School’s Out, Teeth Out: When Is the Best Age to Get Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Summer is the ideal time to get wisdom teeth removed—especially for teens and college students. With fewer schedule conflicts and plenty of recovery time, it’s the perfect season to take care of this common procedure before the school year kicks back in.

So, when should wisdom teeth come out?

The best time to remove them is typically between ages 16 and 20. At this stage, the roots haven’t fully developed yet, which means the procedure is simpler and recovery is faster. Waiting too long can make removal more complicated and increase the risk of pain, crowding, or infection.

Even if there aren’t any symptoms, wisdom teeth can grow in at an angle or get stuck under the gums (called impaction), leading to issues later on. That’s why we recommend a quick consultation and X-ray during the teen years to catch problems early.

Some signs it may be time include:

• Soreness in the back of the jaw
• Puffy or tender gums behind the molars
• Shifting or crowding of other teeth
• Trouble brushing or flossing near the back teeth

At Stanley Dentistry, we make the process easy and comfortable with sedation options to help patients relax during the procedure. Most wisdom teeth removals take less than an hour and are done in a single visit.

Recovery is typically just a few days of rest, ice packs, and soft foods. Most patients are back to normal within the week—and glad they didn’t wait.

If your teen or college student is home for the summer, now’s a great time to schedule. We’ll walk you through everything and make sure your family feels confident every step of the way.

Ready to get started?
Call today or book online to schedule a wisdom teeth consultation with our team.

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