teeth will become fully developed and your jawbone denser. The older you get, the more difficult the surgery is. "There's a nerve in the jawbone below the roots of the teeth, and the main risk is injury to that nerve, which can cause numbness in the lower lip," says Dr. Gregoire. "Roots grow down toward the nerve, so that risk is somewhat higher if the tooth is impacted with a fully formed root. The risk is extremely low if the roots are not formed." Is there an age when it's too late to have wisdom tooth surgery? "It's not uncommon for impacted teeth to become symptomatic when people are in their 30s, 40s or 50s," says Dr. Gregoire, who regularly sees older adults for wisdom tooth removal. "There's no age limit, but as you get older, the surgery is more difficult, recovery is more difficult and the risk of complications is higher." If your dentist recommends surgery, don't wait. Dr. Gregoire often sees patients who have cavities in their impacted teeth and the adjacent teeth, which may also have to be pulled. "I see cases like that every week," he says. "People put it off and put it off, and they end up losing eight molars instead of four." Don't miss out! Sign up for our free weekly newsletters and get nutritious recipes, healthy weight-loss tips, easy ways to stay in shape and all the health news you need, delivered straight to your inbox.