My gums near my wisdom tooth are swollen. Should I have it extracted?

If the gum around your wisdom tooth keeps swelling up, we generally recommend extraction. Food debris and bacteria build up between the gum and the tooth, causing recurring pericoronitis (inflammation around the wisdom tooth). It tends to come back and, when severe, can spread into facial swelling or trouble opening the mouth. That said, lower wisdom teeth are sometimes close to the inferior alveolar nerve, so before extraction we evaluate the risk of nerve damage with an X-ray (and CT if needed). When the area is acutely and severely swollen, we typically calm the inflammation first and then extract the tooth.