How Many Wisdom Teeth Can You Have?

Most people have four wisdom teeth. One is located at the back of each corner of the mouth.. That is not a rule that is fixed. Some people have less and a small number of people have than four.

Wisdom teeth are the molars. They generally come in during the teens or early twenties although some do not come up until later.. Sometimes they never come up at all because they are under the gum or because they simply did not develop.

So Can You Have Than Four Wisdom Teeth?

Yes. It is possible to have five or even six wisdom teeth although it is rare. These extra teeth are known as teeth. They can grow along with the third molars and may be discovered during a dental X-ray.

There are also people who do not have wisdom teeth. That is completely possible too. Your mouth does not follow a four-tooth rule.

What About Having One or Two?

You can have one wisdom tooth, two or three. A person might grow a wisdom tooth on the left side while the others never form. Another person could have two on the bottom and none on top.

Genetics is a factor in this. So if your parents never had wisdom teeth don’t be surprised if yours decide to skip the appointment

• No wisdom teeth all. Some people simply never develop them. They don’t miss much.

• One or two can appear without the rest joining in which sounds strange until you see how differently wisdom teeth develop.

• Four is the number though an X-ray is the easiest way to know what is actually hiding beneath the gums.

Why Do Some People Have Wisdom Teeth?

Extra teeth happen because tooth development does not always follow the pattern. A supernumerary tooth can form anywhere in the mouth including near the wisdom teeth.

You might not know it is there. An extra tooth can stay under the gum without causing pain swelling or any obvious change. Dentists often find these teeth during an X-ray taken for another reason.

Do Extra Wisdom Teeth Need Removing?

Not always. If an extra tooth is healthy is not causing any issues and is not putting teeth at risk a dentist may just keep an eye on it.

A wisdom tooth that becomes stuck under the gum can cause problems. Food and bacteria can gather around it especially if there is a small opening through the gum. That can lead to swelling or an infection.

A dentist will look at its position before deciding what to do. An X-ray helps show whether the tooth is pressing against another tooth or sitting in a position.

When Should You Get Your Wisdom Teeth Checked?

If you are feeling pain at the back of your mouth don’t think it is automatically a wisdom tooth. Other dental problems can feel very similar.

Swelling around the molar area needs a proper check especially if the pain keeps coming back. And if you know you have a tooth regular dental visits are worth keeping up with.

Four wisdom teeth is common. It is not the limit though. Having less, than four is not unusual either. Your mouth gets to create its version of the rulebook.