GET SMART ABOUT WISDOM TEETH
Wisdom teeth, or third molars as they are technically known, are the last teeth to erupt, generally between the ages of 18 and 21 They are located further back in the mouth than any other teeth, if they are present at all. Wisdom teeth are the most likely ones to go undeveloped, and thus to be missing naturally. They are really no different from other molar teeth, as long as they come in all the way. It is when they cannot fully erupt --when they are impacted--that they present a problem.
There are three main types of impactions--soft-tissue impactions, bony impactions, and combinations of both. Soft-tissue impactions occur when only gum tissue covers the wisdom teeth; bony impactions find the teeth surrounded by bone. Impactions can be either full or partial. Any sort of impaction can pose a problem. Studies have also shown that, all other things being equal, patients with less than ideal oral hygiene are generally better off having any impacted third molars removed. There are some reasons for not removing impacted wisdom teeth, particularly in light of existing medical and physical conditions. This will all be evaluated during your dental examination.