Wisdom teeth are the last set of molars to develop, typically appearing during the late teen years or early twenties. While some people have enough room in their mouths for these teeth to grow in properly, many others experience problems that make removal the best option.

If your dentist recommends wisdom tooth extraction, you may wonder if the procedure is really necessary. After all, if the tooth isn’t bothering you, why remove it? In many cases, wisdom teeth are removed to prevent future complications before they have the chance to cause pain, infection, or damage.

Here are three common reasons wisdom teeth may need to be extracted.