Why do wisdom teeth cause problems? Must they always be removed?

Third molars - otherwise known as "wisdom" teeth or 18 year-old molars, generally "come in" anywhere from the mid-teens to the middle twenties. People usually develop four wisdom teeth, while others may develop only two or three. Some people never develop any at all.

Wisdom teeth cause problems because they are the last teeth to emerge and there may be insufficient space available in the mouth for them. However, with adequate space, wisdom teeth can emerge and function as well as any other molar. In such cases, they do not need to be removed.

More frequently, space is limited and causes what is known as an impacted tooth. Other potential problems may include crowded teeth, cyst formation, abscesses, destruction of bone and teeth adjacent to wisdom teeth, tumor formation, and increased susceptibility to decay and gum disease because there is limited access to adequately clean and remove debris.