As you’ve grown up over the years, you’ve likely heard of wisdom teeth. You may even know a few relatives or friends who’ve had these chompers. Still, you could easily find yourself asking, “Does everyone have wisdom teeth?” Addressing that question would help with your future oral care. Luckily, your Covington dentist is here with an answer. Just keep reading to learn about wisdom teeth, why some people don’t get them, and how to handle them.
Remind Me: What are Wisdom Teeth?
To learn whether everyone does (or doesn’t) get wisdom teeth, you must know what they are first. The final answer won’t make sense otherwise.
Wisdom teeth are ‘extra’ ones that develop after all the others. Specifically, they emerge in the back of the mouth and erupt between the ages of 17 and 25 – the “years of wisdom.” These “third molars” often prove risky when left unchecked, so they’re often treated by qualified dentists.
When a wisdom tooth doesn’t emerge properly, patients tend to develop some telltale signs. The most common of these are:
- Redness or swelling in your gums
- White flecks behind your last molars
- Facial pain from wisdom teeth pressing on nerves
- Jaw pain or tenderness
Not Everyone Gets Wisdom Teeth
Despite being (in)famous, not everyone gets all four wisdom teeth. Some people only develop one, two, or three, while others never have any.
These facts are backed by the latest scientific research. Today, the Dental Research Journal finds that 5 to 37 percent of people worldwide are missing some wisdom teeth. It also claims that only 53% of the global populuation has at least one such tooth, with the rest lacking any of the “wise” chompers.
It seems only some get wisdom teeth due to genetics. After all, third molars are vestigial structures – now-useless traits inherited from evolutionary ancestors. The genes related to these teeth occur less because modern humans don’t need them. As a result, fewer and fewer folks are born with the extra pearly whites.
How Should You Handle Wisdom Teeth?
If you develop wisdom teeth, you’ll likely need to see a dentist. They can assess whether your third molars require dental care.
Depending on your case, your dentist could perform a wisdom tooth extraction. This treatment would remove the extra teeth before they cause damage to your oral health. It’d also be pain-free, as the dental team would numb your mouth beforehand.
While not everyone has wisdom teeth, remember to consult your dental provider. They’ll confirm whether you have any and provide crucial care!
About the Practice
Complete Dental Care of Covington is based in Covington, WA. Led by Drs. Navi Dhaliwal and Neveen Elabbasy, our practice provides quality dentistry that helps your whole family. We offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative work tailored to your smile, as well as emergency dental care as needed. You can even trust our team for effective wisdom tooth extractions! For more details or to book a visit, please reach us on our website or by phone at (253)-243-6576.