wisdom teeth out is nothing to worry about! It’s a routine procedure, and you should recover quickly. But you might want to time a wisdom tooth extraction for a school break or a long weekend, to make recovery a little bit easier.
If you’re a young adult (or the parent of one) don’t skip your dental exams! X-rays are the only way to tell how your wisdom teeth are going to “impact” your dental health. If they do need to be removed, we’ll refer you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who specializes in wisdom tooth extractions.
If you’re worried about your wisdom teeth or you’re due for a cleaning, contact us to schedule an exam today.
Photo by Sanket Mishra on Pexels, used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 10/12/26.
Dr. Paul Whitney opened his dental practice in April 1987 in Flagstaff, Arizona, and has resided there for over 26 years. Having received his B.S. in Zoology from the University of Massachusetts in 1979 and his D.D.S. from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, in 1983, Paul has years of education and experience in a variety of fields.
