Do I need my wisdom teeth removed?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Only if they are causing problems - Cochrane found the evidence insufficient for removing healthy, asymptomatic impacted wisdom teeth. Mayo's removal list: pain, infection or gum disease, damage to a nearby tooth or bone. For quiet impacted teeth, one cohort study hinted keeping them may raise gum-disease risk at the neighboring molar - but that evidence was very uncertain. Specialists still disagree, and many favor removal in the late teens or early 20s when surgery is easier. The decision is per-tooth, from your X-ray, not a default. Pymander's escalation routing is built and tested specifically for this class of decision; see the safety architecture working paper.
What to do
- Get the X-ray read: position, decay risk, and crowding drive the call - ask what YOUR image shows.
- Symptoms settle it: pain, swelling, infection, or damage to the neighbor tooth means removal.
- Quiet teeth can be watched: asymptomatic teeth justify monitoring with regular checks, per Cochrane.
- Get seen if: jaw pain, swelling, bad taste, or trouble opening your mouth - those are this-week dental visits.
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