Wisdom teeth, scientific name of the third largest molars, commonly known as wisdom teeth, standing teeth, are the teeth closest to the throat, if all grow out, a total of 4, two in the upper and lower jaw, usually grow out at the age of 16 or later. In contrast to milk teeth that grow in childhood and permanent teeth that are replaced in childhood, wisdom teeth usually erupt when the human mind has matured, hence the name.
In terms of the growth of wisdom teeth, there are great individual differences. Some people grow before the age of 20, some people only grow in their 40s and 50s, and some people do not grow in their entire lives. This is normal. Moreover, all four wisdom teeth are not necessarily full. Some people may only have 1 to 2 wisdom teeth, and some wisdom teeth may not grow even half way. This is called impacted wisdom teeth. Start from the gap between the front teeth and count the number of teeth from one side of the front teeth inward. If there is an eighth tooth, it is a wisdom tooth.
Wisdom teeth and evolution Wisdom teeth may degenerate for two reasons:
First, in the process of human evolution from apes, the size of the lower jaw became smaller, and there was no jaw space for wisdom teeth;
Second, possibly related to oral hygiene, it was not uncommon for young people in ancient times to have a few or most of their teeth lost. At this time, the wisdom teeth that have just erupted will come into play. With the development of modern oral medicine, everyone has the habit of brushing their teeth. Unless there is an accident, the teeth of young people will generally remain intact, and wisdom teeth will become redundant. Because there is no room for growth, wisdom teeth often experience pain when they grow, and their position and direction will be abnormal after eruption. Most people’s wisdom teeth have no chewing function and do not clench their teeth. That said, wisdom teeth are generally redundant and are considered a trace organ.
Diseases caused by wisdom teeth Due to the special position of wisdom teeth growth, it brings many problems to its cleaning and treatment. The diseases often caused are dental caries, periodontitis, and pulpitis. Because the wisdom teeth are in the innermost position, daily brushing is not easy to clean, and it is easy to cause tooth decay. Moreover, wisdom teeth often experience swelling and pain due to insufficient germination space, and will also invade adjacent teeth, causing toothache. In addition, due to the lack of correct clenching, sometimes the wisdom teeth will over-germinate, which will affect the occlusion; sometimes, the wisdom teeth will under-germinate and become impacted teeth, causing uneven dentition, infection of the pericoronal space, and difficulty in opening the mouth. Wisdom teeth are the third molars and have a significant impact on the adjacent second molars. Because most wisdom teeth are impacted anteriorly, they are placed on the second molar at an angle of about 45 degrees, thus forming a crown angle, which is easy to impact food, which will lead to caries of the second molar and even pulpitis. Less severe can also affect the lifespan of second molars. Wisdom Teeth Removal Due to the possible diseases caused by the above-mentioned wisdom teeth, most professionals recommend the removal of wisdom teeth for the sake of avoiding future troubles.
There are also some people whose wisdom teeth do not cause any trouble to people. This is determined by the individual’s physiological structure. These people do not need to remove their wisdom teeth. Because the location where the wisdom teeth grow is a branch of the trigeminal nerve, if not handled properly, it may affect sensation and even vision in the mouth. In adults, the jawbone and the root of wisdom teeth have already been set, so wisdom tooth extraction surgery has certain risks. For patients with diabetes, heart disease, etc., it is easy to cause complications in the extraction, and the wisdom tooth extraction surgery for these people should be cautious. Because wisdom teeth have 3-4 roots, and the growth position is not conducive to operation, wisdom teeth are generally removed by breaking the crown and dividing them out. Due to the use of anesthesia, there is no pain during the operation, but people need to adapt to the process psychologically, and some people do not cooperate with the treatment because of fear. For some wisdom teeth with less exposed crowns, the gums may be removed during extraction, and the healing of the wounds will bring some pain.
