Although not always the case, adults usually have 32 teeth. The last tooth of both jaws at the back are your wisdom teeth. The question is, should you have them removed. There are a lot of factors to consider before making that decision. If they have come in properly and are in a position that they can be cleaned at home easily, then there is no real reason to have them removed. If it appears that they will not come into the mouth at all and will not risk the health of the teeth beside them, then I believe they should be left alone as well. The issues arise when they come in the mouth in an improper position. In those cases, they are difficult to maintain and can cause recurrent gum infections, cavities on the adjacent teeth or decay themselves. In those situations, extractions might be the right treatment. But like all treatment, risks need to be taken into consideration such as potential nerve damage (usually associated with lower wisdom tooth extractions) , sinus trouble (associated with the uppers), etc.. Finally; Just to debunk a common myth, wisdom teeth do not cause crowding in front teeth.
Dr. Jay Rabinovich