Wisdom teeth are a curious thing. You don’t really need them to chew their food effectively, and they usually cause more problems than they solve. So why do you still have wisdom teeth in the first place? Well, the answer is complicated and goes back thousands of years.
If you’re ready to embark on a journey through the history of wisdom tooth evolution, continue reading!
The Early Diets of Humankind
Wisdom teeth, scientifically known as third molars, trace their origins back to our evolutionary ancestors. In prehistoric times, human diets were coarse and consisted of raw plant materials, nuts, and raw meat. The additional molars played a necessary part in chewing and grinding these tougher foods.
Vestigial Traits
As human diets evolved with cooking and food processing, the need for large, robust molars diminished. The reduction in tooth size became an evolutionary trend, but wisdom teeth remained behind. This type of evolutionary trait is called a “vestige.” It’s why you still have a tailbone even though you don’t have a tail, and why babies grab anything put into their palms.
While these traits may have served a purpose in ancient humans, changes in lifestyle and dietary habits have made them functionally obsolete.
Evolution and Jaw Size
Over time, human jaw sizes also experienced changes. After the advent of cooking, which made food easier to chew and digest, human jaw sizes slowly began to shrink. While human jaws became smaller, wisdom teeth stayed around, often leading to issues.
Modern Challenges of Wisdom Teeth
In the present day, patients often face challenges due to a lack of space in their jaws for wisdom teeth. Many of them experience impaction, misalignment, or complications during eruption. These issues often lead to their removal through extraction to prevent oral health problems like broken teeth and severe decay.
The presence of wisdom teeth is a link to your evolutionary past and the adaptations humans underwent over millennia. While they once played a crucial role in your ancestors’ survival, modern challenges require modern solutions. Wisdom teeth today often need to be extracted, so if you start to feel discomfort in your jaw, talk to your dentist and set up an appointment.
About the Practice
At Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery, you’ll find an expert team of talented dental specialists who are ready to help you with your treatment. They use modern dental technology and proven techniques to perform efficient, painless, and affordable procedures like wisdom tooth extractions. Call (571) 777-6501 to schedule a wisdom tooth extraction or visit the website to discover other services.