Wisdom teeth are teeth like any other

They are. I swear.

No, they are not a defect of nature that should automatically be treated (removed). They are teeth like any other.

No, they are not an extremely risky time bomb. They are teeth like any other.

No, they are not useless. They are teeth like any other. If anything, it depends on the person. Plenty of people do use their wisdom teeth to chew. And plenty of patients that undergo the removal of functional wisdom teeth later regret it, because they actually feel that they lost useful teeth.

No, their problems don’t prove that evolution is real. No more than the problems of other teeth.

No, they are not vestigial or disappearing. Are other teeth vestigial or disappearing too?

No, they are not a set of four tumors. They are teeth like any other.

No, they are not pieces of polonium-210. They are teeth like any other.

No, they won’t destroy your second molars. Or at least, this is exceedingly unlikely.

Yes, trying to solve their problems without removing them is perfectly valid. Because they are teeth like any other.

No, I am not a better dentist than yours, but yes, I probably care more about third molars than he or she does. I treat them without removing them whenever possible, and when I see a new patient that got them out, I will typically ask them why, while most dentists will not give missing third molars a second thought. If I saw an otherwise healthy patient missing all their four canines, I would also find it odd and would inquire about it. I apply the exact same philosophy when I see that all the wisdom teeth are missing from otherwise healthy patients. So, you may want to listen to me if you have an interest in preserving your whole body. Just like if you wanted to study the representation of the female body, you would rather choose studying the work of Julio Romero de Torres, rather than the work of Vincent van Gogh. Even if Julio Romero de Torres was not a better painter than Vincent van Gogh.

No, you shouldn’t remove them just for not having enough space. Are you going to remove your crowded incisors for this reason too? They don’t have enough space either.

No, they are not problematic most of the time. Just like other teeth aren't problematic most of the time either. Thankfully, problems are the exception, not the norm. Also for wisdom teeth.

No, it is not true that they are impossible to clean. They just require a bit extra attention, just like, for example, the lingual part of your bottom molars, that people tend to forget brushing for a double reason (back teeth, interior part). Would your dentist recommend removing all your bottom molars if you didn’t properly clean their lingual part?

No, they don't have a thinner enamel layer than other teeth. The enamel of wisdom teeth is similar to the enamel of other teeth.

No, they won't push and crowd your other teeth. Just like your other molars didn't push anything when they came in. Yes, even if they are impacted.

No, they won't ruin your expensive and long orthodontic treatment. Teeth coming in don't have a force, and this includes wisdom teeth. Yes, this applies to horizontally impacted wisdom teeth too.

No, you don’t need to get them out for orthodontic reasons if your treatment is over. Just like you don’t need to get any other tooth out after the treatment is over. And most likely, you don’t need to get them removed before nor during your treatment either.

Yes, it is completely normal to feel some discomfort when they come in. Just like you may experience it with other erupting teeth. Think of a teething baby. Your dentist should be there to help you with this in a respectful way.

No, they won't develop cysts. Just like other teeth don't typically develop cysts either. A little darker area around a wisdom tooth in an x-ray doesn't mean there is a cyst.

No, they don't evolve into tumors of any kind. Just like other teeth don't.

No, removing them is not going to solve your TMJ problems, your bruxism or your neck pain. Just like removing other teeth wouldn't help with that either.

No, if they are not infected, removing them will not help with chronically swollen nodes. I have seen a patient in real life that got the removal done for this reason and didn't improve. Why would removing healthy teeth have any impact on inflammation elsewhere?

No, it is not true that "most people eventually need to get them removed". Or, if they do, you could say pretty much the same about other teeth. Old patients miss teeth other than wisdom teeth too, yet nobody's saying that other teeth need to get removed preventively.

No, "most people" aren't getting them removed either. Just like "most people" aren't getting any other particular tooth removed. In certain countries (like the USA and France), many, if not most people, undergo the removal of third molars without a real need. But open your local mind, and turn it into a global mind: this is not what happens everywhere. If you were living somewhere else, maybe your dentist wouldn’t have even considered the removal.

This long list of negations (and some affirmations) is based not only on my clinical experience, but also on evidence, studies, expert opinions and the official guidelines of multiple countries, that I invite you to read on the Resources section.

Understand that wisdom teeth are teeth like any other, and you will understand my philosophy.

No other body part is surrounded by so many myths, urban legends, misunderstandings and false beliefs as wisdom teeth. They have a true black legend surrounding them, a bit like the European Middle Ages or the Spanish Empire. But legends are just that: legends.

The origins of these false beliefs are diverse. Many of them have been around for a while, and will presumably continue to be around for the foreseeable future. False beliefs are often very hard to eradicate. Who hasn’t heard that OK means “zero killed”, that monosodium glutamate is bad for you, that crisis in Chinese is said as “danger opportunity”, that left-handed people live shorter lives, that we swallow on average ten spiders per year while sleeping, or that appendices are also useless? These are all lies that still get repeated.

We all agree that removing a painful or infected wisdom tooth is a sensible decision. In certain, reasonable cases, I will be more for trying to preserve the tooth. Filling it if it has cavities, or cutting the gum that covers it if the problem is the gum. But I will concede that removing a wisdom tooth with pathology, no matter the pathology, is at least logical.

But in many cases, a removal will be proposed with no pathology present. Without a real need, and justified with myths, legends and lies, like the ones listed here. You, my dear reader, should be aware of this. Value your body and your teeth, and refuse any invasive treatment that you don’t need.

And if you have any doubts, feel free to contact me.

Having mentioned so many lies and false ideas, I can’t but bid farewell with a phrase by Miguel de Cervantes, directly from Don Quixote, that motivates us to always defend the truth, no matter what, because truth prevails: La verdad adelgaza y no quiebra, y siempre anda sobre la mentira, como el aceite sobre el agua. Meaning: While the truth may run thin, it never breaks, and always rises above falsehood as oil does above water.

Saludos cordales.