The mandibular third molars, or lower wisdom teeth, are the last teeth at the back of the lower jaw (Universal 32 on the right and 17 on the left, FDI 48 and 38). Their crowns usually have four or five cusps of variable shape, and their two roots are often short, curved or fused. They erupt, if at all, at about 17-21 years and are frequently missing or impacted.
| Location | Back of the lower dental arch, behind the second molar on each side, near the ramus of the mandible |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Inferior alveolar nerve (mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve); Buccal nerve (buccal gingiva); Lingual nerve (lingual gingiva) |
| Blood Supply | Inferior alveolar artery (from the maxillary artery) |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Adds grinding surface at the back of the mouth when fully erupted and opposed by an upper tooth.
Lower wisdom teeth are the most commonly impacted teeth in the body, often tilted forward against the second molar. Their roots may lie on the inferior alveolar canal, and the lingual nerve runs just inside the bone beside them, so removal carries a risk of numbness of the lip, chin or tongue. Dry socket is more common after removing them than after any other extraction.
Infection of the gum flap over a partly erupted wisdom tooth, causing pain, swelling, bad taste and difficulty opening the mouth.
The tooth is blocked from erupting by bone or the second molar, risking infection, cysts and damage to the neighbouring tooth.
Loss of the blood clot from the socket after extraction, causing severe throbbing pain a few days later.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
