If you’ve heard of wisdom teeth before, you may already know that they tend to cause more problems than anything else. However, you may not necessarily know why. According to anthropologists, they are largely considered to be evolutionary relics that may have been useful in the past, but aren’t anymore. If you’ve always wondered why they exist and why dentists often recommend removing them, keep reading!
What Purpose Do Wisdom Teeth Serve?
In the past, wisdom teeth were actually essential for early humans who were relying on a limited diet in order to survive. This meant it wasn’t always so clear when the next substantial meal was going to be available, and so humans had to rely in foods like roots, leaves, nuts and other rough resources that could easily break down teeth. When teeth were inevitably lost, either due to this rough diet or because they simply rotted and fell out due to decay, wisdom teeth would act as the backups.
Anthropologists now believe that humans have largely evolved past the need for wisdom teeth. After all, it’s much easier to process and prepare food in modern times. This dramatically reduces the risk of tooth loss. However, it also means that more teeth are erupting than what the mouth can fit.
Why are They Often Removed?
While the risk for tooth loss is lower thanks to societal improvements, wisdom teeth are still appearing. In fact, one study from Imaging Science in Dentistry found that at least 53 percent of people had at least one wisdom tooth come in.
To this day, the main reason teeth are removed is simple: there just isn’t enough space in the mouth due to the human jaw slowly shrinking over time. Additionally, the human jaw is generally done growing by the time a person reaches the age of 18. However, most wisdom teeth do not appear until the age of about 19.
When wisdom teeth aren’t removed, many complications can appear. This includes:
- Crooked or crowded teeth
- An increased risk for tooth decay and cysts under the gums
- Wisdom teeth growing in sideways
- Jaw pain
Do I Need to Remove My Wisdom Teeth?
In most cases, wisdom teeth do need to be removed in order to prevent complications to your oral health. While there are instances where the mouth is large enough to accommodate wisdom teeth, it’s extremely rare that all of them will be able to fit inside the mouth. For this reason, it’s imperative to visit a dentist so they can perform a detailed exam of your teeth and determine if wisdom tooth removal is the best treatment option going forward.
Don’t assume that wisdom teeth will be able to fit inside your mouth. Get in touch with an oral surgeon today and confirm your oral health isn’t at risk of complications caused by wisdom teeth!
About Texas Dental Surgery
The doctors at Texas Dental Surgery have years of combined experience in performing comprehensive, comfortable, and effective surgical procedures designed to prevent oral health complications, including those caused by problematic wisdom teeth. To schedule an appointment to have your wisdom teeth checked out, you can contact them through their website.