What Exactly Are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth – or third molars – are the last teeth to come in, and the ones least needed for good health. They may not erupt, or emerge from you gums, until your late teens or early twenties – if they erupt at all. Most often, they remain impacted, or trapped in the jaw bone and gums, usually because there is not enough room for them in your mouth. Our jaws are smaller than those of early humans, who needed large jaws and more teeth for their tougher diets. We don’t need that extra chewing power anymore. In fact, wisdom teeth often do more harm than good; because of this, your dentist may recommend removing them and refer you to a specialist for care.