wisdom teeth

Cultural  

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

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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.

Example Sentences

I got all four of my wisdom teeth out and was told the price would be around $700, but it actually ended up costing a little more than $1,000.

From MarketWatch

A dentist informed her she required surgery to remove both lower wisdom teeth next week, for which she'll need to spend at least two weeks recovering.

From BBC

He said he was taking medication for abscesses in his wisdom teeth when he woke up with "a really strange feeling" in his chest.

From BBC

There is nothing wise about the way humans view wisdom teeth, according to many experts.

From Salon

The presence of wisdom teeth suggest the Tollund Man was at least 20 years old when he died in Denmark’s Bjældskovdal bog in Jutland, but researchers think he was actually between 30 and 40.

From National Geographic