We usually don’t give our wisdom teeth much thought unless they cause us sudden or severe pain - and as our rear molars - they generally erupt in our mouths late in our teenage years. However they can develop right up until we are 30 years of age.
Many believe they are called ‘wisdom teeth’ because they are smarter than the rest of our teeth - but since the evolution of man they now serve very little purpose.
So, instead of telling you about what can go wrong with your wisdom teeth, the possible solutions and how to clean them properly to prevent infection, we thought it would be interesting to dive a little deeper and take a look at some of the information about wisdom teeth that people wouldn’t necessarily know.
Where Did The Name ‘Wisdom Teeth’ Originate?
Although there is no definitive answer to this question, it is relatively simple to assume they gained their name due our age when they begin to erupt in our mouth. Because these teeth generally don’t grow out until the dental arch becomes larger (usually around 17-25 years of age) this period is often referred to by many as the ‘age of wisdom’.
Stem Cells and Wisdom Teeth
In 2008 Japanese researchers discovered that induced pluripotent stem cells can be harvested from wisdom teeth.
With almost all people having to have their wisdom teeth removed, having such a plentiful source of donors mean scientists can produce stem cells with a range of genetic codes, increasing the chance the patient’s immune system will not reject the transplanted tissue or organ.
Alternatively, patients’ could arrange to have their wisdom teeth stored for use later in life.
Not Everyone Has Wisdom Teeth
Correct! It is estimated that approximately 35% of the world's’ population are born without wisdom teeth. There continues to be much debate between researchers as to whether this is due to culture or evolution.
Some People Have More Than 4
As if having four wisdom teeth at the back of your mouth causing problems wasn’t enough. Somewhere between .1% and 3.8% of the world's population have supernumerary wisdom teeth. This condition is known as hyperdontia and means that the person has an extra set of wisdom teeth.
If you would like to read more information regarding your wisdom teeth please visit WisdomDentalEmergency.com.au, or if you think you are experiencing a dental emergency, please call immediately on 1800 WISDOM.
