Need advice on Wisdom Teeth please...

[Java4Jay]

My daughter is being told the Wisdom Teeth on her lower jaw need to be removed. See thread for pics. I've read there are pros and cons to having them removed. She is 25 and they haven't caused her any problems as of yet. Your input would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

[unixfox]

Uh oh, you may have just committed a HIPAA violation.

[hsmomx3]

At the age of 18, I had mine extracted as they were pushing forward and causing a great deal of pain. I am glad I had it done. Also, my oldest was about 12 when he had braces and when they took x-rays prior to the braces, no wisdom teeth but now he is in his 20’s and they are trying to come in! He is having issues as they are pushing his other teeth out of alignment (?) but he continues to wear a retainer at night. Since he has no dental insurance, he is not getting them out.

[Hulka]

Nice picture and I have a story about that.

Back in the mid-60’s, my father was a dentist and I was in elementary school. On the morning we were to drive away on vacation I awoke with gawd-awful pain from an impacted tooth. Swelling and ache and such. A simple touch and I howled.

Now my dad didn’t want to make the morning drive in traffic from our home in the suburbs to his downtown office and back. Would put us way behind schedule and he was all about schedule (Great Santini, anyone?)

So, he iced my tooth and gums, and when numb, he used pliers to pull the tooth.

This took great effort on his part—hard to pull the tooth.

I sat on the kitchen table for the entire ‘procedure.’

When numbness wore off, he iced it again and again to dull the pain.

Eventually the tooth was successfully pulled and off we went on vacation.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I think dentists are only second to lawyers when it comes to lack of integrity and over charging.

Army dentist (almost certainly a draftee) did mine. He gets paid the same either way, and there is some element of risk involved. In the real world (Virginia, actually) I have gone to at least one dentist I was uncomfortable with, but I have been going to the same dentist for 30 years, and have no complaints.

[outofsalt]

I was out of the country when mine flared up and had to fly home to get them pulled emergently. Very painful once they become a problem and it can develop quickly.

Of course, they may never give her any trouble...

[Safetgiver]

I’m 64 and still have my wisdom teeth. My sister, on the other hers out at (27, 28?) and ended up in intensive care over an infection. If it ain’t needed, leave it be.

[SkyDancer]

Just had two removed and will have the other two removed as well. Mine were impacted so they had to come out. I went to three different oral surgeons and all three concurred. They will cause sinus problems and if not taken care of properly (hard to reach back there with a tooth brush adequately) they can become infected, sometimes unknowingly and pockets of bacteria will form at the root. You may not feel any pain but that bacteria will get into your system and cause real problems. I'm 27 and a pilot and heading up to a high altitude I have been having some discomfort back there. That's when I decided to visit a dentist. Two down, two to go.

This is just my case, yours can be much different. Hope this helped. Regards, Janey

[Java4Jay]

Thanks

[Zeneta]

Yep.

That’s old school stuff.

I’ve actually pulled one of my own with the pliers.

Didn’t make sense for me to pay a dentist when I could do it myself.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Mine took over a month to heal. It was real fun right after I had it done and had to gargle and all the water in my mouth got sucked up into my nasal cavity.

[ReformedBeckite]

When I was in the air force decades ago, they use to pull them if you still had them, so yeah if I was you I'll probably have them pulled, if the dentist say so if it doesn't cost to much.

Another option would be to have her join the military like the Air Force and get free health care, and dental care, free room and board. And in some cases a good training in some career.

[Secret Agent Man]

not a dentist, but they appear to be coming in at an angle and will start pushing her other teeth forward. they will be more prone to infection.

it’s best before they screw up the other teeth that are okay right now.

[Java4Jay]

That’s how I’m leaning also, thanks

[girlscout]

When I was 16 I went into the hospital to have all 4 of mine cut out. The reason? They were growing sideways and would mess up everything that braces had straightened up.

[Rebelbase]

If this becomes a cosmetic issue she can move to Britain and become highly desirable.

[Java4Jay]

“Great Post”

[grame]

Just what I was going to advise, the younger the better. Faster recovery when you are younger.

[Secret Agent Man]

really the best thing is getting the best oral surgeon around you. that’s how you get everything out, don’t get infections, and heal quickly.

[oh8eleven]

I have been going to the same dentist for 30 years, and have no complaints.
My dentist of 25 years, retired 12-13 years ago and I too had no complaints.
Since then I've had two, fairly young (30s) and both drove BMWs, lived in 3000 sq ft homes, had huge boats, etc.
They also kept on telling me and my wife we had to have this procedure or that procedure done, or else.
Never did and never had any repercussions.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Looks like she doesn't have enough room for them and the are growing in sideways.

I had plenty of room for mine but when I got a cavity in one my dentist suggested pulling them all. Wish I hadn't. I am perpetually biting the side of my tongue on the last remaining tooth. I wish I had kept them.

Your daughter's case is probably different. She probably won't have any problems if they are gone, but she might have big problems if they remain.