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A
wisdom tooth or 3rd molar has its name because it comes in when one
reaches approximately age eighteen, which is the beginning of
adulthood.
Human beings have evolved rapidly throughout the history and so have
teeth and jaws.
When ancient people fed on mostly vegetables, it is said they had as
many as forty-four teeth. With the discovery of fire and the
following mastery of the knowledge and skills necessary to tenderize
food, people began to eat softer food. As a result, the size of jaws
became smaller. Moreover modern people have fewer teeth and normally
there are thirty-two teeth including both upper and lower wisdom
teeth.
The wisdom tooth is the last tooth that comes in and there isn't
much space left for it to grow properly. For this reason these days
only a few people have completely grown wisdom teeth. They are
sometimes impacted in a bone or partially erupted, which causes
painful swelling. Especially inflammation on the gums that cover the
back of the wisdom teeth is called pericoronitis.
This inflammation prone condition and its last position in the set
of teeth make it hard to be reached for brushing and often leads to
the tooth decay.
There are a few people who don't have any problems with their wisdom
teeth as long as their wisdom teeth grow normally along with other
molars and they can easily brush them.
However, in most cases, dentists will examine the X-rays to see your
oral conditions and decide for you whether those teeth should be
extracted
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