The third molars that grow when a person reaches his late teens or early twenties are referred to as the wisdom teeth. They were nicknamed as the “teeth of wisdom” in the seventeenth century and were called “wisdom teeth” in the nineteenth century. Some linguists believe that wisdom teeth are called as such because they erupt at a later age when a person is well on his way to adulthood and is deemed wiser.
There are two theories proposed as to why humans have wisdom teeth. One theory says that in ancient times, tooth loss was so common because of trauma and rot, thereby necessitating the development of third molars, or wisdom teeth, to fill up the space where a tooth was lost to achieve a more complete bite. While another theory believes that in the past, human jaws were much larger, so there were more room for more teeth. Since human diet shifted, their jaws also became smaller, but the additional teeth still continued to grow, hence the instances of impacted wisdom teeth.
The association of wisdom teeth with wisdom dates way back to early civilizations. In fact, Hippocrates called these teeth sophronisteres, which comes from the Greek word sophron that means prudent. In Arabic, they were the “teeth of the mind”, and in some Spanish-speaking countries they were the “teeth of judgment”. Wisdom teeth looks different in appearance than other normal teeth, that's why different cultures have their own ways of characterizing and naming them.
There are two theories proposed as to why humans have wisdom teeth. One theory says that in ancient times, tooth loss was so common because of trauma and rot, thereby necessitating the development of third molars, or wisdom teeth, to fill up the space where a tooth was lost to achieve a more complete bite. While another theory believes that in the past, human jaws were much larger, so there were more room for more teeth. Since human diet shifted, their jaws also became smaller, but the additional teeth still continued to grow, hence the instances of impacted wisdom teeth.
The association of wisdom teeth with wisdom dates way back to early civilizations. In fact, Hippocrates called these teeth sophronisteres, which comes from the Greek word sophron that means prudent. In Arabic, they were the “teeth of the mind”, and in some Spanish-speaking countries they were the “teeth of judgment”. Wisdom teeth looks different in appearance than other normal teeth, that's why different cultures have their own ways of characterizing and naming them.
