Wisdom teeth sit at the very back of your mouth and are the final teeth to develop. These molars—broad, strong, and designed for grinding—start forming around 6–7 years of age, which is when they first appear on dental X-rays. Most people have four wisdom teeth: upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right.
Because wisdom teeth erupt after the rest of the adult teeth are already in place, many Glen Iris patients discover there simply isn’t enough space for them. When there’s inadequate room in the jaw, the wisdom teeth may become impacted, meaning they are trapped under the gums or pushing awkwardly against adjacent teeth.
Why So Many People in Glen Iris Don’t Have Room for Wisdom Teeth
The lack of space is actually due to human evolution. Our ancestors needed strong jaws and extra molars to chew tough diets of nuts, roots, meat, and fibrous plants. Wisdom teeth were essential.
Today, with softer and more processed diets common in suburbs like Glen Iris, our jaws have gradually become smaller, but the number of teeth has stayed the same. This mismatch means wisdom teeth often can’t erupt naturally. As a result, scientists now consider wisdom teeth vestigial structures, meaning they no longer serve a functional purpose.
When Should Glen Iris Patients Have Their Wisdom Teeth Assessed?
For families in Glen Iris and surrounding areas, we recommend assessing wisdom teeth around age 15–16. At this stage, we can clearly evaluate:
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Whether there is enough room for eruption
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How the wisdom teeth are developing
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Whether impaction is likely
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The best timing for preventive or corrective treatment
Early assessment allows us to plan ahead and avoid discomfort, infections, or damage to nearby teeth.
If you or your teenager needs advice about wisdom teeth, please contact Dr Daniel Kaufman 👉Call or book online Tooronga Family Dentistry on (03) 9822 7006 so we can examine your wisdom teeth and explain the most suitable options for you.
📍 We proudly care for the smiles of the Glen Iris, Tooronga, Malvern and Hawthorn East communities.