The Purpose and The Problem of Wisdom Teeth
Most people develop a third set of molars in their late teens or early 20s, a period ushering in adulthood, becoming more wise and mature, supposedly. Hence, the teeth are called wisdom teeth. That is just about there is to it. But knowing all the problems that come with them, you’d ask if it’s wise to keep them at all.
Why are they there in the first place when you don’t see the rationale?
Apparently, there was a point, but one that brings you back thousands of years ago – when humans evolved. Prehistoric man would catch and tear into their food using their mouth, causing a great amount of wear and damage to the teeth. When teeth are lost then it becomes difficult to eat and hence, difficult to survive. At some point in the evolution, a replacement set of molars came in later in life, and this provided a backup system for eating.
While wisdom teeth were advantageous to our ancestors, why is it more of a disadvantage for us in this modern age? While we now cook our food, those extra molars are no longer necessary, yet we can’t leave them alone. They are now a burden.
The problem now is that the size of our jaws decreased but our body kept making wisdom teeth. There is not as much room to come in so they often come in at odd angles and will mess up our other teeth. In these cases, the wisdom teeth have to be removed surgically.
Now we know how it all came down to us, and so these times, many dentists advice wisdom teeth removal to decrease the chances of dental problems in the future.
Wisdom Teeth Removal in Bellevue
Now you know why we have our wisdom teeth. If you are having issues with them, don’t hesitate to come for a consultation at Overlake Dental in Bellevue.
