The Whole Tooth about Wisdom Teeth | The Institute for Creation Research

 
The Whole Tooth about Wisdom Teeth

Were you ever told that your wisdom teeth had to come out because they were crowding your other teeth — and this was because the modern human jaw was slowly evolving? In a section of a popular high school biology text (2002) entitled, "Critical Thinking," the two authors discuss removal of people's wisdom teeth supposedly due to "evolution of the human jaw." But this has nothing to do with macroevolution and everything to do with diet. Processed and refined foods in modern societies have resulted in our reduced use of wisdom teeth. When refined foods are constantly eaten, there is no stimulus for robust jaw development and erupting wisdom teeth become crowded. Failure of the wisdom teeth to erupt in normal position results in many cases of a developmental cyst around the crown of the tooth and problems result. Does this sound like macroevolution? Furthermore, there are virtually no "primitive" cultures with impacted teeth because their hearty diet uses wisdom teeth to grind and crush raw and unprocessed foods. One might say "use it or loose it" applies here! Does the biology text you have (or your children or grandchildren) use the unscientific explanation of wisdom teeth removal because of "the evolution of the human jaw"?

Speaking of the alleged evolution of teeth — the fossil record documents excellent, well-designed tooth patterns found in whatever animals are unearthed — be they apes or dinosaurs. This is not according to Darwinism. If evolution were true, fossil experts should find billions of fossilized creatures with badly formed jaws and teeth — testimony to evolution's blind tinkering. Museum display cases should be full of skulls clearly showing evolution's botched dental experiments such as jaws with atypical eruption patterns and other defects — until the assumed processes of natural selection and mutations finally "got it right."

But, just as the creation model predicts, there is a clear absence of these tried-but-failed dental evolution experiments. Each time wisdom teeth — or any other type of teeth — are found in the fossil record, they're beautifully formed and ready for use. Such dental design is seen when we loose our "baby" teeth at approximately seven years old to full-grown adult teeth. The fossil record shows teeth have always been teeth.

Cite this article: Frank Sherwin, D.Sc. (Hon.). 2003. The Whole Tooth about Wisdom Teeth. Acts & Facts. 32 (3).

The Latest
NEWS
Liberty and the Word of God
“And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts” (Psalm 119:45). July 4th is called Independence Day here in our country because on...

NEWS
July 2025 ICR Wallpaper
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome...

NEWS
Valued Longtime ICR Employee Mary Smith Retires
Mary Morris Smith, an employee of the Institute for Creation Research for many years, has retired. The second daughter of ICR founder Dr. Henry M. Morris...

NEWS
Man of Science, Man of God: George Washington Carver
Who:  George Washington Carver What: Father of Modern Agriculture When: 1864 or 1865 – January 5, 1943 Where: Diamond Grove,...

ACTS & FACTS
The Scopes Monkey Trial: A Battle of Worldviews
Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton, Tennessee, and its statue of William Jennings Bryan Image credit: M. Mueller The Scopes Monkey...

ACTS & FACTS
Long Non-Coding RNAs: The Unsung Heroes of the Genome
Evolutionary theory holds that all living things came about through random, natural processes. So conventional scientists believe the genome has developed...

ACTS & FACTS
Yosemite National Park, Part 1: Tiny Clues of a Grand Picture
Yosemite National Park in California is a sure source of stunning scenery. It’s no wonder that American naturalist John Muir persuaded President...

ACTS & FACTS
From Inference to Theory: A Common Design Case Study
Without a doubt, humans, chimpanzees, and other organisms share similar features. An early explanation was that these features reflect similar designs...

ACTS & FACTS
Creation Kids: T. rex
by Michael Stamp and Susan Windsor* You're never too young to be a creation scientist and explore our Creator's world. Kids, discover...

ACTS & FACTS
Entering By The Door
Recently, I hosted a visiting pastor from a large church at ICR’s Discovery Center. As I guided him through our Dallas museum, one conversation...