It can be very painful when a partially erupted wisdom tooth and the surrounding gums become infected. An impacted wisdom tooth can also cause tooth decay. This happens because wisdom teeth are nearly impossible to keep free of decay-causing plaque. You can easily see the plaque here because we’ve stained it with red dye. Plaque also causes periodontal disease, which may start near the wisdom teeth and spread throughout the mouth. Lastly, cysts form sometimes around an impacted wisdom tooth, and they can also destroy a tremendous amount of bone before they’re noticed. It’s often better to remove wisdom teeth early, while their roots are still small, even before the teeth have come in through the gums. This often allows for easier removal, fewer complications, and faster healing. To determine if extracting wisdom teeth is right for your situation, we’ll do a thorough examination, which usually includes x-rays. Extracting wisdom teeth is often the best choice for maintaining a healthy mouth and smile.