We each get wisdom teeth at a different time or not at all. And once they have broken through, a visit to the oral surgeon seems inevitable. What is the point of wisdom teeth if we have to have them removed anyway in many cases?
It used to be useful to have as many teeth as possible, says Ben Nelemans, a developmental biologist at Utrecht University. “A lot of raw and hard food was eaten back then. So if you had more teeth, you could eat longer. It was crucial for survival.”
According to Nelemans, more molars meant less wear per molar. “Extra molars were advantageous back then, but today it is no longer so important. Because the quality of our food has improved, we also suffer less from wear and tear on our teeth.”
An Australian study shows that people today are increasingly being born without wisdom teeth. It would be the result of a micro-evolution. “Over millions of years, our jaws have become increasingly narrow,” says Toine Rosenberg, professor of oral surgery at UMC Utrecht.
Half-erupted wisdom teeth are not easy to keep clean
“Our lower jaw grows less far forward. As a result – especially in Western countries – the wisdom teeth no longer fit properly,” says Rosenberg. “As a result, wisdom teeth cannot grow and often remain half-erupted. Sometimes under a layer of gum.”
There may be pus or dirt that you cannot reach with your toothbrush.
This is bad because the wisdom teeth cannot be cleaned properly. “There may be pus or dirt that you can’t reach with your toothbrush.” The choice to refer someone to the dental surgeon is made so quickly.
Possibly also risks if you have a wisdom tooth removed
The position of the wisdom teeth in the jaw is also examined. “If the position of the tooth is such that it has a horizontal position, it can put pressure on the following tooth. You cannot reach that properly, and it can then also be decided to have the tooth extracted.”
In all cases, an assessment will be made: “We look at the problems that wisdom teeth can cause if left in place and the risks that can arise from removal. It can be difficult to extract the molars without further damage to put on. someone’s teeth.”
Molars tend to grow forward
If your molars are not in the right position, medical guidelines dictate that you have your wisdom teeth removed before you turn thirty. If you already have complaints, or if you get it done at a later age, complications can arise.
All molars have a tendency to grow in, it’s not your wisdom teeth’s fault.
It’s not like your wisdom teeth can ensure that there isn’t room for the rest of your molars. “I hear that a lot, but it’s really a myth,” says Rosenberg. “All molars tend to grow forward. It’s not your wisdom teeth’s fault.”
They won’t disappear anytime soon
If your wisdom teeth are growing as they should and if they fit properly, they will be treated just like the rest of your teeth. In most cases, your wisdom teeth come in around the age of 17 or 18. “Well-functioning wisdom teeth, you chew with them, and they make contact with their counterpart in the upper jaw.”
According to Nelemans, it may take some time before wisdom teeth completely disappear from our population. This requires a strong selection. Losing the wisdom teeth in that case should be of great benefit. “But that doesn’t seem to be the case for now.”
In addition, research shows that more genes are needed to make teeth. “And those genes interact with other parts of our body. Losing wisdom teeth seems difficult because the processes involved must remain well balanced for a particular set of teeth to result.” This makes it difficult to develop mutations that only cause you to lose your wisdom teeth, but at the same time do not cause problems in other parts of your body.
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