why are they even called "wisdom teeth"?
2007-03-28 07:45:43 · 16 answers · asked by B 3 in Health ➔ Dental
Wisdom teeth, (correctly called 3rd molars) are basically excess tissue. We don't actually eat on them as they lay behind the area where we generate most of our biting force. They are poorly rooted and therefore are, in general, the easiest teeth in the mouth to extract. Because they are hard to clean around, they tend to eventually get tooth decay in them. AND, because they are hard to clean around, they also get lots of periodontal disease around them, (gum disease). This, unfortunately, destroys the bone around them which, just happens, to be the bone that also holds the 2nd molars in place. So, lots of people hang on to their 3rds so long that, in the end, they end up losing their worthless 3rds AND their good 2nd molars. Finally, because of tooth decay and gum disease, you will probably lose them anyway.....so why not have them out while you are young and healthy. If you wait until you develope heart problems, severe diabetes, etc.......a simple tooth extraction could become life threatening
2007-03-28 09:34:01 · answer #1 · answered by toothacres 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being the last teeth to enter the mouth, these are the ones that face the most problems while coming in. If there's not enough room they can crowd and misalign the teeth that are already there. Much worse they can come into a crowded mouth at an angle. These impacted wisdom teeth will ruin the roots of the teeth nearby and cause decay.
They only need to come out when an x-ray shows them to be a future problem to the existing teeth.
And they're wisdom teeth because they 'smart' when they come in.
2007-03-28 07:53:43 · answer #2 · answered by pensacola_sand 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
usually there are two main reasons for removing widsom teeth. Firstly, they may crowd your teeth and cause discomfort to your jaw and mouth. Secondly, if you have noticed, there are two main types of teeth that have evolved with man. We have the flat teeth such as molars, which are good at grinding foods, and sharp teeth, such as canines, that are used for tearing meat. Your wisdom teeth are sharp teeth like your canines that come from the days when man had to eat tough meat and use his teeth to tear his food more frequently.
Obviously, since we have passed the era of cavemen, these tearing teeth are no longer as necessary as they once were, so taking them out is not a big deal at all
2007-03-28 09:40:51 · answer #3 · answered by chachacha345 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not only is it fairly common for the jaw bone to be too short to accomodate extra teeth- the wisdom teeth are also very hard to keep clean. People have trouble reaching back there with their toothbrush, and not everyone flosses, either! If the wisdom teeth are only partially erupted, they can cause decay between your second molars and themselves without giving you the option to clean them. (Being that they are not fully erupted.)
2007-03-28 08:08:20 · answer #4 · answered by ashley's atarax 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Humans have evolved to have smaller jaws than thousands of years ago, so most of us don't have enough room in our mouths for four more teeth. If they're allowed to stay in, they can become impacted and eventually lead to infection. They're called "wisdom teeth" because they arrive later in life, when we've supposedly gained wisdom.
2007-03-28 07:50:40 · answer #5 · answered by claireag 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not. A lot of people find them really painful, and have weird problems like the wisdom teeth coming in rotten. And a lot of other people have crowded teeth that straighten up somewhat after the wisdom teeth removal.
But a lot of others, like me, have all my teeth, wisdom ones too. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
2007-03-28 08:15:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
not all wisdom teeth are pulled.if your mouth doesnt have enough room for wisdom teeth they need to be pulled, because its really painful when they start coming in
2007-03-28 07:49:44 · answer #7 · answered by christineR 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apparently they're called wisdom teeth because by the time you need to pull them out, you're alot wiser than you were when you lost your first set of teeth.
And do you need to have them removed? Only if they bother you. I'm 27 and I still have mine, my dad's 52 and he's still got his. Sup to you, but why fix it if it's not broke?
2007-03-28 07:48:24 · answer #8 · answered by Gravity 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sometimes the pain of them.
Sometimes they don't have to be removed.
Depends on your teeth alignment.
Thank you for this question
The Tooth Fairy :)
2007-03-28 07:50:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are not required to be removed unless there is not enough room for them to grow in properly. In that case they will cause you MASSIVE amounts of pain if you dont get them removed. Trust me, I experienced this first hand.
2007-03-28 07:49:57 · answer #10 · answered by I know, I know!!!! 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋