BOSTON -- Is keeping your wisdom teeth wise?

NewsCenter 5's Heather Unruh reported that many people retain them with no problems, but research released at a meeting of oral surgeons in Boston found a surprising number of young people who still have their wisdom teeth also have early stages of gum disease, and that could lead to more serious health problems.

A study of patients in their 20s who kept their wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, found that 60 percent already had signs of early gum disease around their wisdom teeth.

"The time bomb comes from the finding that if we follow those people and leave them untreated over time, almost a quarter of them will go on to have a worsening of the gum conditions," said Dr. Thomas Dodson, of Massachusetts General Hospital.

Poor gum conditions could lead to more serious health problems, experts say. Gum disease has been associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and even causing pregnant woman to deliver their babies pre-term.

"We found that in young people who are pregnant, people that have moderate to severe gum disease, have about a two-fold increased risk for pre-term delivery," Dodson said.

Whether to remove wisdom teeth if they are not causing pain has long been debated and few studies have looked at the issue. This new research marks the first large studies to evaluate the risks of retaining wisdom teeth.

"This is actually a very big concern because almost all Americans are born with wisdom teeth," Dodson said.

But some oral surgeons said it's too soon to know the real risks wisdom teeth pose to our health.

"We're not yet conclusively able to blame low birth weight, coronary disease or diabetes upon deleterious health of wisdom teeth," said Dr. David Emanuel, of Metrowest Oral Surgical Association. "It is possible that patients with excellent oral hygiene and good maintenance and good self-care may continue to maintain and keep wisdom teeth successfully for a lifetime."

The experts agreed that you should have your wisdom teeth checked periodically by your dentist or an oral surgeon especially if you decide not to have them removed.