How many teeth a person has along with the wise. Wisdom teeth: features, functions of eights

Many people know firsthand that along with wisdom teeth comes not so much wisdom itself as unnecessary problems and discomfort. How many wisdom teeth can grow during a lifetime - no one knows. Therefore, it is fair to call both their presence and their absence a norm.
In fact, the wisdom tooth is the most common molar. He has one peculiarity - he erupts too late, causing a lot of inconvenience to his owner. When to expect the appearance of wisdom teeth and how many times a person grows teeth in general - we will consider in our article.

Wisdom teeth, or as they are affectionately called "eights", are rudiments - organs that have lost their main purpose in the process of evolution. Our distant ancestors had 44 teeth- that's how many teeth a person with wisdom teeth used to have. This is directly related to the fact that the food rarely succumbed to heat treatment - it was quite hard and tough, so it took more effort to chew it.

Pathological wisdom teeth to be removed

Now we hear the well-established expression "32 is the norm." It's like watching! After the loss of milk teeth, we form a permanent bite. What does it consist of:

  • 8 incisors, which are located in front of the jaw and serve us for biting off food;
  • 4 fangs - two in the upper and lower rows;
  • 8 premolars - small molars, which are designed for chewing;
  • 8 - 12 molars - for the mechanical processing of food.

These molars include the notorious figure eights. In the period from 6 to 13 years, permanent molars and premolars are formed, and with them - 8 molars (two from the bottom and two from the top - six and seven). The remaining four are eights in a row - wisdom teeth.

How many wisdom teeth should be

The maximum possible number of eights is 4. And for each person they appear differently: for some, they grow only from below, for some - only from above, and for some, only one or three can grow.
As food becomes softer and easier to chew in our closest ancestors, the need for a figure eight disappears. Therefore, in some people they do not grow at all.

A complete picture of the location of the tooth can only be seen on an x-ray

Eighth molars are formed in the period from 12 to 14 years - already at this age it is known, although it is not yet clear how many wisdom teeth a person will have. And they begin to erupt in the period from 14 to 25 years.

This is a rather lengthy process, because before that, molars did not have milk predecessors. Therefore, the eights make their way through the formed bone tissue. In this regard, inflammation of the gums begins, a person's temperature rises, chills appear. This is a completely normal reaction of the body - in this case, you should not worry.

For some people, eights are enough for a month and a half, in order to erupt. For some, the opposite is true - eights appear in stages over 1-2 years. In the latter case, the eruption is almost imperceptible and painless.

Complications of wisdom teeth

For some reason, it is believed that a person's wisdom teeth appear when he gains rich experience and worldly wisdom. Let's drop the lyrical digression and face reality. Eights can appear at a fairly young age - at 17-20 years old. The obstruction of the molars leads to a number of complications in the oral cavity, which have to be dealt with in the dental office:

  1. Non-physiological shape of the crown. In this case, the figure eight is prone to caries, because. food is clogged into the hollow, which is quite difficult to extract on your own. The process of decay and inflammation begins. Therefore, there is always one way out - the removal of the eight.
  2. Prolonged cutting. If the process is delayed, then only a small part of the crown rises above the gum. As a result, the gum swells around the molar, forming the so-called "pocket". And in this pocket, inflammatory purulent processes begin - pericoronitis develops.
  3. Impacted molar. Sometimes the teeth do not have enough space in the mouth, so they begin their growth in a slightly chaotic direction. This is called the non-physiological position. The figure eight can rest against the cheek, causing irritation of the mucous membrane. The phenomenon is quite common when the figure eight grows into the jawbone. A crooked molar puts pressure on the rest of the molars and premolars, sometimes leading to root resorption.
  4. Narrow jaw. In this case, the figure eight begins to grow parallel to the jaw, i.e. in the horizontal direction. In this case, a gap is formed between the seventh and eighth teeth, where food is clogged. The patient cannot adequately clean the crevices on his own, so caries may occur in the recess. Gingivitis and stone also develop on this soil.

Removing eights is advisable if they threaten the health of the oral cavity.

In all these cases, dentists unequivocally recommend the removal of the figure eight. This is advisable if it disturbs the patient, causes pain and poses a danger to healthy teeth. Sometimes removal can be quite difficult. After all, figure eights have 3-4 roots, which can grow together too tightly or, conversely, be quite wide.

A snow-white smile, shining with beauty and health, is the dream of all residents of Moscow. But there are four teeth in people that bring more trouble than others. They are said to bring us wisdom. They appear in each person at different ages. As you may have guessed, we will talk about wisdom teeth. This article will help you learn more about them.

A bit of theory

It is impossible to reliably answer the question of how many wisdom teeth a person has. The so-called eights in the course of evolution have lost their original purpose. Today they are classified as vestigial organs. They erupt at the age of 18-30 years, but everything is individual, and in some cases there may be deviations. How many wisdom teeth are there? Nature provides 4, but this does not happen for everyone. In some people, only 2 wisdom teeth erupt, while in others they are completely absent.

According to scientists, the reason for this is hereditary memory. If you had someone in your family who survived inflammation of the eights or painful removal, then you may not have them. But no one has yet been able to prove this theory. Often the rudiments of eights simply do not develop, and then the teeth do not grow. True, it happens that they erupt much later than the prescribed age: at forty years and even later.

Practical aspect

The number of wisdom teeth and the time they appear depends on a number of factors:

  • genetic predisposition;
  • the presence of rudiments;
  • design features of the jaw, etc.

Therefore, both their presence and absence is absolutely normal. They bring the most discomfort during eruption. The gums at this time become inflamed and swollen, the temperature may even rise. Warm water with salt or soda will help relieve pain. Rinse your mouth several times a day and you will feel relief. In severe cases, the tooth cannot erupt on its own and needs help. In this situation, the dentist makes a small incision in the gums, which speeds up the process and makes it less painful.

The extreme teeth, due to the peculiarities of the location, quickly deteriorate, undergo caries. Then they must either be treated or removed. An expert can help you make the right decision. Extraction may be necessary if the wisdom tooth is large or there is no room for it in the jaw. If left, it will put pressure on the entire row, causing deformation or curvature.

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An adult has 32 teeth, but not all appear during childhood. Four of them erupt no earlier than 17 years. Often this process is accompanied by severe pain. But many do not notice it and do not even know where the wisdom tooth is. These last molars, which look no different from neighboring teeth, actually have some features.

Even those people who know well where the wisdom tooth is located often do not understand why it is called that. It is believed that this is due to the fact that it appears at an age when a person already has some worldly wisdom. They are cut differently for each person, which confirms this theory. Usually this happens at 17-20 years old, but they can appear at 30 or even 40 years old.

In ancient times, it was believed that these teeth grow only in those who have already found the meaning of life and have reached psychological maturity. Therefore, in folk medicine it was believed that they should not be removed.

A photo of a healthy adult jaw shows that these molars look no different from neighboring teeth. They are located at the very end of the dentition and are often called "eights" among dentists. These are the same molars with a large chewing surface, like the sixth and seventh.

This is how all teeth are numbered: on each jaw from the middle there are 8 teeth. It turns out that you can easily find out how many wisdom teeth an adult should have. One on the upper and lower jaw on each side - a total of four. If one of them is missing, it means that it has not yet erupted or there are some problems in its development. Sometimes a person does not even have the rudiments of one or more of these molars. This may be due to hereditary predisposition or developmental features of the jaws.

It is quite difficult to independently determine where the wisdom tooth is located. Photos of the jaw, which can be found in the article, show that it is located on the very edge. But it is difficult to see it in the mirror, and it is almost impossible to feel it with your tongue. Therefore, you can avoid problems only with regular visits to the dentist.

All human teeth differ from each other in structure and function. In front are single-rooted teeth - incisors and canines. They are designed for biting food. On the sides - premolars and molars with wide chewing surfaces. They are mostly multi-rooted. So is the wisdom tooth. It belongs to molars, and its structure does not differ externally from other similar teeth.

The differences lie in the features of the roots. They can be from 2 to 5, which is not typical for other molars. If one root of the wisdom tooth is found during removal, it means that they have grown together, which happens quite often.

In the past, people did not even think about where a person's wisdom tooth is located. He was one of 32 teeth and performed the same functions as the others. Then chewing food required a lot of effort, so he actively participated in that process. But over time, the food became softer, and the eighth molars began to be considered relics of the past. Therefore, they often cause serious problems, due to which they have to be removed.

But many dentists note that pathologies arise due to the fact that the jaw of a modern person has decreased, because he has to chew hard food less, which has become softer due to heat treatment. And knowing where the wisdom tooth is located, you can understand that it often simply does not have room for eruption.


Usually, by the age of 12, a person has already had all 28 molars. And eights at this age are just being formed. They begin to erupt no earlier than 17 years. This process can take a very long time, alternately slowing down, then accelerating. Even after this tooth has fully erupted, its roots continue to form for several more years. It turns out that it grows for about 10 years, and sometimes more.

Another feature of the figure eight is that it appears without previous milk teeth. Therefore, he has to break through the bones of the jaw on his own. Because of this, often at the place where the wisdom tooth erupts, there is severe pain and inflammation.

Almost all teeth appear in a person in childhood. Parents of babies know what problems this process can be accompanied by. And knowing where the wisdom tooth is located, a person can take action when redness and itching of the gums appear in this place. It is better to consult a dentist in time and prevent complications. And the process of eruption of these molars is very often accompanied by pain. In severe cases, severe inflammation may occur.

If a person has formed all four rudiments of eighth molars, this does not mean that they will all erupt. They can remain in the thickness of the jaw for various reasons. At the same time, dentists distinguish several varieties of this pathology.

An impacted wisdom tooth is the most common. This happens when it does not appear completely, part of it is covered by the jaw bone or gum. The reasons for this pathology may be its incorrect position, when the direction of its growth rests on adjacent teeth or cheek. Sometimes he also does not have enough space in the dentition. Despite the fact that it is not visible, it is still a full-fledged tooth, subject to the same diseases as the rest.

With prolonged eruption, when for several months, or even years, the gum is injured, pericoronitis develops - inflammation of the mucosa.

If the figure eight begins to grow, but not up, as it should, but to the side, such pathologies may occur:

  • when it rests against an adjacent tooth, this causes its destruction, the development of caries or periodontitis;
  • if the figure eight grows towards the cheek, a seal forms on the mucous membrane, which can develop into a cancerous tumor;
  • when growing back, the tooth must be removed, otherwise serious complications may develop due to the formation of a hood from the gums and its inflammation;
  • if it touches the tongue, it causes injury and inflammation.

Features of the arrangement of eights, lack of space in the dentition, as well as chronic calcium deficiency, characteristic of modern people, leads to the appearance of many pathologies in the development of these teeth. They are most susceptible to such diseases:

  • as a result of the difficulty of cleaning them, tartar forms on them more often;
  • for the same reason, they are prone to caries, which can appear immediately after eruption;
  • if caries is not treated in time, pulpitis or periodontitis develops;
  • as a result of the fact that the wisdom tooth has to break through the strong gum tissue, severe inflammation often occurs, accompanied by general intoxication, weakness, and fever;
  • if the upper tooth is destroyed, it can infect the maxillary cavity, which will lead to the development of sinusitis;
  • pericoronitis is a strong inflammatory process of the soft tissues of the mucosa.

Do modern people need wisdom teeth? This question interests many, especially those who are faced with their pathologies. They believe that it is worth removing these molars as soon as they erupt, because they can easily be dispensed with. The same opinion exists among foreign dentists. They try to remove wisdom teeth as soon as any problems appear. But there is another point of view. Russian doctors try to treat the pathologies of these teeth, removing them only if necessary:

  • if they are incorrectly located and grow to the side;
  • if they caused inflammation or damage to surrounding tissues;
  • when it is impossible to treat caries due to curved roots or difficulties in accessing them;
  • if a fistula, abscess or cyst has appeared;
  • when pericoronitis or osteomyelitis develops.

This procedure is usually more difficult than the extraction of other teeth. This state is explained by the deep location of the figure eight. It is also difficult to pull on a molar, often due to the fact that it has multiple roots, and they can be curved, often even in the form of hooks. This is especially dangerous when the figure eight is located in the upper jaw. The roots, when removed, can damage the maxillary cavity.


Removal of a wisdom tooth takes place with mandatory anesthesia. Modern drugs make this process completely painless. Pain may appear later, after the medication wears off, especially if the procedure was difficult. It can last for several days, and even be accompanied by an increase in temperature. Complete healing of the hole usually occurs after a few months, although this place is painful for no more than 2 weeks.

But it is not always necessary to solve the problems that have arisen in this way. Doctors try to cure this molar if there are no teeth next to it. Then a free-standing wisdom tooth will be the basis for prosthetics. If it just erupts, it can gradually move and take the place of the missing tooth.

There are also contraindications for which it is worth abandoning the removal completely or temporarily:

  • a strong inflammatory process in the oral cavity;
  • acute infectious diseases;
  • pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
  • mental illness.

The pain from teething wisdom teeth is usually very strong. The pain can spread to the entire jaw, as in the process of growth it shifts adjacent teeth, causing compression of the nerve endings. This is due to the fact that the figure eight does not have enough space, it is forced to erupt by shifting adjacent teeth. In addition, it breaks through the bone tissue of the jaw and dense gums. With severe pain, it is recommended to take a tablet of "Analgin" or "Ketorol". You can not warm the sore spot or put different medicines on the gum, especially if there is an inflammatory process.

You can rinse your mouth with a solution of salt and soda, but it should be cool. You can also use decoctions of sage, chamomile, lemon balm or oak bark for this. In the presence of inflammation, the gums can be lubricated with sea buckthorn oil. To alleviate the condition when teething a wisdom tooth, if this process is not accompanied by complications, it is recommended to use the following solution: add a tablespoon of sea salt, 10 g of camphor alcohol and 100 ml of ammonia to a liter of cool water. A cotton swab dipped in this solution is applied to the gum for 10 minutes.

If a person had to find out where the wisdom tooth is, according to the painful symptoms of eruption, it is better to immediately consult a doctor. Then complications can be avoided.

The wisdom tooth in humans is considered a rudimentary organ - it is the 8th tooth in a row or 3rd molar, which erupts at the age of 14-25 years. Their appearance and structure do not differ from the usual molar.

The structure of the human jaw has changed over time - it has become shorter, because people switched to soft food cooked on fire. As a result, the chewing load on the jaw decreased.

It turns out that the third molar may simply not have enough space in the dentition, as a result of which it will begin to grow sideways or not bother the person at all. But the rudiments of roots are laid in everyone during the period of intrauterine development.

“Wise” teeth are called because they erupt already in adulthood, when the formation of mental maturity ends and worldly wisdom begins to appear.

Eights appear quickly, but can cause inconvenience to a mature person for several years.

The process is accompanied by excruciating pain, fever, lethargy, numbness of the cheeks, partial immobility of the jaw, inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes.

If the tooth cannot erupt for a long time, it is necessary to contact the dentist to cut and anesthetize the gums in order to facilitate its movement.

Where does the wisdom tooth grow, in what part of the dentition is it located? And they are located at the very end of the entire dentition on the upper and lower jaws.

They differ only in the structure of the roots - they are very curved and intertwined, so the treatment of their canals is very difficult, because dentists often advise removing such a tooth as soon as it appears. In addition, "newcomers" often appear already with carious cavities.

The third molars are the only ones that do not grow in the place of the milk ones that have fallen out, although they do not perform the chewing function in full, as was the case with our ancestors, but still continue to erupt, why does the wisdom tooth still grow, although it no longer exists need?

The answer to the question is very simple: despite the evolutionary development and reorganization of the human body to the environment, our DNA still carries information about these teeth.

They cause a lot of trouble to patients and dentists around the world, because they grow up with pathologies and entail complications after eruption or removal.

Wise representatives are extreme in a row on the upper and lower jaws, one at a time on the left and on the right. This location in hard-to-reach places creates difficulties in care and treatment.

Often, due to lack of space in the jaw arch, they erupt in the wrong way and occupy an unphysiological position.


Wisdom teeth, especially the upper ones, can grow in the buccal side and injure the buccal mucosa. The lower ones are cut with an inclination towards the neighboring neighbor.

As a result, a gap appears between them, into which food enters and it is very difficult to remove it from there, resulting in the appearance of caries, the formation of tartar (hard plaque on the teeth) and plaques (soft plaque), pericoronitis and gingivitis. Such pathological disorders are difficult to treat, as a result of which the teeth are simply removed.

There is no exact norm for how many wisdom teeth should be, nature provides for the eruption of additional four eights, but evolutionary development allows both the presence of all four, and their complete absence or a smaller number. This is due to hereditary memory from generation to generation.

If in one of the close relatives the eruption of the “wise men” was accompanied by severe inflammation or operations were involved to remove them, in subsequent generations the rudiments may not form at all.

This is the reason for the appearance of people with one or two erupted "eights". And on the x-ray, even the rudiments of the root system are absent.

Thus, the number of wisdom teeth in a person, whether they erupt at all, how they are located on the jaw arch, depends on the size and shape of the jaw, the presence of tooth germs and hereditary predisposition.

10 thousand years ago, every adult had wisdom teeth, and at present, 15% of people do not even have the beginnings of “eights”. They have lost their chewing function, because now cooked soft dishes are used for food.

But extra teeth also have useful features:

  • serve as a support for bridge prosthetics;
  • are a restraining element for loosening adjacent teeth;
  • act as spares due to the loss of the main chewing molars, since they partially perform the chewing function.

Healthy wisdom teeth are very rare in humans, therefore, if they cut through without complications and exactly along the jaw, then they should not be removed - they will suddenly come in handy.

There are specific indications for removal:

  • wrong position;
  • its presence provokes acute inflammation;
  • incorrect position violates the dentition;
  • caries of the dental cavity and the impossibility of treatment;
  • interferes with adjacent teeth.

Do not be afraid of extraction - the presence of such a tooth can be much more dangerous and painful. But if it is possible to cure and save the figure eight, in no case do not resort to removal.

After all, according to scientists, with the help of "eights" you can save a person's life. How? With the help of stem cells, which are contained in the pulp of the wisdom tooth.

Many interesting facts and beliefs are associated with wisdom teeth.

It is believed that if all four “newcomers” have erupted in a person, then they protect his family from trouble. The owner himself is a very lucky person and achieves everything that he thinks.

In connection with the above belief, the sick "eights" were reluctantly removed - they were afraid to lose the seal of the lucky one. So that the teeth do not cause inconvenience, they spoke.

Until now, very rarely people are born who have as many as 32 teeth. They were considered sorcerers, cursed, or carriers of an important mission on Earth. Currently, the presence of full dentition is considered a symbol of determination, strong-willed character and independence.

In case of problems with the "eights", they say that their owner is indecisive, does not think about the meaning of life, about his mission to the World and does not make big plans.

Japanese scientists have proven the benefits of "eights" because they contain a supply of special tissues, on the basis of which stem cells can be created.

These cells carry the genetic information of the owner himself, as well as the entire prototype of all tissues of the human body, of which there are more than 240 species.

Stem cells are successfully used in the treatment of 70 diseases, where the treatment of tumor formations and blood cancer plays a significant role. They are used as an immune stimulant to improve vitality in sluggish infections, loss of strength or chronic fatigue.

Stem cells have found use in sports medicine, as their effect significantly speeds up the healing process of wounds and injuries. In cosmetology, they are used for rejuvenation, strengthening vitality and improving memory. In the future, scientists plan to use such useful components of the body to create organs and tissues for transplantation to people in need.

Such possible changes are necessary due to the lack of donors for transplantation of internal organs, heart, bone marrow, which are very difficult to find even for medical reasons, and this technology will save many sick children and adults. Until now, stem cells have been extracted from bone marrow and blood, and this is very painful and unsafe.

Scientists have found that the soft pulp contains the material necessary for further work in large quantities. It can be easily and painlessly removed if necessary, and in case of extraction, the teeth should be frozen in case of an unforeseen situation.

This once again proves that there is nothing superfluous in the human body and everything that is given by nature is beneficial. Of course, problematic wisdom teeth should be removed so as not to create complications.

But if they are healthy and normal, it is better to keep them, take good care of them and treat them if possible. In life, situations may arise when the "eights" will maintain health and save a person's life.

Welcome to our blog! If you are interested in the question of how many wisdom teeth there are, then you are definitely here ?!

Now we will discuss wisdom teeth, their number, which grows in a person throughout his life and their functional purpose.

First of all, it is necessary to shed light on the very category of "wisdom tooth".

These teeth are also called figure-of-eights, due to the fact that they are immediately behind the 7th teeth in each row (bottom and top). They complete the dentition and appear last, in some people wisdom teeth hatch at 18-20 years old, and in some much later. They do not have milk precursors like the rest of the teeth.

Many of you may wonder why the wisdom tooth has such a name? Most likely, the name has remained since ancient times and is associated with its late appearance, when, according to our ancient ancestors, a person became fully grown.

So how many wisdom teeth does a person have? Ideally, there should be 4 of them (2 in the top rows and 2 in the bottom), but it happens that they hatch 3, 2, 1 or none at all.

There are several theories about the true purpose of the eights, but modern science is now inclined to believe that these are rudimentary formations in our body, such as the appendix, which have lost their primary characteristics in the course of evolution. Whether or not you get wisdom teeth, and how many you get, depends on your genetic predisposition.

Why is the question of the expediency of their presence in the oral cavity being raised at all? The thing is that in most cases, their pecking brings a lot of discomfort to their owner.

Often, figure eights grow crookedly, pushing neighboring teeth, which leads to their gradual destruction, provoke inflammation of the gums and soft tissues in the oral cavity. If it is too late to seek help from a dentist, then you can “run into” such troubles as various diseases provoked by the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.

The wisdom tooth can grow too large and simply do not fit in the dentition, which will lead to pain during its pecking.

Medical procedures that will need to be carried out from time to time by the owners of eights can be complicated by their uncomfortable deep location in the oral cavity. Even an experienced doctor will not always be able to see the beginning inflammation in this part. There are times when a wisdom tooth is covered by the so-called "hood" - a part of the gum that leans on it. Bacteria multiply under it very often and quickly enough, bringing pain, swelling and other unpleasant consequences. Therefore, most often, dentists decide to remove wisdom teeth if their subsequent treatment is not rational.

If there are no complications during the operation, the removal procedure will take only 10 minutes, and the rehabilitation and recovery time after it, depending on the extraction method, the age category of the patient, the presence or absence of infection and individual characteristics, may take 2-3 weeks.

I wonder how many wisdom teeth can be removed at a time? It all depends on what condition they are in. The doctor may decide to remove 2 teeth of eights in a row, but these are very rare cases. Most often, you can remove 1 tooth at a time.

Each person has a set of 32 teeth, 4 of which are wisdom teeth. It should also be mentioned that figure eights differ in the structure of their roots from other multi-rooted teeth in that the number of roots in them is difficult to determine.

Sometimes there are cases that they contain 5 roots, and only one (several fused into one large one). According to their structure, these are molars, and they are called third molars, since in front of each of them there are 2 more of the same teeth in each dentition.

According to some studies, in 8-11% of people, wisdom teeth do not appear at all. Men are more likely to have their upper teeth missing, while women are more likely to have their lower teeth missing.

There are times when 6 teeth of eights appear. Sometimes they cut through at once 2 on one side.

On the lower jaw, figure eights appear at about 20-25 years old, although there are cases of their early pecking at 15 years old and quite late at 40 years old. So how many wisdom teeth should be at the bottom? In theory, there are 2 of them (one on each side), but it happens that only 1 appears or none at all.

The very anatomical structure of the lower jaw prevents the easy extraction of wisdom teeth from the oral cavity, if necessary. Ordinary tongs, as in the case of the upper counterparts, are indispensable here. It is extremely difficult to fully capture it, especially if there is only 20-30% of it on the surface. The density of the lower bone in the jaw is very powerful and massive, which requires considerable effort from the dentist to extract the figure eight.

Complicating the process of removing a wisdom tooth is also the unpredictable number of roots that are inside the jaw and their (quite likely) uncomfortable position. Even with good loosening, the roots can have curved ends that will greatly interfere with its extraction, and even worse, when they look in different directions, then the dentist has to make an additional incision in the gum.

Tools such as a drill, chisel, and other dental tools can play an important role in safely removing the figure eight. So, no matter how many wisdom teeth would have to be extracted if they are in the lower jaw, the dentist will have to work hard.

It greatly helps the doctor who performs the operation to remove the wisdom tooth, fluoroscopy. It shows the exact location of not only the tooth itself, but also its roots and, more importantly, their orientation. Based on the data obtained, the dentist decides how to extract it and what tools to use for more effective manipulations in the oral cavity.

Due to the fact that the wound is large enough after removing the figure eight, a person may experience such consequences as severe bleeding from the hole, gradually increasing pain, swelling of the cheeks and gums, inflammation and suppuration of the walls of the hole (alveolitis) and others.

Despite the fact that the removal of wisdom teeth can lead to a long rehabilitation period, it is still necessary to remove them (if treatment is not possible).

The fact is that the figure eights are located in a place where a large number of large vessels, various small muscles and entire clusters of nerves are located, which can be severely affected by inflammatory processes in the wisdom tooth and the tissues around it. In the worst case, it can even lead to death.

Imagine if an infection from the gums gets into a large vessel and spreads throughout the body? This will bring the most disappointing results. An unremoved wisdom tooth can lead to deformation not only of nearby teeth, but also to a violation of the integrity of the entire dentition and even to problems in the functioning of the lower jaw joint.

How many wisdom teeth would not have to be removed, and wherever they were, but you are unlikely to have to avoid bleeding. Especially in the lower jaw, in the area where they are located, there are many soft tissues that the dentist will have to damage in one way or another. If a person has hypertension, or ailments associated with blood clotting problems, when using anticoagulants, the process of blood loss may increase or stretch for a longer time than during the usual postoperative period.

Quite rarely, there is paresthesia of a part of the face, nerve, tongue, cheek, etc. after removing the eight. This process leads to partial or complete loss of sensitivity in the area. With a minor injury to the mandibular nerve, paresthesia goes away on its own in 1-2 weeks, and physiotherapy and the use of special drugs accelerate this process. In more rare cases, paresthesia after tooth extraction can persist for months and even be permanent. Fortunately, such cases are quite rare.

And so, how many wisdom teeth are located in the upper jaw? The answer is very simple - the same as in the bottom - 2.

With the upper wisdom teeth, which are antagonists to the lower ones, things are much easier when their treatment is also problematic, their removal is easier than with their lower "brothers".

It's all about their anatomical location. They are much easier to get to with forceps and grab in order to swing and tear. Often the coronal part of such a tooth is clearly visible - this makes it easier for the dentist to perform surgery.

Also, in many cases, the upper wisdom teeth have one large root. Its length is often not too great either. All these factors help to extract it quickly and almost painlessly. A tool such as bayonet tongs helps to remove the upper wisdom teeth, which are badly damaged by caries. If a person turns to a dentist late for help, in places that are difficult to access to maintain hygiene (it is in such eights that they are), pathogenic microflora begins to develop and multiply rapidly, often leading to caries or other ailments.

It is necessary to take an x-ray, no matter how many wisdom teeth, and wherever they are. This will enable the dentist to see the location of the roots, their number and the curvature of their endings (if such a phenomenon is present).

All this will make a positive contribution to the course of the operation itself and will speed up the recovery period at the end of it. The upper eights are removed much less frequently than the lower ones. The solution to the issue of removing a semi-impacted and impacted wisdom tooth in the upper jaw is approached from a professional position: if the tooth does not cause concern and does not create a clear threat of complications in the future, then it is usually not touched, but dynamic observation is carried out at least 1-2 times a year. The maxillary sinus is located very close to the upper wisdom tooth, and if the doctor removes it in several stages, dividing it into parts, this can lead to the fact that its fragments will be fed there. Removing them from the sinus can be quite a problematic process. But if the eight cannot be extracted in its entirety at a time, then this option is quite acceptable.

Only due to intolerance to local anesthesia, panic fear or possible fainting, the attending physician may decide to use general anesthesia during the operation to remove the eight from the upper dentition. But this tooth is in a more favorable position than its lower counterpart, so the need for this kind of manipulation is extremely rare.

Today we shed some light on such concepts as how many wisdom teeth grow, or can grow in a person throughout life, how do the upper eights differ from the lower ones and what problems can a dentist have when they are removed, and the consequences after surgery for a patient? Unfortunately, the extraction of these teeth often leads to pain and is fraught with unpleasant consequences if you ignore the doctor's recommendations during the rehabilitation period.

I hope this article was interesting and informative enough to find out the main patterns of the functional purpose of wisdom teeth, their position in the oral cavity and the importance of maintaining hygiene in this part of the dentition.

Unlike fangs and incisors, wisdom teeth erupt already at a conscious age, but even this fact does not reduce the number of questions about eights. Not even all adults know where the wisdom tooth is. It is worth noting that this topic is really relevant, since the formation of the dentition is completed by the age of 18. There is no longer enough space for new teeth in the oral cavity and it is not entirely clear in which place eights should grow.

Where is the wisdom tooth

Why are they needed and when do they appear

Nature never gives anything superfluous. This also applies to wisdom teeth. Despite the fact that they lost all their functions in the process of evolution for a long time, eights can still be useful, especially in old age. With the loss of the seventh tooth, all of its functions or some of them are assigned to the wisdom teeth. They are also used as a support for bridge prosthetics. The correct location and absence of health problems of eights makes them full-fledged components of the human dentition. But even such advantages cannot cover all the problems that you may encounter when teething wisdom teeth.

Wisdom tooth

As you know, first milk or temporary teeth appear in a child’s mouth, and permanent ones come to replace them. The process of change begins somewhere at the age of 6, and ends at 13. The eruption of eights occurs from the age of 18, but they can appear much later. There are cases when wisdom teeth do not erupt at all, therefore, if they have not appeared by the age of 28-29, then most likely they will not grow.

On a note! The scientific literature describes cases when the eights began to erupt at the age of 40. This happens, but very rarely.

Teething in children

Where do wisdom teeth grow?

They are located in a hard-to-reach place, at the very end of the dentition. With their treatment there are many difficulties due to this location. By itself, the wisdom tooth is no different from the rest, except perhaps for the time of eruption.

Wisdom tooth grows on the cheek

What does the internal structure of the figure eight look like:

  • tooth enamel;
  • dentine;
  • root canal;
  • dental nerve or pulp.

Diagram of the tooth

The external structure of the wisdom tooth:

  • dental crown, the surface of which is covered with enamel;
  • root;
  • neck of the tooth.

The channels and roots of the wisdom tooth are slightly curved, which greatly complicates the treatment process. In total, 4 eighth molars grow, but if they grow 2 or none at all, this is also considered the norm. The mental abilities of a person, like his health, do not depend on the number of wisdom teeth that have erupted.

wisdom tooth growth

Doctors associate the painful appearance of eights with their inconvenient placement. Often, in the process of their development, body temperature may rise or an inflammatory process begin. But these are far from all the symptoms.

Teething of wisdom teeth can be accompanied by a wide variety of symptoms, but among them there are standard ones:

  • enlarged lymph nodes;
  • Strong headache;
  • discomfort when chewing;
  • insomnia;
  • loss of appetite;
  • constant feeling of fatigue;
  • the appearance of pain of varying intensity at the end of the jaw;
  • swelling and redness of the gums.

All of these symptoms occur during the eruption of the eighth molar, but you need to seek help from a doctor when the symptoms are very pronounced or the process itself lasts quite a long time. There may be complications, the most common of which is inflammation of the gums - pericoronitis (this is an inflammation of a non-infectious nature).

Wisdom tooth extraction

The growth of the wisdom tooth occurs at a slow pace, but no unpleasant symptoms occur. As soon as the tooth has appeared above the gum level, it must be carefully looked after, regularly cleaning its surface from soft plaque. With improper care, caries can occur, which will lead to the destruction of a tooth that has not yet fully formed.

Displaced wisdom tooth

When is removal required?

There are certain factors, the presence of which indicates the need for the removal of extreme molars:

  • development of osteomyelitis, pericoronitis or granuloma in the jaw area;
  • the presence of an inflammatory process in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bphlegmon of the patient's bone tissue. In this case, it is necessary not only to pull out a tooth, but also to carry out a course of treatment of the focus of inflammation;
  • inaccessibility does not allow to cure the resulting pulpitis or caries;
  • damage or displacement of dental tissue and adjacent teeth;
  • tooth growth in the wrong direction.

Removed wisdom teeth

On a note! The occurrence of severe pain should serve as a signal for urgent action, which begins with the extraction of a tooth. This also applies to the appearance of an inflammatory process or suppuration.

In addition to indications for the removal of a wisdom tooth, there are also general contraindications. They should include:

  • the presence of mental illness;
  • pregnancy. In such cases, doctors rarely pull out the teeth of expectant mothers, with the exception of special indications;
  • development of acute infectious diseases (stomatitis, hepatitis, influenza, and so on);
  • diseases of the cardiovascular system;
  • a strong inflammatory process in the gums. In this case, before removing the wisdom tooth, you must first eliminate the inflammation. For this, antiseptics or antibiotics are used. Only after the inflammation has been removed can the tooth be pulled out.

Inflammation of the gums

Features of wisdom tooth removal

To remove the eights, doctors do local anesthesia. To begin with, the dentist removes the periosteum, but before that - the mucous membrane. Only after removing all the "extra" you can proceed to the wisdom tooth.

wisdom tooth extraction process

On a note! Also, the doctor can carry out the extraction of the tooth in separate parts, but this usually happens only in particularly difficult cases.

Restoration of the cut mucous membrane of the patient is performed using surgical sutures. After tooth extraction, the doctor treats the resulting hole with a special antiseptic agent, and then tampons it. A small blood clot formed in the hole indicates a correctly performed operation. It serves to protect the wound in the patient's mouth from the penetration of various infections.

Finally, the wound is sutured

Aftercare

Postoperative care after removal is needed for a quick and complete recovery. Failure to follow the rules of oral hygiene can lead to inflammation or infection in the patient's mouth. Doctors call this process osteomyelitis. As statistics show, in about every fifth case, osteomyelitis develops after the removal of a wisdom tooth.

To avoid this unpleasant disease, additional requirements must be observed. For at least one week from the moment of removal, careful care is needed. To do this, you need to perform several elementary procedures. It won't take much effort or time.

Step one

step two

Step Three

Step Four

Step Five

Step Six

step seven

Possible Complications

After the removal of a wisdom tooth, complications are very rare. As a rule, after the operation, the patient's hole may become inflamed due to infection. Swelling of the gums is also possible, but this occurs only if the small capillaries in it are damaged. As a result of poor blood clotting, heavy bleeding may continue in the first few hours after removal.

Complications after wisdom tooth extraction

Improper operation can lead to damage to the nerve located in the patient's jaw. As a result, the sensitivity of the lips or tongue may decrease, the jaw may become numb. Such complications cannot be classified as hazardous to health, since they pass on their own after a while.

Its development when the baby is in the womb. During this period, the beginnings are formed. Therefore, doctors pay attention to the nutrition of the expectant mother. A child is born without teeth. They begin to erupt at the age of six months. Already up to three years, their number is twenty. They gradually fall out and appear permanent. A person's teeth grow twice. The first dairy, the second permanent. A person's teeth change once. This is one of the organs that cannot be regenerated. If they are lost, then teeth cannot grow a third time.


Until the age of sixteen, the jaw row is considered to be fully formed. But in many in this period it is incomplete, and the total number of teeth is twenty-eight. There are three molars on each side. Sometimes only two are visually different. This means that the eights have not risen yet.

What is a wisdom tooth?

Dentists call them the eight or third molar. a person has four. They are located last in a row on each side on the upper and lower jaws. The development of their rudiments begins at the age of fourteen, when the permanent brothers have already taken their place. Therefore, there is not enough space for third molars to grow. They do not have their milky predecessors, which makes their eruption painful for humans.

They begin to grow at the age of sixteen. This happens in sequence. The process is different for each person. But the main symptoms are considered to be:

  1. Pain sensations. They are of different intensity - from aching, then unbearable cutting, which spreads to the throat, ear.
  2. Swelling of the gums. This is a clear inflammatory process in the soft tissues in the area of ​​\u200b\u200beight. The tumor passes into the throat, gives to the cheek.
  3. Inflammation of the tonsils in the throat and lymph nodes.
  4. General weakness, sometimes with fever.

If teething symptoms do not go away for a long time or become chronic, consult a dentist.

Unpleasant sensations during the growth of eights are associated with the evolution of the human jaw system. This is what geneticists say. Our ancestors had a different structure of the skull, and the third molars took an active part in chewing food. Now there is a decrease in the size of the lower jaw. Accordingly, there was no room left for the third molar. Such changes occur due to changes in nutrition. It has become soft, and solid food is absent from the diet. Eights become unnecessary. Dentists are faced with cases where the third molars and their rudiments are completely absent. This is not considered an anomaly, although normally a person should have 32 teeth with wisdom teeth. It is worse if the number of eights is more than four. But this is a rare occurrence. This is an anomaly in the number of teeth.

The modern generation often has only two wisdom teeth. They usually develop on the upper jaw. Dentists unequivocally state that the eights do not carry any significant functions.

Outwardly, the crowns of the eight are similar to their neighbors of the sixth and seventh molars, but their root system is different. It is improperly developed, which makes treatment difficult. Sometimes eights have five roots, but this is an exception to the rule. More often two or three are seen. If, when examining an x-ray image, the dentist speaks of one root, then most likely this is its fused variant. Visually, it looks like one massive root and is common.

The figure eight is removed even with caries that has just begun. But if the third painter is not worried, he looks healthy, then you should not remove him for no reason. Symptoms of referring a patient to a surgeon:

  • wrong direction of growth;
  • carious formations;
  • the edges rest against the adjacent tooth;
  • cyst formation.

How do eights grow?

A person has 32 teeth along with wisdom teeth. This is considered the norm. But development and evolution are doing their job and the jaw system is changing. And since the eights erupt at a later age, this process is much more complicated and painful. They don't have enough space. This statement applies more to the lower third molars. They cut through to the side, the seven, which leads to its destruction.

The upper eights erupt more easily, some do not feel pain at all.

Increasingly, a person has only two wisdom teeth - the upper molars. This is due to the same evolution. As you know, they grow up in the period from 16 to 25 years. But there are cases when teething symptoms are noticed after the age of 40 years. Grow up, they can. But this happens extremely rarely. These painful sensations at an older age, with the visual absence of eights, are associated with their incorrect growth. That is, a person feels the same unpleasant painful symptoms, swollen gums, general weakness. But this is not associated with the active growth of the third painter, but with its deterioration in soft tissues.

The statement that a person can have only two wisdom teeth does not apply to absolutely everyone. It's more of an exception than the rule. Two wisdom teeth can grow, but in fact there are four of them, it's just that the second pair has not erupted. Therefore, dentists recommend undergoing an x-ray examination if any of the eights has not appeared before the age of 30. This will update the status. Normally, there should be four wisdom teeth. It is important to exclude their abnormal development.

Wisdom teeth grow in a person once. They are not treated, and in case of carious manifestations, they are recommended for removal. If it is developed normally, it is used for bridge prosthetics in the absence of a six.

How many eights grow

The norm for an adult is the presence of exactly 32 teeth in a person without wisdom teeth - 28. And this is the norm. Since dentists do not have a quantitative framework in relation to the eights. Some will have four, while others will only have two. This is influenced by genes, the shape of the jaw and the number of buds.

In any case, it is important to undergo an x-ray examination, which will help to find out if you have the beginnings of eights and how they develop.

If they are healthy and do not cause discomfort to a person, then there is no need to remove them.

A common reason for visiting a dentist is a wisdom tooth, why is it needed and do people exist without these “gifts of fate”? Indeed, until a certain age, we all live without these teeth and do not feel deprived.

Dentistry in antiquity

The first attempts to cure teeth were made in ancient times:

  • There was no talk of any anesthesia;
  • The same tools were used as tools that were used to build houses;
  • I had to live with unbearable pain for months;
  • The consequences of unqualified interference are easy to predict.

A blow to the back of the head with a wooden mallet is not a joke, but quite a real version of pain relief in ancient Rome.

Going to the predecessors of dentists was not just scary, but life-threatening. But given the peculiarities of the anatomy - the presence of nervous tissue and a rich blood supply, do without help simply impossible. Either excruciating pain, or inflammation, suppuration and all the same excruciating pain.

In addition to all this:

  1. Only the wealthiest people of that time could afford medical care;
  2. Knowledge in anatomy was too low to provide really qualified help;
  3. The rules of asepsis and antiseptics were not observed due to their absence;
  4. There was no prevention either.

And that was one of the factors that drove average life expectancy to 30 years . However, wars and epidemics have made a greater contribution to the formation of this indicator.

In this video, dentist Timur Cherokin will tell you some interesting facts about ancient dentistry:

Wisdom tooth: how old does it appear

This moment is a purely individual phenomenon:

  • Some people never get "wisdom teeth";
  • The lower age threshold for their eruption is 14 years;
  • Most often acquire "wisdom" in the region of 20 years;
  • Cases of the appearance of these teeth and at the age of 45 have been recorded.

The human skull has been formed over many millennia. Initially, the facial section prevailed over the brain:

  1. The shape of the head of primitive people differed sharply from today's standards;
  2. The skull had a more elongated shape;
  3. The brain occupied a smaller volume;
  4. The cheekbones and jaws were massive.

But evolution did not stand still and today we have the most optimal "design". Perhaps the people of the future will look a little different, and against their background we will already become “primitive savages”.

Change doesn't happen too fast in all the time our jaws have decreased by only 20%, in this regard, "wisdom teeth" have become rudimentary organs, for which there is simply no place in the new maxillofacial apparatus.

Taking care of your own smile

Dentistry is worth doing at any age:

  • It's never too late to get healthy;
  • The more you work on your health, the less problems should arise in the future;
  • The aesthetic moment is always important, regardless of the number of years;
  • Over the years, problems tend to accumulate, so it's best to resolve them as they come.

First of all, choose your dentist. Going to the first clinic you come across to an unfamiliar specialist is not a good idea. Take advice from friends, family and colleagues. Perhaps there is a highly qualified specialist in your environment.

Before visiting the office, remember that:

  1. Modern anesthesia makes the process not more painful than cutting nails;
  2. Between doses, it is better to take a break of several days in order to observe the result and possible complications;
  3. Don't skimp on your own smile;
  4. A sealed tooth, with nerves removed, will never hurt again. Even if the seal comes out.

Every year, all manipulations become less painful. Even 20 years ago, they did not even dare to dream of such a luxury.

How many wisdom teeth does a person have?

The second name is "eights":

  • They are the outermost teeth of each jaw;
  • There are four in total;
  • Due to lack of space, they can grow to the side or remain under the gum;
  • Inconvenient location complicates their care;
  • They are a common reason for visiting the dentist.

Some people may never get wisdom teeth. This does not indicate any genetic defect, because the "eights" are rudimentary organs that are not involved in the act of chewing food.

By and large, wisdom teeth are simply:

  1. They collect food in the cracks;
  2. Injure the tongue or cheek;
  3. Become the cause of the inflammatory process;
  4. Can cause destruction or damage to adjacent teeth.

Another name for them is the third molar. If at least one of them began to erupt, then three others should be expected. Painful sensations will have to endure 4 times.

On the one hand, it will be possible to safely talk about a smile of 32 teeth. On the other hand, there is simply no practical sense in these “new clothes”. Despite the difficulties with access, it is necessary to pay attention to the “eights” while brushing your teeth, caries does not doze off and is only waiting in the wings.

Wisdom tooth: removal - consequences

This is one of the most delicate operations in dentistry. With this particular tooth, you should go to the best doctor you have access to.

Directly during manipulation:

  • An adjacent tooth may be damaged;
  • It is not always possible to avoid soft tissue ruptures;
  • Due to carelessness, damage to the maxillary sinus occurs;
  • Fractures and dislocations of the lower jaw are more common than it might seem at first glance.

These troubles are not always associated with the low qualification of the dentist. Main problem - oral condition. Malnutrition of neighboring teeth, inflammatory and atrophic processes can make the underlying structures more vulnerable.

Already after the removal of the ill-fated "eight" patients are faced with:

  1. With pain syndrome as soon as analgesics stop working;
  2. With inflammation, due to damage to the gums and the presence of a wound surface;
  3. With an increase in temperature, due to the addition of an infection;
  4. With recurrent bleeding due to the peculiarities of the hemostasis system.

All these troubles can arise, and can be bypassed. It all depends on the volume of intervention and the complexity of the manipulation itself. Tooth extraction is too general a concept. There are always nuances that only a doctor dealing with a particular case can determine.

What are the "eights"?

The third molars are rudimentary "processes" that do not take part in the act of chewing food and are located at the edges on each jaw. There are 4 of them in total and they “close” the dentition.

From the negative:

  • Hard to reach - they are often affected by caries;
  • Due to lack of space, they can grow in the wrong direction, damaging nearby tissues;
  • The manipulations associated with the "eights" are always the most difficult;
  • They cut through in adulthood, causing additional discomfort.

Some lucky people with wisdom teeth never “bump”. In this case, you can joke about the next stage of evolution and catch the envious glances of those whose third molars grow on the cheek or injure the tongue.

Less fortunate people have to hope that after removal it will not appear:

  1. severe pain;
  2. Swelling of the cheeks and gums;
  3. Temperature increase;
  4. Bleeding.

If something goes wrong, you should not immediately blame the dentist for all the troubles. In some complicated cases, it is necessary to crush the tooth, what can we say about possible complications.

Almost all of us have a wisdom tooth, why it is needed and why it grows somewhere to the side, only dentists and anthropologists know. And the average person can only hope that toothache and swelling of the gums will bypass him.

Video: why do wisdom teeth grow?

In this video, Stepan Shiyanov will tell you what human wisdom teeth are for, what functions they have: