The Great Wisdom Tooth Mystery: Why Do You Have Them?

Roughly half the population doesn’t have enough room in their mouths to accommodate wisdom teeth. If so many people will need to extract these third molars anyway, why do you have them at all?

That’s a great question. Experts aren’t completely sure why people grow wisdom teeth, but they have at least two theories that could explain this mystery. Keep reading to learn more!

Wisdom Teeth Made Sense When Jaws Were Larger

A long time ago, the average human jaw used to be much wider than it is now. Researchers speculate that people actually did have the space to accommodate third molars, which would have helped with chewing and tearing tough meats and fruits. After the development of forks and spoons, though, this capacity was no longer needed, and human mouths narrowed. Thus, wisdom teeth are leftover tools from a bygone age.

Third Molars Could Have Replaced Other Missing Teeth

Dentistry has come a long way. Even just a few decades ago, tooth loss was much more common than it is now. Since wisdom teeth develop late compared to other adult teeth, researchers also think that they were meant to serve as “back-up teeth.” When an individual inevitably lost multiple pearly whites, the third molars would grow in to effectively replace them.

What Does That Mean for You?

Despite whatever value they may have had before, wisdom teeth don’t seem to be strictly necessary nowadays. In fact, sometimes they can cause more harm than good, which is why nearly 50% of patients need to have them removed. If your third molars could damage your other teeth or become trapped below your gumline, your dentist will likely recommend an extraction.

Or, if you’re like the other 50% of patients and either don’t have wisdom teeth or can safely grow them, your dentist will probably leave them alone instead. After all, why get an extraction if you don’t need one?

Either way, you can count on your dentist to let you know what the best course of action is for your oral wellness!

About the Author

Dr. Xinxing Liu had to have plenty of dental work done as a child, so she knows how important it is for dentistry to be as comfortable and convenient as possible. If you need one or more wisdom tooth removed, she’ll work closely with you to identify your needs and help you have a positive experience. To contact her office, call 469-210-7223.