Do Wisdom Teeth Always Need to Be Removed?

A very common myth: “everyone has to have their wisdom teeth out.” It’s not true. Plenty of people keep their wisdom teeth for life with no problems. The question is always the same — is this specific wisdom tooth going to cause trouble?

Wisdom teeth that can be safely kept

• Fully erupted and aligned. If the tooth is sitting upright, comes into the bite, is easy to clean, and has enough space — keep it.
• No gum inflammation around it.
• No cavities.
• No damage to the neighbouring molar.

Many adults in Roorkee have all four wisdom teeth fully functional into their 70s. There’s no need to remove healthy ones “just in case.”

Wisdom teeth that should be removed

• Impacted — stuck at an angle, unable to erupt fully. The gum covers part of the tooth, creating a trap for bacteria.
• Repeatedly infected (pericoronitis) — painful gum flare-ups around the tooth, often in flu season or when run-down.
• Causing damage to the tooth in front of them — tilted wisdom teeth can push into the second molar’s root.
• Causing cavities — either in the wisdom tooth itself (usually can’t be saved if deep) or in the neighbouring tooth (which is often saveable, if the wisdom tooth comes out).
• Associated with a cyst — rare but important; shows on X-ray/CBCT.
• In the way of orthodontic treatment — occasionally required before braces.

The grey-zone cases

• Fully impacted, no symptoms — we often just monitor with a yearly X-ray.
• Partial eruption, clean but slightly tender — we often watch for 12 months before deciding.

We don’t extract a tooth just because it’s a wisdom tooth. We extract it because it’s causing — or will imminently cause — a problem.

When pain strikes

If your wisdom tooth area is red, swollen, tender to touch, and possibly showing a bad taste: book same-day. We’ll:

1. Clean and irrigate the pocket around the tooth
2. Prescribe antibiotics if the infection is significant
3. Prescribe painkillers (usually ibuprofen)
4. Schedule extraction 5–7 days later once the infection has settled

What extraction involves

• Local anaesthesia (or IV sedation for anxious patients)
• 20–40 minutes per tooth
• Mild swelling and bruising for 2–4 days
• Soft food for 4–5 days
• Stitches that usually dissolve in 7–10 days

Cost at Dantam Dental Solutions: ₹3,000 – ₹12,000 depending on how impacted the tooth is.

Bottom line

If your wisdom teeth are quiet, clean, and functional — leave them alone. If they hurt, erupt at an angle, or threaten the neighbouring tooth — get them checked. A simple OPG X-ray in 10 minutes at our Roorkee clinic will give you a clear answer.