Wisdom teeth

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Wisdom teeth are third molarss that usually appear between the ages of 18 and 20 (although they may appear when older). Since that is considered to be the age when people become wiser, third molars gained the nickname "wisdom teeth." Often they need to be removed when they impact against other teeth- colloquially known as "coming in sideways."

Impacted wisdom teeth fall into one of several categories. Mesial impaction means the tooth is angled forward, towards the front of the mouth. Distal impaction means the tooth is angled backward, towards the rear of the mouth. Vertical impaction occurs when the formed tooth does not erupt fully through the gumline, and Horizontal impaction occurs when the tooth is angled fully ninety degrees forward, growing into the roots of the second molar.

Wisdom teeth are sometimes described as an example of a "vestigial" trait that may be disappearing from our species via evolution. Alternately, it is possible that wisdom teeth were useful when it was common for humans to have lost several teeth to decay by the age when they appear.

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