How Many Wisdom Teeth Do You Have?

Wisdom teeth are your third molars, the last teeth to develop. They usually come in between the ages of 17 and 25, long after the rest of your adult teeth have settled into place. Because they arrive so late, there often isn’t enough room for them, which is why they cause problems for so many people.

Four is typical, but not universal

A full set of adult teeth is 32, and that count includes four wisdom teeth: two on top and two on the bottom. Many people, however, never develop all four. It is common to be missing one or more wisdom teeth, and some people never develop any. This is simply a variation in how teeth form, and genetics play a large role in it.

Less often, a person develops more than four. These extra teeth are called supernumerary teeth, and they can sit behind or next to the wisdom teeth. Extra teeth are not always a problem, but they can crowd the area and raise the chance of impaction and other complications.

Why you might not see them

Not seeing a wisdom tooth in the mirror doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Wisdom teeth can be:

• Fully erupted:
  The tooth has come in completely and sits in line with your other molars.
• Partially erupted:
  Only part of the tooth has broken through the gums. These teeth are hard to keep clean and can trap food and bacteria, leading to infection.
• Impacted:
  The tooth is stuck below the gumline or in the jawbone, often at an angle. Impacted teeth can press on neighboring teeth, cause pain, and in some cases lead to cysts or damage to the jawbone.

How to find out how many you have

The only reliable way to know how many wisdom teeth you have, and where they are, is with dental imaging. A panoramic X-ray or 3D scan shows each wisdom tooth, its position, and how close its roots are to nearby nerves and sinuses. This lets us spot problems early, often before you feel any symptoms.

Do they need to come out?

Not every wisdom tooth needs to be removed. Healthy, fully erupted wisdom teeth that you can clean properly may be fine to keep. Removal is usually recommended when wisdom teeth are impacted, only partly erupted, crowding other teeth, or causing pain, swelling, or infection. Having them evaluated in your late teens or early twenties is ideal, since the roots are not yet fully formed and recovery tends to be easier.

Wondering how many wisdom teeth you have, or whether yours should be removed? Learn more about wisdom teeth removal or contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Colgan.