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Why are wisdom teeth called wisdom teeth?
Question Date: 2002-07-09
Answer 1:

Dentists call the last teeth to develop and erupt into the jaws the third molars. Third molars usually erupt in the late teen years, which coincides with passage into adulthood and is referred to by some as the age of wisdom; hence "wisdom teeth". Unfortunately, the wisdom teeth are now usually trying to erupt into a jaw that is too small and have to be extracted sometimes even before they are visible in your mouth.

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