Most adults typically have four wisdom teeth, one in each quadrant of the mouth: upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right
. However, the number can vary significantly among individuals. Some people have fewer than four, some have none at all, and a small percentage have more than four, known as supernumerary or extra wisdom teeth
. It is estimated that about 20-25% of people have fewer than four wisdom teeth, and around 1-2% have extra wisdom teeth, sometimes even up to eight or more in rare cases
. Having eight wisdom teeth is uncommon and usually indicates a larger jaw or genetic variation, but it can lead to crowding or impaction issues
. In summary:
- Most common number: 4 wisdom teeth (one per quadrant)
- Some have fewer or none
- Rarely, some have more than four, up to 8 or more in exceptional cases
Wisdom teeth usually erupt between ages 17 and 25 and often cause dental issues due to limited space in the jaw
