Third molars are thought to have once been a necessity for early human ancestors in
order to efficiently chew and digest the cellulose that comprised the plant foliage,
which was an integral part of the dietary intake. Due to evolutionary changes and
societal advancements, human diets are less plant based, jaw size has become smaller,
and the functional need for third molars minimal [
]. Third molars, or wisdom teeth, however, are still present in the majority of people
and often require removal to prevent or treat third molar–associated disease states.
Critical to the determination of third molar management is the clinical examination
and radiographic analysis.
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Further reading
White R. AAOMS white paper on third molar data; 2007. p. 1–25.
Article info
Footnotes
The author has nothing to disclose.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
