Wisdom teeth- What`s the point?

[237SJ]

What is the point of wisdom teeth? I`m sure there`s some primeval reason for teeth in the back of the mouth but why does nature decide that those teeth have to make their appearance known when the host is nearing their late teens/early twenties?

[jno]

the prof, are they the only third molars, or are there other ones lying under second teeth and waiting in vain to be needed?

[theprof]

Yes, there can be. The scientific name for the condition is Hyperdontia and there have been many well publicised cases. There have been elderly people with rotting teeth who have had their remaining permanent teeth extracted in order to facilitate denture fitting only to find a completely new set of teeth emerging from their jawbone in later years.

Similarly, young adults have had permanent teeth extracted only to find that dental x-rays reveal a new set of permanent teeth forming in their jaws Often these situations demand major intervention by the dentist when for example, the second permanent teeth have been realigned via braces etc.

Patients in these circumstances can often demonstrate a series of X-rays taken on an annual basis which show the development of the teeth from the initial budding to the fully formed tooth.

In general terms, apart from the wisdom teeth, molars are far rarer to develop as a third set of teeth. No one knows the reason for this precisely, but there is a suspicion it's linked to a particular gene.

For more information, Google "Hyperdontia"

[Old_Geezer]

Never had any erupt. With the amount of chipping away of my other molars over the years by a variety of dentists I'm not sure a few wisdom ones wouldn't be useful around now as replacements. Roll on the time when stem cell knowledge means we can encourage a new set of teeth in later life when they are so needed.

[jno]

thanks, theprof. A considerable number of my teeth have vanished over the years, but nothing has ever come up under them, unfortunately - just the wisdom teeth behind them.