The third set of molars, commonly referred to as “Wisdom Teeth,” typically begin forming beneath the surface around the age of eight. While anthropologists believe that our ancestors relied on these extra molars to process their often harsh, chewing-intensive diets, modern humans have little use for these extra molars, and our jaws have reduced in size to the point where there is no room to accommodate them.
Modern technology and practices result in the quick and effective removal of these teeth, but imagine how our more recent ancestors were made to handle their removal. During a time when very little was known about dental hygiene and modern processes were yet to be invented, crowded and impacted teeth could be extremely painful, or even life-threatening.