Most humans typically have four wisdom teeth, with one located in each corner of the mouth-two on the upper jaw and two on the lower jaw
. These are the last set of molars to emerge, usually between the ages of 17 and 25
. However, the number of wisdom teeth can vary significantly among individuals:
- Some people have fewer than four wisdom teeth, with about 20-25% of people worldwide having fewer than four
- It is also possible for some people to have no wisdom teeth at all, a trait influenced by genetics and evolutionary changes in human jaw size
- Rarely, some individuals may have extra wisdom teeth, known as supernumerary teeth, which can result in having up to eight wisdom teeth in total
The variation in the number of wisdom teeth is linked to evolutionary factors; as human jaws have become smaller over time, the need for these extra molars has diminished, leading to genetic differences in their development
. In summary, while four wisdom teeth is the standard number for most adults, it is common to have fewer or none, and occasionally more than four
