If I had a dollar for every patient that came through the door worried that their wisdom teeth are going to infect the rest of their mouth, or cause infection thus needing removal…I’d be happily retired by now. There are many misconceptions and old wives tales about wisdom teeth. The best way to clarify these issues, is to identify some basic Q&As regarding these teeth.
What are Wisdom Teeth?
The wisdom teeth are the 3rd molars in each quadrant of the mouth. Some say that they are called “wisdom teeth” as they generally appear so late – much later than the other teeth, at an age where people are presumably “wiser” than as a child, when the other teeth erupt.
Is it normal to not have wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the most variable tooth in the mouth. Many people do not have a complete set of wisdom teeth. Some people may have only two or three and others have no Wisdom Teeth. Having all, none, or some Wisdom Teeth is considered normal. Wisdom Teeth erupt (come up, into the mouth) behind the second (12 year old) molar and do not replace any baby (primary) teeth. Wisdom Teeth usually erupt when a person is between 15 to 20 years of age, however this is extremely variable. Occasionally Wisdom Teeth may erupt much later in life. This is particularly likely if other molars are removed as this may allow a previously trapped (impacted) Wisdom Tooth to erupt.