It has been estimated that 10-25% of Americans with European ancestry, 11% of African Americans and 40% of Asian Americans are missing at least one wisdom tooth. While 45% of Inuit, indigenous people who live in the arctic regions of Canada, Alaska and Greenland, have at least one missing wisdom tooth [5].
This might become a point of jealousy at some point, but wisdom tooth development is a genetic matter and not everyone carries the genes for them. For instance, indigenous Mexican peoples have a 100% rate of not having wisdom teeth, while almost all European or African peoples develop wisdom teeth.
Not everyone has to hassle with wisdom teeth. Some people aren't born with a complete set and studies have shown that approximately a third of people are born without any. And while some people may have the teeth, they never see them emerge.
There are two main reasons why some individuals have no wisdom teeth: They are present but still haven't erupted yet. Wisdom teeth may never erupt if they are impacted (not enough space for them to grow) and may remain dormant in the jawbone for many years. The lack of wisdom teeth is related to genes.
Wisdom Teeth AKA, Your Third Molar!
This breaks down to nearly 25 percent of Americans with European ancestry, 12 percent of Americans with African ancestry and over 40 percent of Americans with Asian ancestry. And strangely enough, Asians do not have wisdom teeth to contend with.
It is a common issue especially among Asians as Asians tend to have smaller jaws which may pose a problem in accommodating the 3rd molar or more commonly known as the wisdom tooth.
There's a gene called PAX9 that helps determine whether or not people will get wisdom teeth. These genetic differences make some groups less likely to have wisdom teeth. One group less likely to get wisdom teeth, for instance, is those with indigenous Mexican ancestry.
When a tooth can't come in, it may grow at an angle and damage the nearby healthy teeth. Fluid-filled tumors can also develop, leading to bone and facial nerve damage. And although some people experience no symptoms from impacted teeth, many have severe pain as well as swelling and bleeding in the gums.
Your jaw is fully developed by the time you are in your early 20s. In general, if there's enough space for wisdom teeth to fit comfortably, your dentist may leave them alone. Researchers say that there are no proven health benefits to pulling wisdom teeth that aren't causing problems.
Many scientists believe humans are currently evolving third molar hypodontia, or the lack of wisdom teeth, due to their inability to develop in the first place. How many people have wisdom teeth? About 20-25% of the human population is born with 1 to 3 wisdom teeth, and 35% is born without any wisdom teeth at all.
Did you know that not everyone develops wisdom teeth? In fact, the incidence of wisdom teeth in those with Tasmanian Aboriginal ancestry is practically zero. By contrast, nearly 100% of indigenous Mexicans have wisdom teeth.
Because their teeth were the only tools they had for breaking down tough, uncooked foods, they needed a broader jaw containing extra molars. Wisdom teeth gave them the power to chew a broader variety of raw foods.
Ten to 25 percent of Americans with European ancestry, 11 percent of those with African ancestry, and 40 percent of those with Asian ancestry are missing one or more wisdom teeth.
Up to 80% of young adults in Europe have at least one wisdom tooth that hasn't broken through. This is more common in the lower jaw than it is in the upper jaw. The reason is usually that there isn't enough room in the jaw. Other teeth may then get in the way of the wisdom tooth, or it might come in crooked.
Is it rare to have all 4 wisdom teeth? No, it is not rare at all to have all 4 wisdom teeth in fact having four wisdom teeth is the most common. Some patients have less than 4 while some have more than 4. In this instance, the extra wisdom teeth are called supernumerary teeth.
Wisdom teeth can come anytime between the ages of 17 and 25 and even well into your late 20s. You should+n't expect to see your wisdom teeth come past the age of 30, as this is highly uncommon. Some people experience issues with their wisdom teeth when they come in and need an extraction.
Can wisdom teeth really emerge in your 40s? Yes they can. We have had a number of patients at our Houston dental office have their wisdom tooth erupt even into their late 40s. If this is a concern that is currently happening inside your mouth then it's a good idea to see a dental professional as soon as possible.
Anthropologists believe wisdom teeth were especially helpful for our prehistoric ancestors, who needed serious chewing power to grind through the rough plants, seeds, nuts and foliage which made up the bulk of their diets. As teeth wore down or fell out, wisdom teeth could step in and provide a much-needed replacement.
Wisdom teeth suck for many reasons - they can be painful and if left untreated, can cause tooth decay, gum infection, and even tumors. Each year, 5 million Americans get their wisdom teeth removed, which costs about $3 billion in total dental costs.
According to Science Line, a New York University science, health and environment news source, anthropologists believe that wisdom teeth existed to help our ancestors chew the coarse leaves, roots, nuts and raw meat that made up the human diet many years ago.
How many people have wisdom teeth? About 20-25% of the human population is born with 1 to 3 wisdom teeth, and 35% is born without any wisdom teeth at all.
Scientists also attribute the variation of the number of wisdom teeth to lineage and genetics. For example, Asian Americans and African Americans are more likely to have less than four wisdom teeth than individuals of European descent. Your dentist will analyze an X-ray to determine if you have wisdom teeth.
Yes, it is possible to have more than four wisdom teeth. This is relatively rare, occurring in less than 5% of the population. Having more than four wisdom teeth is not necessarily a cause for concern, but it's important to monitor them closely to make sure they are not causing any problems.