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What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth (also called 'third molars') usually appear during the late teens or early 20s and sometimes even later in life. They are often the last teeth to come through (erupt) and are found at the very back of the mouth, behind the second molar teeth. Most people have four wisdom teeth - upper right, upper left, lower right and lower left. Some people have no wisdom teeth at all, or may have fewer than four.

FAQ Frequently asked questions

Does everyone have wisdom teeth?

Most people will develop all four wisdom teeth. Some people will have none at all, others only one or two, while some people have extra teeth that grow behind their wisdom teeth. The emergence of wisdom teeth tends to be hereditary, so if your parents or …

How do I know if my wisdom teeth are coming through?

Some people will feel some pressure or pain at the back of their last teeth for some time before their wisdom teeth come through. Other people will feel nothing at all. It is a good idea to ask your dentist to check your mouth and maybe …

Should I get my wisdom teeth out before I have braces?

If you are planning to have braces to straighten your teeth, any impacted wisdom teeth may get in the way and make straightening your other teeth more difficult. In these cases, they should be removed before or after starting …

What happens when your wisdom teeth are removed in hospital?

Your hospital experience when removing wisdom teeth will depend on many things, such as the position of your wisdom teeth, your health, your age, how many wisdom teeth you have and whether you are having a general anesthetic or …

I only have one wisdom tooth, should I have it removed in the dental chair?

Ask your dentist if he or she thinks it will be an easy process to remove your wisdom tooth. Your dentist will examine your tooth, decide if it should be removed and take an X-ray to work out how easy or difficult …

My wisdom teeth keep getting infected, what should I do?

Wisdom teeth that are coming through will often have a flap of gum sitting over them until they fully come through. It is this gum flap that covers part of the tooth and traps food and plaque under it, which then causes a gum …

I have gaps in my front teeth. Will my wisdom teeth pushing through close these gaps?

As we get older, teeth generally drift in a forward direction and spaces often close slightly over time. This happens whether or not people have wisdom teeth and so is not directly related to wisdom …

My mother and sister didn't have any wisdom teeth, will I be the same?

There is a strong chance that you won't have any wisdom teeth either, since this tendency runs in families. However, there is a chance you may have taken after your father in this area. An X-ray will show for sure if …

I still have a lot of pain after having my wisdom teeth out a week ago. Is this normal?

Depending on how many teeth you had removed and how difficult their removal was, you may expect to still have pain after a week. However, your pain and need for pain-relief medications should lessen …

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About this article

Author: Dr Livia Naharnowicz BDSc, AAICD
First answered: 17 Oct 2014
Last reviewed: 19 May 2018
Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Votes: 831 (Click smiley face below to rate)
Category: Root canal treatment

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