Removing your wisdom teeth: or how evolution hasn’t caught up

Removing your wisdom teeth: or how evolution hasn’t caught up

Wisdom Teeth Are an Evolutionary Relic That Many People Are Still Stuck With

Do you belong to the unlucky 70% of the world’s population who still have wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are a third pair of molars that used to have a purpose other than needing to be extracted. Back when humans were hunter-gatherers and wisdom teeth were necessary.

But they are a painful reminder of that much simpler time:

A time when humans were hunter-gatherers and technology was thousands and thousands of years away. A time when our teeth were used to rip into raw meat and plants without the use of cutlery.

YOUR WISDOM TEETH ARE LIKE YOUR APPENDIX…

Like your appendix wisdom teeth are redundant. Also like an appendix, some people are never bothered by their wisdom teeth, however these people are the minority. Their wisdom teeth can eventually cause problems, even if they come through painlessly.

As the needs of humans changed, our jaws evolved to suit our diet. Unfortunately our teeth did not keep up and scientists theorize that it’ll be thousands of years before no one has wisdom teeth.

But who can wait that long?

THE ‘WISDOM’ IN WISDOM TEETH AND WHY WISDOM TEETH REMOVAL CAN BE BENEFICIAL FOR YOU…

Wisdom teeth are called that because of when they erupt. This is usually between 17-25. In theory this is when people go from adolescence into adulthood and so become ‘wiser’.

Extraction can be beneficial because wisdom teeth are often a painful experience. The best extraction is early extraction. By visiting the dentist regularly x-rays can be taken of your jaw and teeth.

Through early detection, wisdom teeth removal is a much less painful process then waiting for them to start erupting. It is also better for your oral health to get them out early and avoid harming any of your other teeth.

HOW REDBANK PLAINS DENTAL CAN HELP LOOK AFTER YOUR ORAL HEALTH…

Removing wisdom teeth before they become a problem is a good start.

At Redbank Plains we offer a range of general, preventative, restorative and cosmetic dentistry options to help you and you entire family. Some of the general dentistry treatments we offer are:

• White Fillings
• Cleans and Scaling
• General Check-ups
• Root Canal Treatment
• Extractions
• Wisdom Tooth Removal

WISDOM TEETH ARE THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE…

The general rule for tooth extraction is that it is used as a last resort. Modern dentistry is geared towards helping you maintain optimal oral health. There’s no substitute for one of your natural teeth. That is why dentists perform root canal treatments; place a crown over a tooth or place a filling. To protect your tooth.

Fun fact: there are those who’ll only have one wisdom tooth instead of the full set. It is rare, but it has happened.

For more information on wisdom tooth removal, or to book a consultation at our Redbank Plains dental practice, please don’t hesitate to contact us.