It is a common belief that wisdom comes with age. But that does not guarantee that wisdom comes with age. The eruption of the wisdom tooth varies from one person to another. There are people in whom the wisdom teeth do not appear at all.
If that is the case with you, then do you need to be worried? Does it imply that something is wrong with your oral health? The Dentist Middle Village here makes an attempt to tell you what these teeth are and why you may not have it. Just read on.
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are known in clinical and dental terms as the third molars. Usually, the average human has about 4 wisdom teeth, there is one for every quarter of the mouth. They happen to be the last tooth to erupt. However, in certain cases, the wisdom tooth may never develop at all. These teeth happen to be the last teeth to erupt and they come out through the back of the mouth behind the last standing tooth. These teeth are named after the time of their appearance and that’s between the ages of 17 and 25 years, at the very back of the mouth. This is the time when a young person may be pursuing higher education and gaining wisdom.
Reasons for There Being No Wisdom Teeth for Some People
In some people there is no wisdom tooth. In fact, research shows that 30-35 percent of the people have no wisdom tooth. There are primarily three reasons why wisdom tooth does not appear.
- There can be a lack of wisdom teeth related to the genes. Research reveals that evolution has a very important role to play in the absence of the wisdom tooth. The brain size has been expanding over hundreds and thousands of years and that meant that the head was no longer that large to accommodate a larger brain and an extra set of teeth. Hence a gradual shift in the engineering of the jaw does not allow the formation of the third molar. This mainly happens because the third one is not needed as we rely on the first and second molars for chewing. The third set is not necessary to eat as we can do so without any problem even when it is absent.
- There is another study that has been conducted where a chromosomal mutation of MYH16 has been discovered. This mutation is said to be an evolutionary trait that has permitted humans to grow larger brains which also means that humans have less need for wisdom teeth.
- Opponents of this evolution are of the opinion that the dietary shift has occurred in humans and the dental hygiene is reducing the dependence on the wisdom teeth. But if you place prehistoric and a modern jaw side by side you will find that there is visibly lesser space.
- The second reason may be that the wisdom teeth are present but still have not erupted. They can never erupt if they get impacted which means there is not enough space for them to grow and they may remain in the jaw bone for many years.
- It may also happen that your wisdom tooth has already been removed.
The above are some of the major reasons why there is no wisdom tooth among some people. So if you do not have one you do not have to lose your sleep over it. Just take good care of your oral health and don’t miss on your dental appointment so that you can flaunt your smile whenever you want.
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