Wisdom teeth are often a source of confusion and concern for patients. Are they necessary? Does everyone get them? And if they do appear, does that automatically mean they need to be pulled out?
The short answer is no, not everyone develops wisdom teeth and their presence does not always necessitate removal. However, for many people, these late-blooming teeth can cause crowding, pain or infection if there is not enough room in the jaw.
What Are Wisdom Teeth and When Do They Erupt?
Wisdom teeth are the third molars located at the very back of the mouth. In a full adult dentition, there are 32 teeth in total: 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars and 12 molars.
These molars generally erupt in stages:
- First molars: Usually erupt around age six (commonly called the six-year-old molars).
- Second molars: Tend to erupt around age twelve (the twelve-year-old molars).
- Third molars (Wisdom Teeth): Most often erupt between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five.
Because they arrive later in life, when a person is historically considered “wiser”, they earned the name wisdom teeth.
For some lucky patients, these teeth erupt without any issues. For others, there may simply not be enough space in the jaw for them to come through properly. This can lead to the teeth becoming “impacted” (stuck beneath the gum or bone), which often results in discomfort or complications.
Why Do Some People Not Have Wisdom Teeth?
If you don’t see any wisdom teeth in your mouth, you are not alone. A significant number of patients never develop wisdom teeth at all. This is usually identified on a panoramic radiograph taken during adolescence, when the tooth buds should be visible.
There are several theories as to why wisdom teeth are becoming less common:
- Evolutionary changes: Over time, human jaw size has decreased, possibly linked to brain development.
- Dietary shifts: Softer modern diets reduce the need for the large, powerful jaws our ancestors needed to grind tough foods.
- Genetics: Genetic factors play a significant role in tooth development and whether the tooth buds form at all.
For many people, naturally missing wisdom teeth is considered an advantage because it avoids the potential complications associated with impaction and crowding later in life.
How to Tell If You Have Wisdom Teeth
You cannot always tell if you have wisdom teeth just by looking in the mirror. In many cases, the teeth remain hidden below the gum line. The most reliable way to confirm their presence is through dental imaging.
A panoramic radiograph (often called an OPG) or a 3D CBCT scan can clearly show the presence, position and angle of the developing teeth.
While some patients feel pressure, tenderness or swelling at the back of the mouth during eruption, others experience no symptoms at all. This is why regular dental check-ups are vital; they ensure that wisdom teeth are monitored early so we can identify potential problems before they cause pain.
When Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed
It is a common misconception that wisdom teeth must always be removed. At No Gaps Dental, we believe removal is recommended only after a proper clinical assessment.
Using X-ray imaging, your dentist will evaluate the tooth position, angle of eruption, proximity to nearby nerves or sinus spaces and any associated pathology. The decision is always made on a case-by-case basis.
Common reasons we may recommend removal include:
- Pain or pressure: Persistent discomfort at the back of the mouth.
- Infection: Swelling or gum infection (pericoronitis) caused by bacteria trapped around a partially erupted tooth.
- Decay: Cavities forming in the wisdom tooth or the adjacent molar due to difficulty cleaning the area.
- Pathology: Cyst formation around the impacted tooth.
- Impaction: Lack of space causing the tooth to grow at an angle, potentially damaging neighbouring teeth.
If your wisdom teeth are healthy, fully erupted, positioned correctly and can be cleaned easily, they may not need to be removed.
What Happens During and After Removal
If removal is necessary, we aim to make the process as comfortable as possible. Before the procedure, your dentist will numb the area with a local anaesthetic so you do not feel pain.
For patients who feel anxious, we offer additional options such as twilight sedation in a specialist clinic or general anaesthetic in a hospital setting. During the procedure, you may feel some pressure, but you should not feel sharpness or pain.
For impacted teeth, the dentist may gently remove a small amount of bone or divide the tooth into sections to remove it safely while preserving the surrounding bone.
Recovery and Aftercare After removal, your recovery time will vary depending on the complexity of the extraction. A fully erupted upper wisdom tooth may heal quickly, whereas an impacted lower tooth can take longer.
- You may be prescribed antibiotics or pain relief depending on your specific case.
- We will provide detailed instructions on how to care for the extraction site (such as avoiding straws and keeping the area clean).
If you have questions or feel nervous about the procedure, our team is here to support you through every step of the recovery process.
Book a Wisdom Teeth Assessment at No Gaps Dental
If you are experiencing jaw discomfort, are unsure whether your wisdom teeth are present or have been told they might need removal, we can help.
We provide clear advice, gentle care and a personalised treatment plan to suit your needs.
Book an appointment with No Gaps Dental today to have your wisdom teeth assessed and discuss the safest options for you.