A wisdom tooth, in humans, is any of the usual four third molars. Wisdom teeth usually appear between the ages of 16 and 25. Most adults have four wisdom teeth, but it is possible to have fewer (hypodontia), or more, in which case they are called supernumerary teeth. Wisdom teeth commonly affect other teeth as they develop, becoming impacted or "coming in sideways." They are often extracted when this occurs.
Read more about Wisdom Tooth: Impaction, Partial Eruption, Extraction, Post-extraction Problems, Treatment Controversy, Vestigiality and Variation, Potential Uses For Extracted Teeth, Etymology
Famous quotes containing the words wisdom and/or tooth:
“The wisdom of history, how she takes
Each epoch by the neck and, growling, shakes
It like a rat while she faintly mews.”
—Allen Tate (1899–1979)
“And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”
—Bible: Hebrew Exodus 21:23.