They only pull wisdom teeth if your dentist feels that to have them would push the rest of your teeth out of alignment and/or cause you discomfort. I know some people who still have theirs because their jaws are large enough that their wisdom teeth don't really push the rest of the teeth too much. I, on the other hand, have a small mouth. My dental appointments take twice as long as normal because my mouth is so much smaller, but that's irrelevant.
You don't have to get them pulled, it won't kill you if you don't, but a lot of dentists support getting them pulled because they're so far back, a lot of people have trouble reaching them with a toothbrush and floss, so they tend to get cavities. It's like having your foreskin removed-you don't have to have it removed, but it's recommended because your wisdom teeth, like foreskin, can harbor bacteria and viruses.
As for me....they knocked me the fuck out. They told me how to take care of my mouth while I was still coming out from under (they gave me Vicodin!) and all I remember was "Vicodin is addictive" so I didn't take it at first. Tip: Don't do that.
I recommend you DON'T eat or drink sugary products (especially pudding and gatorade)-they made the holes in my mouth hurt. Don't suck on straws either-the vacuum you create in your mouth when you do that can rip the stitches. Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater a lot and heavily diluted Listerine several times a day to clean out the gaps as well, because you can't go near the back of your jaw with a toothbrush.
What was scary for me though was the guy who pulled my teeth...the whole time he was prepping me, his hand shook. He's an old guy and his hands were just shakin' away. Scared me shitless.
