Cavity on one wisdom tooth. has been there for years. can this affect other teeth or overall mouth health? waiting for insurance to cover it. no pain.

Yes: A wisdom tooth can cause tooth decay and/or periodontal disease in adjacent teeth. See the wisdom tooth specialist - oral surgeon - for best advice.

Maybe: The reason to have your wisdom teeth removed is they are difficult to manage as we mature. Since you have have "long time" decay your options to have your tooth restored with a filling maybe limited to extraction. Microbes swim in the liquids of the mouth. They have the potential to cause decay anywhere they successfully colonize on the tooth surface.

Long Term Caries: At this point, the tooth most likely needs extraction. The decay may have spread to the distal of the second molar, necessitating additional treatment. Bone loss around the tooth may be present. Surgical extractions may still require out of pocket payment, regardless of insurance. Pain may also begin at any time.