Orthopedia »

8's (Wisdom Teeth, Third Molar)

Individuals usually have three molars on each side for a total of twelve molars. The molar furthest back is known as the wisdom tooth. It�s called the wisdom tooth because it typically erupts during the later teens when one is supposedly �wiser�. The wisdom tooth is the most frequently missing tooth and many people do not have four wisdom teeth. Unfortunately many people do not have space in their jaws for their wisdom teeth and often have them extracted during the later teens so they do not cause problems later in life.