Some teeth are late bloomers. This includes the ever-bothersome wisdom teeth that often give patients grief. These third molars usually erupt in late adolescence after your other pearly whites have already grown in. Often, this leads to some unpleasant side effects like impacted teeth, crowding, enamel damage, and jaw pain. Many times, your wisdom teeth will need to be extracted to prevent these issues.
But if they’re so disruptive, why do they grow at all? Read on to learn the origins of wisdom teeth and their historical purpose for early man.
Going Back in Time
Imagine a world without modern conveniences. No refrigerators, blenders, or steamers—no tools like knives or hammers. If you needed to process your food, how would you do it? Early man had to evolve ways to grind up tougher foods like roots, nuts, and raw meats that required significant chewing power to break down. The solution nature provided was another set of molars that could withstand the consistent chewing needed to digest tougher foods.
Cooking Changed the Game
As early humans developed more sophisticated ways to process food, their wisdom teeth became less necessary. However, less chewing meant that their jaws became smaller over time. As evolution progressed, human skulls developed a larger cavity for the brain and a smaller one for teeth. As a result, third molars continued to erupt, but human jaws were no longer large enough to accommodate them.
Modern Conveniences
In today’s modern technological landscape, much of the food processing is left up to large industrial machines and home appliances. So, wisdom teeth serve very few practical purposes. Instead, they tend to cause more inconveniences than they solve. This makes extraction a simple and effective way to stop issues like crowding, infection, and impaction.
So, if you’re experiencing discomfort or complications related to your wisdom teeth, it’s important to contact your dentist. They can assess your oral health, evaluate the state of your wisdom teeth, and recommend the best treatment options for you!
About the Author
Dr. Admasu Gizachew has been a Top Dentist in New York and New Jersey for multiple years in a row and has an extensive education from New York University. He enjoys getting to know his patients, focusing on their unique needs as he creates customized treatment plans to help them reach their smile goals. Call (732) 475-7535 to schedule a wisdom tooth extraction at Nu Dental Brick, or visit the website to explore other treatments they provide.