The preemptive extraction of wisdom teeth before they become problematic has been a routine practice for decades. Surgical tooth removal began after the introduction of the local anesthetic Novocaine in 1902. Before that, these third molars were rarely, if ever, removed as a preventive measure due to the pain involved.1 The removal of wisdom teeth started becoming more common after the 1950s with the advent of antibiotics to treat related infections.2 Read more.