Does Everyone Have Wisdom Teeth?

Most individuals expect wisdom teeth to appear sometime during their late teens or early early-adult years. While many people develop one to four wisdom teeth, some never grow any at all.

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars located at the back of the mouth. Although many people get wisdom teeth, they can lead to complications.

You might feel discomfort as these teeth erupt through the gums. And if there’s insufficient room in your mouth, wisdom teeth can become impacted beneath the gum surface. In either situation, extraction may be necessary.

Why do some people lack wisdom teeth?

A dental X-ray can show whether third molars are present. Discovering you don’t have wisdom teeth can be surprising, and you might worry about your oral health. But lacking these molars is perfectly normal.

Research published in the Dental Research Journal estimates that roughly 5 to 37 percent of people are missing one or more third molars. The exact cause isn’t clear, but genetics likely play a role. If a parent lacks wisdom teeth, you might as well.

Other influences that could affect the absence of wisdom teeth include environmental factors, diet, and chewing habits.

Keep in mind that not seeing wisdom teeth doesn’t always mean they’re absent. Sometimes third molars become impacted or remain trapped in the gums and don’t fully erupt.

Even when wisdom teeth aren’t visible, a dental X-ray can detect an impacted tooth. Your dentist might suggest extraction to prevent gum infections and pain, or they may simply monitor the tooth and only remove it if problems develop.

When do wisdom teeth usually appear?

Timing varies for wisdom tooth eruption. Generally, third molars appear in the late teens to early twenties, typically between ages 17 and 21. However, some people get them sooner or much later.

If extraction is required, it’s typically easier when you’re younger. While you can undergo surgery later, the bones around the gums are softer in youth and the nerve roots in the jaw are not yet fully developed.

Consequently, removal is simpler. Waiting until later can make extraction more difficult and increase discomfort.

What were wisdom teeth for?

Wisdom tooth extraction is common because the mouth usually has room for around 28 teeth. If all four wisdom teeth erupt, giving you 32 teeth, overcrowding can occur.

So what purpose did wisdom teeth have?

One theory is that wisdom teeth served as replacement teeth for early humans. Nowadays we eat softer foods and maintain better oral care, decreasing tooth loss risk.

Our ancestors likely consumed tougher foods and had limited dental care, which may have led to tooth decay or missing teeth. In that context, third molars could have provided extra chewing surfaces.

Today, wisdom teeth offer little benefit and often create more problems than advantages.

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What problems can wisdom teeth cause?

There’s no rule that wisdom teeth must be removed if they emerge without issues — especially when there’s enough room. Some people opt for removal proactively to prevent future issues, while others wait until pain occurs.

If you delay removal while asymptomatic, you may still need oral surgery eventually. Wisdom teeth are more likely to cause trouble the longer they remain.

Common complications related to wisdom teeth include:

• Tooth pain.Discomfort at the back of the mouth often signals emerging wisdom teeth. Pain may begin as mild and intermittent — gums in the back can hurt for a few days, then improve. This pattern can repeat over months or years, but pain can escalate, making chewing or speaking difficult. Pain often results from the tooth pressing on nerves.
• Swelling and redness.Emerging wisdom teeth may cause the surrounding gums to become red and swollen.
• Impacted tooth.Occasionally the jawbone or adjacent teeth stop wisdom teeth from erupting, leaving them lodged beneath the gums. This may lead to intense pain. Other signs include pain around the molars without any visible tooth or the development of a cyst near the back of the mouth.
• Oral infections.As wisdom teeth come in, bacteria can collect in the gums and trigger infection. Symptoms include: pain, redness, swelling, jaw tenderness, persistent bad breath, or an unpleasant taste.
• Cavities.Food can get trapped around erupting third molars, causing decay on the wisdom tooth. Teeth in front of wisdom teeth can also develop cavities due to difficulty brushing and flossing in that area.
• Shifting teeth.When there isn’t enough room for third molars, neighboring teeth can shift, becoming misaligned or crooked as wisdom teeth push into the dental arch.

When should you see a dentist?

If you experience tooth pain or notice an erupting wisdom tooth, schedule an appointment with your dentist. They can take X-rays to determine how many wisdom teeth you have. If you don’t have a dentist, you can explore local options through the Healthline FindCare tool.

When you have pain or other symptoms, your dentist will likely advise extraction by an oral surgeon. Removing problematic wisdom teeth reduces the risk of complications such as:

• infections
• bone loss
• nerve pain
• cavities
• teeth shifting

If wisdom teeth aren’t causing issues, your dentist may choose to monitor them and suggest removal later if needed. Keep in mind that extraction becomes more challenging with age, so address troublesome teeth sooner rather than later.

The takeaway

Some people simply don’t develop wisdom teeth, so if you’re among them, you can skip extraction altogether. If you do have third molars but they’re trouble-free, continue regular dental checkups every six months.

Your dentist can monitor emerging wisdom teeth and recommend extraction when it’s the best option.