Why does your dentist recommend that you should have your wisdom teeth removed at 47-years-old even though you have had no problems?

A wisdom tooth may become impacted due to lack of space in the dental arch and its eruption is therefore prevented by gum, bone, another tooth or all three. Lack of space occurs because our jaws have become smaller (through evolution), we do not loose teeth through decay as frequently as in the past, and our diet is such that our teeth do not wear down as much. This impaction may cause saliva, bacteria and food particles to collect around an impacted wisdom tooth, causing it, or the next tooth to decay. It is very difficult to remove such decay. Pain and infection will usually insue. Also a asymptomatic wisdom tooth may over time slowly impinge on a branch of the facial nerve potentially causing progressive facial paralisis.