"Do I really need my wisdom teeth out? My friend's dentist told her she didn't need hers out."

There are a lot of conflicting stories of wisdom teeth or "3rd molars."
Some people have enough room and can keep them clean enough to avoid infection.

An impacted, partially erupted wisdom tooth like this one cannot be cleaned well enough long term to prevent bacterial infection.  If we leave this tooth alone for the next ten years, nothing may happen.  But...

1. A tooth like this can begin to decay unseen below the gums.  
2. This decay can spread to the good tooth in front of it, a tooth we actually use to chew.  
3. Our bodies heal faster while we are young.  This is why it is best to remove them before age 25 if the doctor prefers they be removed.

The best question to ask the dentist is if he would leave it in his/her mouth.

This person is around 30 in this picture, and waited too long.  This area cannot be cleaned, harbored bacteria, and became infected seeping a bad taste in his mouth regularly.

But even after the wisdom teeth were removed, the damage had been done.  The area had also allowed decay to begin deep below the gum line.

 The decayed teeth are second molars, which we still use to eat, unlike wisdom teeth. 


If you still have wisdom teeth or are unsure, ask your dentist and be sure you've taken at least a panoramic x-ray to evaluate.