Wisdom teeth (your third molars) are the last teeth to develop, but are the ones least needed for good oral health.  Most often, wisdom teeth do not (cannot) erupt normally.  But, if they do, it's usually between the ages of 18 and 21.

Most wisdom teeth remain impacted, meaning trapped in the jawbone below the gum.  This usually happens because there is not enough room for them in your mouth.  Early humans (think cavemen) had big jaws and needed more teeth for their tougher diets.  But modern humans have smaller jaws that don't have the space to fit wisdom teeth.

In current times, wisdom teeth usually do more harm than good.  They often need to be removed.

From Silent to Serious Problems

If your wisdom teeth are impacted, you may not even know you have them until pain suddenly strikes because of infection or pressure on an adjacent tooth.  You may not know that your developing wisdom teeth are pushing on the roots of adjacent teeth until those teeth start to shift.

If your wisdom teeth do erupt, the odds of decay or infection of surrounding gum tissue is very high compared to that of other teeth.  The results of expensive orthodontic work can even be ruined if your wisdom teeth crowd adjacent teeth, causing them to shift position.

Removal May Be Wise

Whether you have obvious symptoms or not, you should rely on your dentist to diagnose the existing or potential problems caused by your wisdom teeth.  If removal was recommended then, the health of the rest of your mouth depends on it.