How Many Wisdom Teeth Do You Have? Usually Four, but It Varies

The usual set is four wisdom teeth: one at the back of each quarter of the mouth.

Wisdom teeth are also called third molars. If all four develop, their positions are:

• Upper right
• Upper left
• Lower right
• Lower left

A complete adult dentition with all four wisdom teeth has 32 teeth; without those four, it has 28. The American Dental Association’s permanent-tooth chart describes 32 permanent teeth in the full set (ADA MouthHealthy).

You may have fewer than four

Not everyone develops a full set. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons says as many as 25% of people are missing at least one third molar (AAOMS).

There are several reasons you might count fewer wisdom teeth in your mouth:

• A tooth never developed. This is congenital absence: there is no tooth under the gum.
• A tooth developed but did not erupt. It may remain partly or fully covered by gum or bone.
• A tooth erupted only partly. You may see just a small section of it.
• A tooth was removed previously. Your current count is lower than the number you originally developed.

So, “I can see two” does not necessarily mean “I have two.” Cleveland Clinic notes that anywhere from zero to four wisdom teeth may erupt and still represent normal variation (Cleveland Clinic). Our guide to why not everyone has four wisdom teeth explains the difference between an absent, unerupted and impacted tooth.

Rarely, a person can have a supernumerary—or extra—tooth beyond the usual set of four. AAOMS notes that these extra teeth should be visible on dental X-rays (AAOMS).

How to find out how many you have

A mirror cannot provide a reliable count because an impacted wisdom tooth may be completely hidden beneath the gums and jawbone. A dentist can examine your mouth and use dental X-rays to locate teeth inside the jaw and assess their positions (Cleveland Clinic).

If you already have recent X-rays, ask your dentist to point out each third molar. Before a removal consultation, those images can be sent to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, who can review the teeth and discuss whether treatment is appropriate (AAOMS).

The number alone does not determine whether removal is needed. A fully erupted, functional and healthy wisdom tooth may not need extraction. Position, symptoms, cavities, gum disease, infection and effects on nearby teeth all matter when deciding what to do (AAOMS).