Treatments

Do wisdom teeth always need to be removed?

Reviewed by Dr. Samuel Bacon, DDS (dentist). Last reviewed November 3, 2026.

Status: Approved

Short answer: Not always. The ADA says wisdom teeth that come in correctly and are healthy can help you chew. Removal may be needed for pain, infection, cysts, tumors, damage to nearby teeth, gum disease, or decay that can't be repaired. Wisdom teeth you keep still need monitoring. Your dentist will examine your mouth and take X-rays before recommending anything.

When they come in

Wisdom teeth are the third molars at the back of the mouth. They usually come in during the late teens or early twenties.

Impacted wisdom teeth

The ADA says wisdom teeth that don't have room to come in, or come in at an angle, are called impacted. They may stay in the jaw or break partway through the gums.

When removal may be recommended

The ADA says removal may be needed when there are changes in the mouth such as:

  • pain
  • infection
  • cysts or tumors
  • damage to nearby teeth
  • gum disease
  • tooth decay that can't be repaired

Your dentist may also recommend removal as part of orthodontic or other dental care.

Keeping your wisdom teeth

The AAOMS says wisdom teeth may not need to be removed if they've come in fully, work well, and are painless, free of cavities and disease, and surrounded by healthy gums. They still need regular cleaning, annual checkups and periodic X-rays.

Pain or swelling

If swelling spreads toward your eye or neck, or you have trouble breathing or swallowing, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Otherwise, for pain around a wisdom tooth, the ADA says to see your dentist right away.

At Indy Smile Group

All three of our offices remove wisdom teeth in-house. Your dentist will examine your wisdom teeth, take X-rays and go over your options. Our extraction aftercare page explains recovery. We're in-network with Delta Dental, Anthem, Humana, Liberty Dental and CareSource. Through the Connection Dental and Zelis networks we're also in-network with many PPO plans from Cigna, MetLife, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Ameritas, Principal, Sun Life, GEHA and UMR. We accept Indiana Medicaid and Medicare dental plans. Coverage depends on your plan. We check your benefits and give you a written estimate before any treatment, including emergency treatment. See our tooth extraction pages for Fishers, Carmel and North Indy.

Next step

Ready to talk it through with a dentist? Book online or call the office closest to you.

Frequently asked questions

Why remove wisdom teeth that don't hurt?
The ADA says problems can develop without pain, and your dentist may recommend removal as part of other care. Ask what the X-rays show.

What is an impacted wisdom tooth?
The ADA says it's a wisdom tooth that can't come in normally, often because there isn't room.

What is recovery like?
See Tooth extraction recovery.

Sources

  1. ADA MouthHealthy – Wisdom Teeth
  2. American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons – Wisdom Teeth Management

Last reviewed: November 3, 2026
Reviewed by: Dr. Samuel Bacon, DDS (dentist)

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