{"id":353,"date":"2024-05-07T15:25:22","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T15:25:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mydentistgrandprairie.com\/blog\/?p=353"},"modified":"2024-06-04T15:28:21","modified_gmt":"2024-06-04T15:28:21","slug":"extraction-inquiry-does-everyone-have-wisdom-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mydentistgrandprairie.com\/blog\/extraction-inquiry-does-everyone-have-wisdom-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Extraction Inquiry: Does Everyone Have Wisdom Teeth?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Dentist<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a young adult experiencing an ache in your jaw, or swelling in your gums behind your molars, you might be growing wisdom teeth. They typically show up when you\u2019re between 17 and 25 years old and are extracted<\/a> more often than not. In fact, this procedure is so common that many people think of it as a natural rite of passage into young adulthood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what if you\u2019re in your twenties and you haven’t experienced any of the telltale signs of these last molars arriving? Could it be possible that you’re one of the lucky ones who don\u2019t have them? Keep reading to learn more about wisdom teeth and why some people don\u2019t have to worry about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Are Wisdom Teeth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wisdom teeth are the last set of molars in the back of your mouth that appear long after your other permanent teeth have settled in. It\u2019s believed that our ancestors would have needed them to supplement damaged or worn-down ones once they matured. Their primitive diet included plenty of raw plants, hard nuts, and tough meats that could harm their pearly whites, so the extra set may have been needed to ensure their continued survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our contemporary world, we cook food and use utensils to shave, chop, or slice it into pieces that can be more easily chewed. Plus, we have dental technology and materials available to us that keep our smiles happy and healthy throughout our lives. This evolution in our diet and oral care has rendered wisdom teeth a vestigial structure, meaning that they no longer serve a functional purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does Everyone Have Wisdom Teeth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s natural to assume that everyone will have to face these late arrivals at some point in their lives, but that\u2019s not the case. The Dental Research Journal has reported that anywhere from 5% to 37% of people don\u2019t have them. While we don\u2019t fully know why, it\u2019s believed that genetics play a part. If one of your parents didn\u2019t have wisdom teeth, for example, then you might not, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Are Wisdom Teeth Removed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although dentists typically work to preserve your natural pearly whites, when it comes to wisdom teeth, extraction is often preferred. They can harm your oral health in a few different ways, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n