Wisdom teeth or third molars are the last to erupt, at 17 to 25 years old. Most people have wisdom teeth extracted since there is not sufficient space, they get impacted, or there is some other problem with the teeth. There are some, however, who say that they have seen their wisdom teeth re-grow after being removed. This has everyone wondering: Do wisdom teeth grow back?
In this article, we’ll explore the science of wisdom teeth, bust some myths, talk about bizarre cases of extra teeth, and enlighten you about why people believe wisdom teeth regrow.
Understanding Wisdom Teeth
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the rear molars on either side of the jaw. They served our ancestors well, as they had larger jaws and needed additional teeth to chop raw, hard food. With humans having smaller jaws, though, wisdom teeth are no longer needed by the majority of us today.
Why Do Humans Need Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth were useful in the past because they once munched raw greens, roots, and flesh in early man. With time, diets changed and the cooking techniques were better, making the teeth irrelevant. Wisdom teeth nowadays are vestigial organs—body organs whose primary function has been lost.
When Do Wisdom Teeth Normally Erupt?
Widom teeth must be removed between the ages of 17 and 25, but never does humankind. Humankind’s wisdom teeth in the majority of humankind are being impacted since they cannot erupt through their sockets where there is not enough space to. This means that they contribute to hurting and infecting and distorting dental architecture.
Can Wisdom Teeth Regrow? Science Behind Regrowing Teeth in Humans
While other creatures have their teeth replaced many times (e.g., sharks), human beings receive only two sets of teeth in an entire lifetime—primary (baby) teeth and permanent teeth. If a permanent tooth is lost or must be extracted, the body cannot regenerate another one naturally.
What About Supernumerary Teeth?
While wisdom teeth themselves never return, human beings actually grow some additional teeth, i.e., supernumerary teeth. Supernumerary teeth actually do develop near the region where wisdom teeth are extracted, therefore giving the impression that wisdom teeth are regrowing. This is not a natural regrowth, however, and is rare.
Common Myths About Wisdom Teeth Growing Back
There are so many myths surrounding wisdom teeth, and they create unrealistic expectations on the way they come back.
Myth #1: Wisdom Teeth Come Back Like Hair or Nails
We all think wisdom teeth come back like hair or nails, just growing and growing. Teeth are neither hair nor nails—once extracted, they won’t grow back.
Myth #2: Wisdom Teeth Grow Back After Extraction
Patients tend to feel sore in the same region after extraction of wisdom teeth, and they tend to think the tooth is growing back too. It’s really due to healing tissue, bone remodeling, or breakage of another impacted wisdom tooth.
Myth #3: Everyone Has Hidden Additional Wisdom Teeth in Their Gums
Other individuals think that everybody possesses more than one set of wisdom teeth that are going to erupt. Even though a certain percentage of individuals get additional molars with supernumerary teeth, it is not typical, and this does not imply the wisdom teeth “are regrowing.”
Why Some People Feel Like Their Wisdom Teeth Are Growing Back
Following the removal of wisdom teeth, some individuals feel sensations of new teeth emerging. The reason is:
Phantom Tooth Sensation
After surgically excising, your nerves in your gums will keep sending messages to the brain so that the brain will perceive that the tooth is still there or returns. It is just like phantom limb, where patients who are amputated sense something from a nonexistent limb.
Impacted Tooth Fragments Left Behind
At other times small fragments of the tooth are left on the gum on extraction. These residuum will migrate and become tender or the look of eruption with time elapse of other tooth.
Late Eruption of Unerupted Wisdom Teeth
If a single or even two wisdom teeth are removed by a dentist and some other as yet unerupted wisdom teeth are still left behind, then a person may feel like the same wisdom teeth are growing back when an entirely different tooth is actually emerging.
Bone Healing and Gum Tissue Changes
Gum and bone heal well after the extraction of wisdom teeth. With new bone filling the area where it was and gum tissue developing, some patients end up feeling tightness, pressure, or aching dullness and thus believe the tooth returns.
Supernumerary Teeth: A Rare Exception
What Are Supernumerary Teeth?
Supernumerary teeth are additional teeth other people grow in addition to the normal 32 permanent teeth. They may be anywhere in the mouth but are not typical.
How Common Are Extra Wisdom Teeth?
Less than one percent of people grow supernumerary molars, or fourth molars. They are additional teeth that grow near where the extraction took place, creating the illusion of new growth of the wisdom teeth.
Symptoms and Effects of Extra Teeth
Supernumerary teeth lead to:
- Crowding
- Malalignment
- Increased risk of cavities and gum infection
- Discomfort or pain
Medical Cases Where Extra Teeth Were Mistaken for Regrowth
There have been instances where patients thought that their wisdom teeth regrew when in fact there were extra teeth. This is evidence of how important it is that one visits the dentist on a regular basis so that irregular growth of teeth can be properly diagnosed.
How to Know If You Have Extra Wisdom Teeth
If you are curious if your wisdom teeth are “growing back,” check for the following:
- New tooth is seen emerging from the gum
- Ache or pain on a regular basis at the site where teeth were extracted
- Chewing difficulty because of new molars
- Dental X-Rays and Regular Check-Ups Importance
Importance of Dental X-Rays and Regular Checkups
A dentist would get X-rays taken to confirm the existence of supernumerary teeth or any remaining fragments. Routine visits periodically from time to time avoid complications and facilitate the healing of the removal of wisdom teeth.
What to Do If You Suspect Extra Wisdom Teeth
When you feel new teeth erupting, visit your dentist. He/she will examine your mouth and establish if it is an irregular growth of teeth or healing after extraction.
Dental Care After Wisdom Teeth Removal
Oral hygiene after the extraction avoids complications.
Pain and Discomfort Management
- Take pain medication as directed by your dentist or pain medication over the counter.
- Put an ice pack to reduce swelling.
Prevention of Infection and Dry Socket
- Do not smoke, use straws, or hard rinsing since these will dislodge the blood clot and cause dry socket.
- Saltwater rinse for healing in gentle manner.
When to Visit a Dentist with Post-Extraction Concerns
Visit a dentist when:
- Severe pain does not subside
- Bleeding persists
- Pus, swelling, or fever symptoms of infection
Conclusion
Wisdom teeth will never regrow after they have been extracted, but sometimes people may have supernumerary teeth that will appear as new growth. Phantom pain, healing bone, or impacted teeth are likely to be the cause of the false impression of new tooth growth. Specialist referral and dental X-rays are the optimal way of diagnosing new tooth growth.
If you notice abnormal regrowth of teeth after extraction, report to your dentist and have supernumerary teeth or remains eliminated. Regular dental check-ups and cleaning make your mouth problem-free and healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do wisdom teeth regrow after extraction?
No, after the removal of wisdom teeth, they never regrow. Humans have only two sets of teeth in a lifetime—milk and permanent teeth. In very rare instances, there are extra teeth (supernumerary teeth) which occasionally develop close to the area where the tooth was extracted and hence give the illusion that it has regrown.
Why is my wisdom tooth growing back?
The feeling of coming back wisdom teeth can be caused by a number of factors such as phantom tooth pain, bone healing, gum tissue alteration, or remaining fragments left behind after the tooth extraction. You need to visit your dentist in the event of any pain in an effort to rule out any complication.
What are supernumerary teeth, and how are they connected to wisdom teeth?
Supernumerary teeth are extra teeth that other people grow besides the normal 32 permanent teeth. Even though not typical, the extra teeth will occasionally grow between where the wisdom teeth were removed and will appear as though the removed wisdom teeth are returning.
How do I know if I have extra wisdom teeth?
If you feel a new tooth coming through your gums following the extraction of wisdom teeth, it could be an extra or supernumerary tooth. It would hurt otherwise and you would just need some dental X-rays, and they will let you know if more than one is coming through in the jaw.
What should I do if I am in pain where my wisdom teeth were extracted?
If your pain persists after the removal of the teeth, see your dentist. It is likely due to normal healing, dry socket, or lingering around