People likely hear the term “wisdom teeth” all the time but may wonder why these back molars have that common nickname. Wisdom teeth have an interesting history that prevails today that many may not know about. It comes from the idea that those who have wisdom teeth are fully adult, beyond the transition of teen to adult.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the four molars that start erupting in the farthest back of the mouth behind the other molars. They start erupting between the ages of 18 and 30, which leads to their nickname. Most of the time, people benefit from having a dental surgeon remove wisdom teeth.
Why Call Them Wisdom Teeth?
The reason these four teeth are called wisdom teeth is because they come in after young people become adults. In ancient cultures, the eruption of wisdom teeth was a sign the person has hit an age of maturity. That opened up other events and responsibilities like preparing them for marriage or appointing them to governing bodies of the tribe, family, or community.
Wisdom teeth were once useful to humans. At one time, human diets were different from modern meals. They ate a lot of raw food, which required more grinding. Meats were likely tougher due to how they were dressed or cooked. All of these required more molars to chew.
Another fact is that human heads and mouths were once larger than they are today. Larger mouths made room for the four wisdom teeth to grow properly so they caused no problems. No one extracted them in prehistoric times because there was no need.
However, human diets changed and we no longer need an extra set of teeth to chew. Additionally, smaller mouths mean wisdom teeth can crowd out other teeth or become impacted. That can cause significant pain and infection. These are a few reasons to have them removed, although they don’t have to be extracted in all cases. Those who don’t suffer any problems with them can keep them.
Understanding More About Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth don’t always come in at the same time. That is possible, but most people experience them coming in at different times. They could come in one, two, three at a time as well as all four.
Additionally, they may not all come in within the same year or two after wisdom teeth start erupting. Erupting wisdom teeth can come in over the 10 years after becoming an adult. It varies for everyone. Some people never get them at all. You shouldn’t worry if you don’t get them because they aren’t necessary for human development.
Symptoms of Wisdom Teeth Eruption
Those experiencing getting their wisdom teeth will start feeling sore gums in the back of the mouth. You will eventually see a tooth growing through the gum. In some cases, the soft gum tissue over the tooth doesn’t allow it to grow through the gum properly. In those cases, your dentist will need to perform surgery to remove the gum tissue and the tooth.
Some dental issues that can come from wisdom teeth remaining in the mouth include decay of the wisdom teeth, infections, or decay in surrounding teeth. Crowding out other teeth can make those teeth crooked. It’s good to monitor wisdom teeth as they grow to have the best result for removal with reduced pain.
Talking to your dentist about what to expect when it comes to wisdom teeth is a good proactive move. That way you can plan for both the extraction procedure and recovery time. A positive about wisdom teeth extraction is that recovery time doesn’t take more than a few days to a week or so. You will have stitches and must eat soft foods for a while but can continue to go to work and school. Most people only take a day or two off for the procedure and the day after.
Sedation isn’t required with wisdom teeth extraction but is an option for those with high anxiety or a complicated procedure.
Do you have wisdom teeth coming in? Schedule an appointment with one of our dentists to review your options. Getting an exam now can help you plan and possibly prevent pain later. Call or book an appointment online today.
