{"id":358,"date":"2026-11-12T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\/blog\/2026\/11\/12\/why-do-i-need-to-remove-wisdom-teeth\/"},"modified":"2026-11-12T07:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T07:00:00","slug":"why-do-i-need-to-remove-wisdom-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\/blog\/2026\/11\/12\/why-do-i-need-to-remove-wisdom-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do I Need to Remove My Wisdom Teeth?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/why-do-i-need-to-remove-wisdom-teeth-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"A woman holding an extracted tooth\" class=\"wp-image-357\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/why-do-i-need-to-remove-wisdom-teeth-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/why-do-i-need-to-remove-wisdom-teeth-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/why-do-i-need-to-remove-wisdom-teeth.jpg 894w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wisdom is the word we use to describe a level of knowledge that can only be earned with time, which is why it seems a bit of a misnomer when you\u2019re describing wisdom teeth. After all, in many cases they grow sideways or trapped underneath <em>other<\/em> teeth and need to be extracted, which if you ask me isn\u2019t very smart. However, their name isn\u2019t inspired by their intelligence; it\u2019s in reference to the older age most people are when they finally erupt. If you\u2019ve been wondering if yours need to be removed, here\u2019s why they might, and how I as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\/contact.html\">a dentist<\/a> make that determination for my own patients.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><!\u2014more<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">All Wisdom Teeth Aren\u2019t Created Equally<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While it\u2019s true that many wisdom teeth can be problematic, the good news is that not all of them will need to be extracted. In fact, many do erupt safely, are well aligned, and create no crowding or hygiene problems. If yours are on track for healthy growth, you can likely keep them. Just be sure to maintain your regular dental checkups and cleanings so your dentist can keep an eye on them over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reasons to Remove Wisdom Teeth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfortunately, while some wisdom teeth aren\u2019t problematic, in many cases they are. Thus, whether they\u2019re already causing the patient problems or if X-rays help me determine they eventually <em>could<\/em> be dangerous, I will likely recommend extraction. Here are some common reasons they may need to be removed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Impaction: <\/strong>this occurs when the tooth is lodged under the gums or bone and cannot erupt naturally and can be very painful.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Decay:<\/strong> If your tooth is decayed and it cannot be accessed to repair, it should come out.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Partial impaction:<\/strong> If the tooth has started to erupt but is partially trapped underneath the gums and is causing excess buildup or infection, keeping it will likely cause more harm than good.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dental damage:<\/strong> cysts, gum disease, or even crowding-related damage to nearby teeth can develop around wisdom teeth, making their removal essential for good oral health.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Making the Call<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Determining whether you need your wisdom teeth extracted involves three important steps: a discussion with your dentist, a physical examination of your mouth, and a review of your X-rays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">X-rays are instrumental in showing me how your teeth are aligned, how developed your wisdom teeth roots are, and their proximity to other areas including your sinuses and nerves. If your images reveal that you are at a significant risk for pain, damage to your other teeth, or dental infections, I will likely recommend removing the offending teeth. While there\u2019s no exact timetable for extracting wisdom teeth, the sooner you do it, the less the chance they\u2019ll have to cause permanent damage. For patients who are nervous or afraid of treatment, I highly recommend <a href=\"https:\/\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\/sedation-dentistry.html\">dental sedation<\/a> to help keep you feeling calm and comfortable during your procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Questions for Your Dentist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your dentist is recommending wisdom tooth extraction, don\u2019t hesitate to ask for more information. They\u2019ll be happy to show you your X-rays and explain the dangers of leaving them intact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember, while nobody ever <em>wants<\/em> to hear they need extractions, with wisdom teeth this is often the best way to prevent or eliminate painful dental damage. If you\u2019re still unsure you really need yours removed and would like a second opinion, feel free to contact my office to schedule a consultation and I\u2019ll be honored to give you my honest opinion!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About Dr. Parry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\/meet-dr-parry.html\">Dr. Tristan Parry<\/a> earned his undergraduate degree at Utah State University and his dental doctorate at Ohio State University. He is currently a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry and a proud graduate of the KOIS Center in Seattle, WA with over 500 hours of continuing education under his belt. His trusted opinion has also earned him a spot as an Advisory Circle Member of the American Dental Association, where his expertise is instrumental in helping the US dental community select and implement new oral health products. To schedule a consultation for wisdom tooth extraction at Magnolia Shores Dental, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\/contact.html\">our website<\/a> or call us today at <a href=\"tel:+13366442770\" class=\"pho\">(336) 644-2770<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wisdom is the word we use to describe a level of knowledge that can only be earned with time, which is why it seems a bit of a misnomer when you\u2019re describing wisdom teeth. After all, in many cases they grow sideways or trapped underneath other teeth and need to be extracted, which if you [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Wondering if your wisdom teeth really need to be removed? Dr. Tristan Parry explains how dentists determine which teeth stay and go.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\/blog\/2026\/11\/12\/why-do-i-need-to-remove-wisdom-teeth\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Wondering if your wisdom teeth really need to be removed? Dr. Tristan Parry explains how dentists determine which teeth stay and go.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Wisdom is the word we use to describe a level of knowledge that can only be earned with time, which is why it seems a bit of a misnomer when you\u2019re describing wisdom teeth. After all, in many cases they grow sideways or trapped underneath other teeth and need to be extracted, which if you [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\/blog\/2026\/11\/12\/why-do-i-need-to-remove-wisdom-teeth\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Magnolia Shores Dental Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-11-12T07:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/why-do-i-need-to-remove-wisdom-teeth-300x200.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"magnoliashores\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"magnoliashores\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\\\/blog\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/12\\\/why-do-i-need-to-remove-wisdom-teeth\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\\\/blog\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/12\\\/why-do-i-need-to-remove-wisdom-teeth\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"magnoliashores\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/640e297844622dbc98fb48ab271a8be2\"},\"headline\":\"Why Do I Need to Remove My Wisdom Teeth?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-11-12T07:00:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\\\/blog\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/12\\\/why-do-i-need-to-remove-wisdom-teeth\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":709,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\\\/blog\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/12\\\/why-do-i-need-to-remove-wisdom-teeth\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/why-do-i-need-to-remove-wisdom-teeth-300x200.jpg\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\\\/blog\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/12\\\/why-do-i-need-to-remove-wisdom-teeth\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.magnoliashoresfamilydental.com\\\/blog\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/12\\\/why-do-i-need-to-remove-wisdom-teeth\\\/\",\"name\":\"Wondering if your wisdom teeth really need to be removed? 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