It’s strange that we still grow wisdom teeth even though most people no longer have the jaw space for them. It’s a bit of an evolutionary lag. When our ancestors ate tougher diets, they needed these extra molars.
Today, by the time wisdom teeth come in (usually between ages 17 and 25), our mouths are already full. For many people, that leads to problems like crowding, impaction, or infections.
That doesn’t mean everyone needs their wisdom teeth removed. Some people are lucky enough to have them grow straight and cause no issues at all. To know which camp you fall into, you need to be examined by skilled dentists like Dr. Wenli Loo and Dr. Steve Deng at LivWell Dentistry in San Francisco and San Ramon, California.
Our team examines the position of the tooth, root development, gum health, and the risk to neighboring teeth before making a recommendation. In this blog, we’ll walk through why wisdom teeth can be problematic, when removal is necessary, and what to expect if you need the procedure.
The biggest issue with wisdom teeth is space (or the lack of it). By the time they come in, most jaws are already too small to accommodate four extra molars. Without room to grow, wisdom teeth often:
Even if they don’t hurt immediately, these issues can cause damage over time by eroding bone, shifting your bite, or triggering gum disease. That’s why we keep a close eye on wisdom teeth with X-rays, even before they emerge.
Dentists don’t pull wisdom teeth “just because.” We look for signs that the teeth may cause problems. Here are the most common reasons we may recommend removal:
You don’t need to have all these signs before we recommend a removal. One well‑documented issue is typically enough.
If your wisdom teeth grow in fully, align properly, and don’t interfere with your bite, they may be safe to keep. We may simply monitor them with periodic X-rays to make sure nothing changes.
Since things can shift as you age, it’s best to rely on our expert evaluation rather than assuming you’ll never run into problems.
Most extractions are done with local anesthesia, so you won’t feel pain during the procedure. Simple, fully erupted teeth can come out quickly. Impacted teeth may be sectioned into smaller pieces and removed through a small opening in the gum.
In the first 24–72 hours, you need to protect your clots and keep swelling down. We recommend rest, head elevation, ice packs, and prescribed or over‑the‑counter pain relief to manage your symptoms. You should stick to soft foods (yogurt, eggs, smoothies—not through a straw) and keep the area clean.
Within a week, most people are back to eating normally and feeling comfortable. Our team provides detailed aftercare instructions and follows up closely to make sure your healing goes well.
Wisdom teeth don’t always need to be removed, but many do. Removal is necessary when they cause repeated infections, threaten neighboring teeth, develop cysts, or can’t be kept clean. If you’re unsure whether your wisdom teeth need to come out, schedule an appointment with us online or call us at 415-477-3700 today.
