wisdom teeth

1. Four molars, two on the upper jaw and two on the lower jaw, that are the last teeth to emerge in the mouth.

These teeth are associated with wisdom because they appear during the late teens or early twenties, when a person is physically mature. Often, the wisdom teeth may not rise above the gum line, but remain impacted in the jaw, causing inflammation. If this impaction occurs, or if they pose a threat to other teeth, the wisdom teeth may need to be removed.