You may have heard about wisdom teeth – and maybe you even know they’re supposed to come in later in life, between the ages of 17 and 21. But you might also not know that they don’t always grow in properly, and that they often need to be removed.

Wisdom teeth  are the molars in the very back of your mouth. They earned their name because they usually appear in adulthood, which is when we used to think people gained a measure of wisdom. But they serve no real purpose for modern humans, whose diet is so full of softer foods that there’s really no need for these extra molars to come in.

If a person doesn’t have enough room in the jaw, the wisdom tooth might not come in at all, or it might only grow in partially. This can cause a host of problems, from overcrowding and infections to pain and decay. And sometimes a wisdom tooth can become impacted in the jaw bone or gums if it grows at an angle that gets in the way of other teeth or becomes trapped under the gum line.

Wisdom Teeth Removal: When and Why You Might Need It

If this happens, a dentist can remove the problematic wisdom tooth at their dental practice or refer you to an oral surgeon at a hospital. The removal process typically begins with the injection of local anesthetic to numb the area around the tooth. After that, the dentist will open the gum to expose the tooth and bone. They might drill down or use a saw to cut off the tooth, or they might make an incision to remove the root of the problem. They might also break the tooth into sections to make it easier to remove.