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Do you need to have your wisdom teeth removed? It’s one of the most common questions we hear, and the honest answer is: it depends on your teeth. Some wisdom teeth grow in without any trouble. Others get stuck, become infected, or damage the teeth next to them.
At Blue Ridge Orthodontics, our oral and maxillofacial surgery team evaluates, monitors, and removes wisdom teeth for patients across Western North Carolina, with IV sedation, at our Asheville, Hendersonville, and Brevard offices. Your first consultation is free.
Not sure if your wisdom teeth need to come out? Start with a free consultation with our oral surgery team.
Many families in Western North Carolina choose Blue Ridge Orthodontics because orthodontics and oral surgery are under one roof. Our oral surgery team provides treatment at three locations: Asheville (1915 Hendersonville Road), Hendersonville (1714 Old Village Road), and Brevard (4 Market Street). If you’re also in orthodontic treatment, your oral surgery and orthodontic care are coordinated in one practice.
Wisdom teeth are the four teeth at the very back of your upper and lower jaws. Our ancestors needed these large, powerful molars to grind a diet of hard nuts, raw plants, and tough meats. Today, the way we eat and prepare food has eliminated that need, and many people don’t have room for them.
In fact, not everyone develops all four. A meta-analysis of more than 63,000 people found that about 22.6% are missing at least one wisdom tooth.1 When wisdom teeth do develop without enough room to grow in, they can become impacted, meaning fully or partially stuck under the gums or bone. Researchers estimate that about one in four people worldwide has at least one impacted wisdom tooth.2
If your wisdom teeth have space to grow in properly, they can stay and function like your other teeth. When they don’t, problems can include:
Learn how our oral surgery team diagnoses and treats impacted wisdom teeth.
Wisdom Teeth by the Numbers
You may notice:
It’s also possible to have little or no pain even when active disease develops. That’s why a professional exam with X-rays is the most reliable way to know whether your wisdom teeth are impacted, inflamed, or affecting your gums.
We recommend having your child’s wisdom teeth evaluated around age 15. In teenagers and young adults, the roots of wisdom teeth haven’t fully formed and the jawbone is softer, which typically makes removal easier and healing faster.
Research supports this. A prospective study published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery found that complication rates after wisdom tooth surgery increase with age, especially after age 25.3 An early evaluation doesn’t always mean early removal. It means you can make the decision with good information, before problems develop.
It’s a fair question. Baby teeth fall out and are replaced, so you might think wisdom teeth could do the same. Unfortunately, they can’t. Wisdom teeth are permanent teeth with no replacements, which means misalignment, crowding at the back of the jaw, or impaction won’t resolve on their own. If you’re having tooth, mouth, or jaw pain, contact our oral surgery team.
No. Wisdom teeth can be removed at any age. Younger adults have them removed more often, but we treat patients in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond. The real focus is the condition of your teeth and your overall oral health. Recovery may take a little longer as we age, so if your wisdom teeth are causing pain or other problems, it’s best not to wait.
Wisdom teeth that are actively infected or pose a significant future risk should be removed surgically. At Blue Ridge Orthodontics, this is done with IV sedation unless we discuss another option during your in-person visit.
If no problems are found, you can choose to monitor your wisdom teeth or have them removed proactively. Even wisdom teeth that grow in completely can develop problems over time, so periodic evaluation is important.
Most young patients need only a few days off from work or school before they feel well enough to resume some activity. Avoid rigorous activity, like team sports, for several days. Keeping your mouth clean during this time is very important to prevent infection, and our doctors will give you detailed aftercare dos and don’ts.
Planning your recovery menu? See our list of 7 foods to eat after oral surgery.
Already in braces or Invisalign? Wisdom teeth can be safely removed during orthodontic treatment, and because our orthodontists and oral surgeons work together, your care stays coordinated. Learn more in wisdom teeth and braces: 7 myths we hear all the time, or explore our other oral surgery services: dental extractions and expose and bond.
Blue Ridge Orthodontics’ oral surgery team provides wisdom teeth removal at our Asheville, Hendersonville, and Brevard offices.
We recommend a first evaluation around age 15. Removal is typically easier earlier, and research shows complication rates increase with age, especially after 25.
Most young patients need only a few days off from work or school. Avoid rigorous activity for several days and follow your aftercare instructions.
Wisdom teeth removal at BRO is done with IV sedation unless we discuss another option during your visit.
Yes. Your first wisdom teeth consultation is free.
Yes. It’s common and safe, and it doesn’t interrupt orthodontic treatment.
No. Wisdom teeth with enough room that grow in healthy can stay, but they should be checked periodically because problems can develop over time.