Your wisdom teeth are the last teeth to break through, or erupt. Usually, they erupt in the late teens or early twenties. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), “Anthropologists note that the rough diet of early humans resulted in the excessive wear of their teeth. Normal drifting of the teeth to compensate for this wear ensured that space was available for most wisdom teeth to erupt by adolescence. The modern diet, which is much softer, and the popularity of orthodontic tooth straightening procedures produce a fuller dental arch, which quite commonly doesn’t leave room …read more

The time has come – I have to get my wisdom teeth out on Wednesday. At 47 years old, I figured I was spared that rite of passage that most people get done much early in their adult lives. Alas, I was wrong.
My dentist asked me a couple of months ago why I still had my wisdom teeth. “Because I’m attached to them?” I answered. Actually, the topic had never come up before. However, he was very concerned about how awkward they were and how difficult it would be if there was a problem. My dentist felt it was better …read more