Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars, typically emerging in the late teens or early twenties. For some people, they come in without any issues, but for others, they cause pain, crowding, or other complications. Interestingly enough, however, not everyone deals with this—because not everyone has wisdom teeth! Here’s a closer look at what these teeth are and why some people may be lucky enough not to have them.
Not Everyone Has Wisdom Teeth
While most people develop four wisdom teeth (one in each corner of their mouth), it’s not uncommon for some individuals to have fewer, or even none at all! Studies suggest that perhaps even up to 35% may be missing at least one of these teeth, often due to genetics.
In fact, the absence of wisdom teeth is seemingly becoming more common over the generations. Some researchers believe this is the result of an evolutionary change—while our ancestors had coarser diets than us and needed broader, stronger jaws to eat their foods, these days, we don’t have it quite so bad. Modern diets involve cooking and cutting up foods, which means our teeth have to do less work; thus, the wisdom teeth aren’t needed!
Wisdom Teeth Can Cause Several Problems
Furthermore, those who do have their wisdom teeth are often susceptible to different issues. Wisdom teeth cause issues most of the time because:
- There isn’t always enough room in the mouth for them to erupt properly.
- They tend to erupt at odd, irregular angles or become impacted (trapped under the gums or in the jaw).
- They are hard to clean due to their location, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease.
Not all wisdom teeth need to be removed, but when problems arise or are likely to develop, extraction is often the best choice for your long-term oral health. It can prevent crowding and damage to other teeth, reduce the risk of infection due to them becoming impacted, and even ease pain and pressure. In many cases, dentists recommend removing the wisdom teeth during the late teenage years or early adulthood, before the roots have fully developed and complications become more likely.
If your dentist has informed you that you’re missing one (or all) of your wisdom teeth, you have no reason to panic—you could even rejoice knowing you won’t have to go through the rite of passage that wisdom tooth extraction is considered. But if you do have yours, managing them wisely is the key to preventing future problems.
About the Practice
Here at Winthrop Street Dentistry, our team has proudly served the dental needs of those in Worcester and the surrounding area for several years. We offer a wide range of services, including wisdom tooth extractions as well as emergency dentistry. If you have any questions about the blog, please feel free to reach out online or by phone for more information or assistance. Telephone: (508) 593-1261.