About this episode
This episode discusses the evolution and current state of wisdom teeth in human anatomy.
By all rights there should be three sets of molars in your mouth. But it turns out that our skulls aren’t really set up to accommodate that many anymore. Exactly why depends on who you ask. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Topics covered
- wisdom teeth
- dentistry
- human evolution
- oral health
- anatomy
Keywords
- wisdom teeth
- molars
- skull
- dentistry
- oral health
More episodes of Stuff You Should Know
- The NY Subway Vigilante · June 11, 2026 · 48 min
- Short Stuff: Rain Barrels! · June 10, 2026 · 13 min
- Smile · June 9, 2026 · 49 min
- Selects: 911 Is Not a Joke · June 6, 2026 · 54 min
- Three Mile Island · June 4, 2026 · 46 min
- Short Stuff: 1955 Le Mans Disaster · June 3, 2026 · 13 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Stuff You Should Know podcast page.