Ask the Dentist!
Why do we have wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth, or third molars, usually don’t appear until the age of 17-22 years of age. It is believed that when our diet was of more raw, tougher foods the third set of molar teeth were invaluable in chew and crush this very tough diet. As we have evolved to a diet that is cooked, utensils are used to do the job of wisdom teeth. This third set of molars may no longer be needed.
The jaws of our ancestors were larger, making room for a third set of molars unlike today where most wisdom teeth are removed due to lack of room.
When wisdom teeth cannot fully erupt, they are considered to be impacted, which can lead to gum infections, crowded teeth and pain. On average, the jaw stops growing around age 18 and wisdom teeth typically will not erupt until age 19-20. This leads to crowding issues which necessitates removal.
If lack of space is inevitable for third molars, removal sooner that later is my advice. Most of the issues and problems associated with impacted wisdom teeth can be avoided if removed early enough. A dental x-ray can show the position of wisdom teeth and whether or not they need to be removed. In some cases, wisdom teeth never form. This is more common in females than males.
Not sure if you have wisdom teeth or if they need to be removed? Give us a call: (225) 926-4203.