Do wisdom teeth need to be removed?
There remains a great deal of controversy regarding whether or not these teeth need to be removed. It is generally suggested that teeth that remain completely buried or un-erupted in a normal position are unlikely to cause harm.
However, if these impacted teeth are in an abnormal position (a dentist can show you this on an x-ray) their potential for harm should be assessed.
What are Impacted Wisdom Teeth?
A tooth becomes impacted due to lack of space in the dental arch and its eruption is therefore prevented by gum, bone, another tooth or all three.
Impacted wisdom teeth may cause problems if left in place. This is particularly true of the lower wisdom teeth. Such problems may occur suddenly, and often at the most inconvenient times.