What is a wisdom tooth? what happen if it breaks off?

Question

What is a wisdom tooth? what happen if it breaks off?

Answer 1

It's going to get infected.

The wisdom teeth are obsolete. They are theorizing that it was used by the cavemen types. It's sort of like the appendix. It must have had a use back along time ago but now it does nothing.

Isn't the human body incredible?

Answer 2

Wisdom teeth are the very back ones.  Sometimes they come in all the way, sometimes not.  Mine came in half-way and one came in laying on it's side.  The previous answerer was correct.  My dentist also told me that wisdom teeth were used back in the "caveman" days to help breakdown grains, etc.  Now we don't use them and they are more of a nuisance than useful.  

There was one of mine that started to chip off.  I had to have all 4 of mine out.  Wasn't an emergency thing, however they were more worried about the health of the gums.  They weren't doing anything useful and would eventually cause problems because food was getting stuck around them--it's hard to get a toothbrush angled right to get all the gunk off of them &  they can get infected or just become a food trap.  

If you haven't been to the dentist in awhile you may want to call and get a routine exam/cleaning.  They can look it over and give you recommendations.