Wisdom teeth are types of molars found in the very back of your mouth. They usually appear in the late teens or early twenties, but may be impacted (fail to erupt) due to lack of room in the jaw or angle of the teeth. A wisdom tooth may need to be removed, depending on symptoms or its possible effect on neighboring teeth.

Wisdom teeth are often removed in the late teens or early twenties when the tooth roots have not fully formed and the bone surrounding the teeth is less dense. These two factors can make removal easier as well as shorten the recovery time. Your dentist will evaluate your wisdom teeth to determine if and/or when they should be removed.