Read up on Wisdom teeth, impacted treatment options at Consumer Reports Health.

Wisdom teeth, impacted

Key points about treatments

Your wisdom teeth are the last adult teeth to appear in your mouth. But sometimes they don't come through the gum properly. This usually happens when there isn't enough space, or when the teeth are growing in the wrong direction. When this occurs, they're called impacted wisdom teeth.

You may wonder if you need to have your impacted wisdom teeth taken out. But as long as these teeth are not giving you symptoms such as pain, or causing damage to other teeth, you may not need to have them removed. Having them taken out can be painful. And, like any surgery, the operation has risks.

Key points about treating impacted wisdom teeth

If your impacted wisdom teeth are not causing problems, having them taken out is likely to do more harm than good.
But if your impacted wisdom teeth are causing problems such as infections or damage to other teeth, you may need to have them removed. For more information, see When wisdom teeth need to be taken out.
Surgery on wisdom teeth almost always causes temporary problems like pain and swelling that may keep you out of work or school.
In a very few people, surgery causes permanent damage, like numbness in the lower lip or tongue.
You're less likely to have problems after surgery if you see a dentist or an oral surgeon with lots of experience taking out wisdom teeth.
You're more likely to get problems after surgery if you're over 24 years old.

This information was last updated on Mar 06, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
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