Is it possible to not have wisdom teeth?
Good question.
If you or someone you’re close to are missing wisdom teeth, you may feel confused about why.
After all, doesn’t everyone have wisdom teeth?
Actually, you may be surprised to know just how many people don’t have wisdom teeth.
Dentists call wisdom teeth third molars. Whether you call them that or wisdom teeth like many other people, they’re the teeth that erupt (dental term for appearing) in the far back of your mouth.
On average, people have four, one for each quarter of the mouth, and they typically appear between the ages of 17 and 25.
Anthropologists believe that wisdom teeth exist because they were the answer to ancient humans’ rough diet of leaves, roots, nuts, and meats.
Since we don’t subsist on that diet anymore, some people don’t have wisdom teeth.
But why?
Many people don’t know this, but it’s actually somewhat common for people not to have wisdom teeth. In fact, a study shows that up to 35% of people are missing wisdom teeth.
There are a number of natural reasons some people don’t have wisdom teeth, including:
1. They’re there but haven’t emerged
As you may have gathered by the range of years wisdom teeth emerge, they’re somewhat unpredictable. They may never emerge if they’re impacted, meaning there’s not enough space for them to grow, in which case they’ll remain in the jaw bone for years.
2. Genetics
A Princeton University study shows that the expanding brain size over thousands of years meant there was no more room for an extra set of teeth. As humans, we can capably chew with our first and second molars, so who needs the third molars (aka wisdom teeth)?
3. They’ve already been removed
Problems with wisdom teeth primarily include pain and discomfort, infections, gum disease and tooth decay. This is why it’s common for dentists to recommend pulling wisdom teeth when they come in. If they’ve already been removed, then the person is missing them. Naturally.
At Impeccable Smiles, our team is passionate about helping our patients achieve their perfect smile, one that looks great and supports their overall health and well-being.
Call us or click here to schedule an appointment today.
Sources
https://www.princeton.edu/news/2011/01/24/anthropologist-mann-builds-body-evidence-evolution-studies?section=featured
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3873309/
The post Why Do Some People Not Have Wisdom Teeth? appeared first on Impeccable Smiles.
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