wisdom teeth

[jodi]

Just curious how many have gotten their wisdom teeth out and for what reason. My dentist referred me a few years back to an oral surgeon due to my impacted wisdom teeth. I went for one consultation where the surgeon looked over my x-rays, concluded they needed to come out, and wanted me to schedule the surgery. Only then did I find out that my insurance would only cover a very small portion, so I left (after incurring a $100 consultation fee since I did not have the surgery with him). I went to another oral surgeon (covered by my insurance) who asked me if my teeth were bothering me. I told him no, and he asked me why I wanted to get them out then. Good point. I left them alone.
However...I now have one tooth that is now starting to bother me. I think I will need to get it out. It seems that most people my age (29) already have theirs out. I haven't gone for my consultation yet, but I'm wondering if I should just get all of them out while I'm under, or just the one. Cost is not much of a concern because my insurance will cover most. I think we only paid about $100 for my DH's surgery (had to get his out to get braces).
Did you get yours out? What age? Are you happy with your decision?

[Like2Plan]

Jodi,
I had my wisdom teeth removed when I was in college--around age 22. I had an infection on the first two. I had my regular dentist extract them two at a time over two visits (after the infection was cleared up). I was very glad to have them taken out. (I had novacaine--didn't go under to have them out).

My DS had all 4 of his removed at the same time at age 17. He opted for just had novacaine and did fine. He had his out because he had invisilign and the wisdom teeth would have pushed things out of place. Also, his wisdom teeth were not coming in straight.

I know a guy who has all 4 of his wisdom teeth (in his 50's)--he had plenty of room for them in his mouth. So, whether you have yours out or not would depend on if you have room and whether the wisdom teeth are coming in straight (or causing an infection). Your dentist should be able to tell by xray. If your wisdom teeth come in sideways, you could end up causing harm to the adjacent tooth--so you really want your dentist to keep an eye on them and make sure they aren't causing any mischief.

[Exile]

I have had routine dental examination for over 40 years (am now 62), along with fillings and a few other minor procedures. Not one of the dentists whom I've consulted in that time recommended wisdom teeth extraction.

Every individual is different, but sometimes I wonder if wisdom teeth removal is overdone the way tonsillectomies for childern were routine even if the tonsils were healthy.

[cptacek]

I had mine coming out when I was about 24 because they were growing in towards the other teeth and pushing everything together. It really hurt! So, I had my dentist do it...on three of them everything went really well, but on the fourth he had to practically lean on my head to get the leverage he wanted, and the tooth ended up breaking. It didn't hurt, cause I had the oral pain medicine, but it kinda freaked me out (sorry if that just freaked you out too ) The dentist warned me that might happen and said I could go to a surgeon if I wanted to. I don't know why I didn't...in hindsight I should have.

If it is bothering your other teeth and it hurts, I would get it done. It won't get any better. Although when I had it, it would hurt for a while and then stop and then hurt again. Always a low, dull pain, but the kind that was really distracting.

[safari]

I am 32, and my wisdom teeth haven't come out yet. When I was 20, a dentist recommended to remove them because if they start growing, they would push the other teeth out, but I didn't want to deal with that at the time, and they haven't bothered me yet.

[MonkeyMama]

I am lucky I don't have them.

I had braces for a million years and a few oral surgeries. My regular teeth were way too crowded as is. I think I have had enough on that front, so, phew.

But yeah I don't know - seems like everyone I know has had them pulled.

[FrugalFish]

Mine were impacted and one came in on its side, so the 2 I did get had to come out. Getting them out was a relief

It was done in '93 when I was 21, by a regular dentist. He numbed my mouth and pulled/cut them out in very little time. The cost was $180, of which insurance paid half.

It seems like it's common practice nowadays to knock people out for wisdom teeth removal. Personally I think that's overkill and do not understand why having wisdom teeth removed has to involve being put out and a $2000+ price tag, rather than novacaine and the $200-$300 it use to cost at most dentists.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I have all four of mine, as do both my parents and all five of my siblings. I never had a dentist to recommend their removal, and I have had five different dentists since I've had wisdom teeth. All four emerged in my teen years. One came out aimed toward the cheek, but has straightened up a bit on its own over time. I'm glad I did not have that tooth removed, as I did have to have the adjacent molar pulled at 19 years old. (Could not afford the root canal to save it.) The wisdom tooth scooched over into the place of the molar and though it is a little crooked, it is a chewing tooth now. Quite functional.

I always have heard that wisdom teeth are weak anyway. But you know what? I have fairly bad teeth in terms of the number of cavities, root canals, and crowns I've had---plus the one extraction. But none of my four wisdom teeth has had any problem at all and now I am 48 years old.

[simpleyme]

My DIL just had hers pulled she is 21 and had all four pulled my dentist did it for her I am not sure what it cost but the dentist was cheaper than an oral surgeon

My DH had his out when he was 25 his were horribly impacted he had all 4 pulled

as for me i had the best wisdom teeth ever mine grew straight so my dentist pulled the tooth above allowing the wisdom teeth on the bottom to come through so at 22 I got new teeth ;-) I only had 2 wisdom teeth

edited to ad for the sake of m3 racer -
that my regular dentist has a lot of training and degrees that i do not understand and chooses to practice in a beautiful village rather than a big city there for probably not making no where near as much as she could

[PrincessPerky]

The need for wisdom teeth out depends on the mouth as others have said.

My mouth is crowded enough, big teeth, normal sized mouth.

They bothered me a LOT when they came in, but after a year or two no troubles, then the right side got infected, like I said it was crowded, and I do not always take 5 minutes to floss....and that would be 5 minutes on just the ones they removed, the stuff gets stuck and then I have to wrench it out, and usually go back two or three times cause the food is still stuck...did I mention the things are WAY crowded?

Anyway, the right side is gone and life flossing over there is easier, the left side on the other hand.....I would much rather have gotten it all out at once.

Most dentists in this area seem more interested in making the experience more like a spa than on getting em out cheap...I had more meds prescribed (and unused) than well, in my entire 20 some years previously (and I did have my tonsils out- not that it helped much, personally I think the pain was more due to tooth care than tonsils)

Anyway, if they bother you to keep clean or in pain, get rid of em, if not..just keep an eye on them IMO...and know waiting might mean for more pain later on (one tooth fell apart while extracting due to being half busted up)

[m3racer]

Jodi take my advice!!! Don't listen to these fools!!

Wow, it's scary what a little bit of knowledge can do on these internet forums. For starters don't listen to anything that these people have said. The information that's being spewed is ridiculous. Wisdom teeth DO NOT cause crowding or shifting of teeth!!!!! There is no study that has proven this. Here are some free pointers Jodi.

1) Not everyone's wisdom teeth are the same!!! For those that have had 3rd molars removed by a general dentist....they were easier to remove!!! In many cases general dentists refer extraction of wisdom teeth (3rd molars) to oral & maxillofacial surgeons (OMS) either because of the complexity or the potential complications that can arise. Removal of 3rd molars have a higher incidence of nerve injury. Do you think a general dentist is trained in nerve repair? I don't think so. There are so many other reasons why I would recommend getting your wisdom teeth out by an OMS but I don't want to beat this to death. BTW, there is a HUGE difference in training between a general dentist and an OMS. The latter has gone to dental (DDS) & medical school (MD), has done a year of general surgery and has completed an OMS residency. That's usually a total of 10yrs of training. The dentist only went to dental school. Also, the OMS scope of practice includes maxillofacial reconstructive surgery, repair of facial fractures, corrective jaw surgery, etc, etc. I think you get the picture. Do you think ENT surgeons are just trained to do ear tubes and tonsillectomies? They do other thing as well like deep neck dissections, etc.

2) Did the 2nd OMS say specifically that you don't need them removed? It doesn't sound like he or she said that. Instead it sounds like you inferred that by him asking a general question.

3) Yes, you should get sedation especially given your age. Your bone density is harder than a teenager and removal of wisdom teeth will require more manipulation. You certainly can have them removed under local anesthesia but you will not have as pleasant of an experience (this I guarantee). Remember that many minor surgical procedures can be done under local anesthesia but the patient may not be completely comfortable. Most people don't like having multiple local anesthetic shots in their mouth!!!! For those of you who have elected to do this under local anesthesia.......Don't bitch that having your wisdom teeth hurt!!! Gee I wonder why?

4) Its impossible to answer your question RE: removal of all wisdom teeth without looking at your x-ray and given your age.


Your welcome for the curb side consult.

[simpleyme]

I would just like to point out to above poster that the Op seemed also interested in what people have actually been through

you could have posted your info without insulting everyone ,or perhaps YOU couldn't

[Gruntina]

I would just like to point out to above poster that the Op seemed also interested in what people have actually been through

you could have posted your info without insulting everyone ,or perhaps YOU couldn't

Jodi - perfect timing of your question. I am having the exact same concerns as you are right now.

I am age 31. In college (age 17-12) I remember my wisdom teeth growing and it was an on off thing which was painful or in the way because the skin would break at the growth. I was advice by my dentist then to have my wisdom teeth removed. From being a poor college student and fear, I did not do it.

I recent tried a new dentist and this was actually the 4th dentist that advised I should have my wisdom teeth pulled out. I never brought up my feedback on my wisdom teeth and nor did I speak of it. So now I am trying to decide if I should have them removed or not now that I have good insurance. It’s hard making the decision because really for the past several years, my wisdom teeth do not hurt at all. I think their concerns were the crowding of my lower teeth (I do see my lower teeth are not as straight as they used to be) and because I have pocket in my gums, they see some deterioration with my wisdom.

Thanks for all who put inputs and feedback on this.

[m3racer]

edited to ad for the sake of m3 racer -
that my regular dentist has a lot of training and degrees that i do not understand and chooses to practice in a beautiful village rather than a big city there for probably not making no where near as much as she could

LOL

[cptacek]

Wisdom teeth DO NOT cause crowding or shifting of teeth!!!!!

Hey, you might be right. All I know is that when my wisdom teeth were in, the other teeth hurt, my dentist said they were crowding, and when I had them out the other teeth stopped hurting.