The short answer
Remove wisdom teeth that are causing or brewing trouble — keep the ones that behave. A panoramic x-ray in the late teens tells the story; when removal is needed, younger is easier. Anyone who recommends removing four healthy, functional teeth "just because" owes you a better reason.
The Latecomer Problem
Wisdom teeth (third molars) arrive between 17 and 25 into a jaw that's usually already full. Some fit fine. The rest improvise: erupting sideways into the next molar, half-emerging under a flap of gum, or staying trapped (impacted) in the bone. Evolution built us for bigger jaws and tougher diets; modern mouths got the teeth without the parking.
Teeth Worth Keeping
A wisdom tooth earns its place when it's fully erupted and upright, functions against an opposing tooth, and — the tough one — can actually be cleaned at the very back of your mouth. Keepers still get monitored at check-ups; back-corner decay is sneaky, and a keeper can become a leaver.
Teeth That Need to Go
- Impacted or angled teeth pressing into the second molar — the neighbour damage is the real tragedy, since that's a tooth you need
- Pericoronitis — recurring infection under the gum flap of a half-erupted tooth; painful, and it keeps coming back
- Decay you can't reach to clean, in the wisdom tooth or the molar beside it
- Cysts forming around impacted teeth — silent on the outside, visible on x-ray
- Pre-orthodontic planning in some cases
Wisdom tooth pain flaring right now? That's same-day emergency territory — (613) 491-3300.
Timing: The Teen Advantage
When removal is indicated, the late teens to early twenties is the sweet spot: shorter roots (farther from nerves), springier bone, faster healing, and — practically — summers off to recover. This is why we track wisdom tooth development on panoramic x-rays through the teen years, and why "let's watch it" sometimes becomes "this summer would be smart."
What Removal Actually Involves
An assessment x-ray maps each tooth's position, roots and nerve proximity — you'll know the difficulty level and cost before deciding anything. Straightforward removals happen here with thorough local anesthesia; nitrous oxide or oral sedation (Dr. Grewal is certified) turn anxious into unremarkable. Deeply impacted cases that genuinely warrant an oral surgeon get an honest referral — we tell you which category you're in, not which one is convenient.
Recovery, realistically: days 1–2 are rest, cold compresses and the sanctioned-milkshake era (no straws — suction dislodges the healing clot and causes dry socket, the one complication mostly within your control). Swelling peaks day 2–3, improves fast after. Most people are back to normal life by day 4–5, fully healed in a couple of weeks. Pain that worsens after day two instead of improving = call us.
Teen due for an assessment — or a wisdom tooth making itself known? Book an assessment or call (613) 491-3300. More detail: wisdom teeth removal.