Gen Z and the generational divide over wisdom tooth removal
A growing number of younger adults—especially those in Gen Z—are challenging the long-standing tradition of routine wisdom tooth removal, according to new polling data that highlights a clear generational divide in dental care decisions.
While older generations commonly underwent preventive extraction of their third molars, even in the absence of symptoms, recent trends show that Gen Z is more likely to adopt a wait-and-see approach, questioning whether removal is necessary if the teeth are healthy and asymptomatic.
“In the past few decades, there has been growing evidence that removing undiseased wisdom teeth may have more costs than benefits,” said Alexander Rossell Hayes, senior data scientist at YouGov, which conducted the survey.
Wisdom tooth removal: A timeline of decline across generations
The YouGov survey analyzed how removal rates have changed depending on the age respondents turned 20, a common age for wisdom teeth emergence and extraction. The results show a steady decline:
Before 2000:
- 67% had their wisdom teeth removed
➤ Routine extraction was widely accepted and often recommended preemptively
2000–2008:
- 48% had their wisdom teeth removed
➤ Early skepticism began to influence decision-making, though not yet reflected in major U.S. guidelines
2009–2015:
- 35% had their wisdom teeth removed
➤ This group reached adulthood after the American Public Health Association (APHA) opposed routine removal
2016 and later (Gen Z):
- 29% have had their wisdom teeth removed
➤ This youngest cohort is the least likely to follow automatic extraction protocols.
➤ 14% report their wisdom teeth have not yet emerged
These statistics signal a generational evolution in dental decision-making—from standard surgical procedures to a more conservative, evidence-based approach.
Evolving health guidance supports the shift
Although the American Dental Association (ADA) has not formally reversed its position on routine extractions, a number of global health organizations have adopted more cautious guidelines:
- In 2000, the UK’s National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) discouraged routine extraction of asymptomatic third molars
- In 2008, the APHA publicly opposed the preventive removal of healthy wisdom teeth
- In 2010, the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) recommended a case-by-case approach, favoring monitoring over automatic surgery
These evolving clinical positions have played a significant role in shaping younger generations’ expectations, encouraging patients to question whether surgery is warranted in the absence of pain, infection, or pathology.
Gen Z and informed, individualized dental care
Gen Z, raised in the age of digital research and patient empowerment, is far more likely to seek second opinions, research treatment options, and question routine procedures than previous generations. As a result, they are embracing personalized dentistry—where decisions are based on anatomy, risk, and lifestyle, not tradition.
This shift is also in line with broader movements in healthcare:
- Prioritizing minimally invasive treatment
- Promoting shared decision-making
- Emphasizing long-term outcomes over immediate interventions
While wisdom tooth extraction remains medically necessary in many cases—especially for impacted or infected teeth—it is no longer viewed as an automatic rite of passage. Gen Z is leading the way in turning a once-routine procedure into a carefully considered choice.
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