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Wisdom tooth


This article is about the anatomy of wisdom teeth. For wisdom teeth removal surgery, see Impacted wisdom teeth. For the 2021 Hong Kong film, see Wisdom Tooth (film).
Wisdom tooth
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Wisdom teeth in the human mouth for permanent teeth. There are none in deciduous (children's) teeth.
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Wisdom teeth
Identifiers
MeSHD008964
TA98A05.1.03.008
TA2911
FMA321612
Anatomical terminology

A third molar, commonly called wisdom tooth, is one of the three molars per quadrant of the human dentition. It is the most posterior of the three. The age at which wisdom teeth come through (erupt) is variable,[1] but this generally occurs between late teens and early twenties.[2] Most adults have four wisdom teeth, one in each of the four quadrants, but it is possible to have none, fewer, or more, in which case the extras are called supernumerary teeth. Wisdom teeth may get stuck (impacted)[3] against other teeth if there is not enough space for them to come through normally. Impacted wisdom teeth are still sometimes removed for orthodontic treatment, believing that they move the other teeth and cause crowding, though this is not held anymore as true.[4]

Impacted wisdom teeth may suffer from tooth decay if oral hygiene becomes more difficult. Wisdom teeth which are partially erupted through the gum may also cause inflammation[3] and infection in the surrounding gum tissues, termed pericoronitis. Some more conservative treatments, such as operculectomies, may be appropriate for some cases. Yet, impacted wisdom teeth are commonly extracted to treat or prevent these problems. Some oppose the prophylactic removal of disease-free impacted wisdom teeth, including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the UK.[4][5][6]

  1. ^ McCoy JM (September 2012). "Complications of retention: pathology associated with retained third molars". Atlas of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America. 20 (2): 177–195. doi:10.1016/j.cxom.2012.06.002. ISBN 978-1455747887. PMID 23021395.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Swift was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b "Wisdom Teeth And Orthodontic Treatment: Should I be worried?". Orthodontics Australia. 2020-01-25. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
  4. ^ a b Friedman JW (September 2007). "The prophylactic extraction of third molars: a public health hazard". American Journal of Public Health. 97 (9): 1554–1559. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2006.100271. PMC 1963310. PMID 17666691.
  5. ^ "1 Guidance | Guidance on the Extraction of Wisdom Teeth | Guidance | NICE". www.nice.org.uk. 27 March 2000. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
  6. ^ "Opposition to Prophylactic Removal of Third Molars (Wisdom Teeth)". www.apha.org. Retrieved 2019-12-02.

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