Seems so young to have wisdom teeth removed! UPDATE-post 41

[luvflorida]

I always thought wisdom teeth were extracted around the age of 18-22, college age, or older. My daughter had a dental appointment this afternoon, a regular six month check-up and cleaning. The dentist talked to me afterwards and is recommending that daughter have all four wisdom teeth extracted AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! She is only fifteen! He explained that the x-rays show that both of her bottom wisdom teeth are pointing toward the inside of her mouth. toward her tongue, and her upper two wisdom teeth don't have any room to come in.

I was surprised that he wants to have them taken out so soon. They don't seem to be bothering her, but he says it's better to do it now and not wait. I need to make a consultation visit with the oral surgeon and they will set it up from there. The dentist is thinking they will schedule the actual surgery for four to six weeks from now.

I asked him about her age and he did say that she's about six months to a year younger than what they usually see for wisdom teeth extraction.

Anyone have a child that had all four wisdom teeth removed at 15, or younger? How did it go? This whole thing makes me very nervous!!

 

[SC Minnie]

I had mine out at 15. They were impacted(?) and were going to mess up what my braces had straightened out.

 

[DVCLiz]

Let's see, my older DD had her wisdom teeth out in August 2003, so she would have been two months away from her fifteenth birthday. So technically she had them out at 14. She had all four done at the same time, and had general anesthesia at the oral surgeon's office. She came through very well, enjoyed several days of pain meds and round-the-clock MTV watching (r so it seemed at the time), and was back to her old self, including all activities, in five or six days.

I think this is the general trend, as almost all of her friends who needed them out have had them done. It's better, too, to have them at home so you can control when they get back into their regular routine. I've read of others whose kids went out the same night or the next day, but DD couldn't have done that, and I'm glad she was at home so I could monitor and make that call on her behalf.

Don't worry - she'll be fine, and then it will be over!!!!!

 

[luvmydogs]

I had mine out at 15--all four were impacted. I had to give up going to the Jr. Prom with my boyfriend at the time, because the Dr. said I had to have them out immediately as I was running a high fever from an infection under one gum--oh, such drama at the time!

The procedure itself was no biggie, really--had a mouth full of gauze for a day, and some bleeding, swelling and soreness for two or three days (had to talk through my teeth). I was on an antibiotic for the infection and Tylenol for the discomfort. I was more upset about missing the prom. She'll do just fine.

 

[scoutsmom99]

I had mine out at 18...they wanted to do it sooner, but I was having some major jaw surgery and the oral surgeon said he could do those at the same time vs another seperate appointment.

I had two friends that had them out in high school when they were 16.

 

[puffkin]

I had mine taken out when I was 17, but probably should have had them done sooner. They were starting to move my teeth on my bottom jaw, which was a bummer as I had braces for almost 3 years before that. They removed the top ones as well, even though there probably was enough room for them.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth surgically removed when I was 15 also. they said that there was no room for the teeth already in my mouth, let alone 4 more

 

[AMcaptured]

I had mine out at 15 and my daughter, who will be 16 in less than a month, just went to the oral surgeon last week. She needs all of them out also. One is a partial impaction and has started to erupt and it is causing her some discomfort.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I had mine out at 16 and did perfectly fine. Relax.

 

[Annette_VA]

I was 14 when I had mine out. It was my first time under any type of anesthesia and having any type of surgery. It went fine, I wasn't freaked out at all. I had quite a nice set of chipmunk cheeks for a while. I lived off of Carnation Instant Breakfast those first couple of days.

 

[luvflorida]

I had no idea that it was something done this young, especially under the age of 16!

Do you think it makes for a quicker recovery time? I'm guessing that if the teeth are impacted, (two of hers are), that it might take longer to recover?

What about resuming activities? DD15 dances 9/10 hours a week and is on a competitive dance team. I'm going to meet with the oral surgeon to discuss all this, but it's helpful, and reassuring, to hear from people who have teens who have experienced this, or from those of you who have had wisdom teeth removed at this age.

Thanks so much for all your replies!

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

She'll want to sleep off the anesthetic for the first day. The second thru fourth days you need to be sure and keep her iced down pretty well. After that, she should be okay.

My DD went thru this about 4 months ago at age 15. Two of hers were impacted.

Get it done on a Thursday or Friday and let her heal through the weekend. She should be fine for dancing by Monday of the next week.

 

[clori]

when I was in 6th grade (11/12years old) I started getting a lot of earaches. After a bit my parents took me to an ent recommended by my ped. They ran several tests and found that I was loosing some hearing etc. After tons of tests I was scheduled for a surgery consult at Mass Eye/Ear for exploratory surgery because they couldn't figure out what was going on. Before the appt I went to the dentist for a routine appt. It turned out that 3 of my wisdom teeth were starting to come in and were impacted. Since I was young it wasn't something anyone had even considered. Off I went to the oral surgeon for a consult. He decided I should get all 4 wisdom teeth pulled (maybe the 4th was close to impacted too). He took one look at me and said I would have it done at the hospital as an impatient. In the hospital my roommate was having same thing done. She was 16 and never been away from home for a single night and was petrified. Normally the oral surgeon did wisdom teeth in the office. Since I knew I wouldn't be awake for the procedure it calmed me down. At this point I don't remember much about recovery except for two things. It turned out that I was allergic to penicillin and had to switch antibiotics. A few days later I was invited to a birthday party at a pizza plaze. I went but because I couldn't eat pizza I had a milkshake. I had my wisdom teeth out in August at 12.5 before starting 7th grade. While my parents were probably relieved that I was having them out at the hospital the insurance company refused to pay since they said it wasn't medically necessary. After my wisdom teeth were removed my earaches stopped and my hearing returned to normal.

 

[bigbabyblues]

A lot of kids in my class in high school had theirs out around that age. I would have done better if I would have, but we didn't have dental insurance and my grandparents couldn't afford it. I had them out when I was 23 and braces put on, and I'm glad I did, but would rather have done it sooner.

 

[sweet angel]

I had all 4 of my impacted wisdom teeth surgically removed the summer after junior year.

 

[tar heel]

My DS was 14. They were taking up space he needed for the teeth he was going to keep and needed to come out before his braces went on. We were all very worried about the procedure, but his recovery was really fast and problem free. It makes perfect sense to me to take them out before spending $5,000 on orthodontia if they are going to be a problem down the road.

There's no age for taking out wisdom teeth. DS's were causing a problem that was only going to get worse. Mine are straight, cavity free and in my mouth -- I'm 49.

 

[dairyou]

I used to work for an Oral Surgeon. We would suggest taking them out at 15 or 16. The reason why is you want to take them out before they start to grow their roots. When that happens they get embedded in the jaw and will be harder to take out. I was single when I worked there, now I have a son approaching 15 and not looking forward to him having it done.

Kids usually bounce back faster than us adults. The biggest thing you don't want to happen is dry socket. That really hurts!

Good Luck,
Deb

 

[Sherrypooh]

My DS was almost 13, but his 12 year molars couldn't come into place as his wisdom teeth were coming in first. They pulled all 4 and a couple of his last baby teeth. Glad it is over!

 

[Twinkles6892]

I have to have mine out soon I don't do the dentist. Just, stay out of my mouth. I've had oral surgery before, to bring down a tooth that wanted to come down in the roof of my mouth, but that was with just novacane. I'm freaked out. But the days on the couch watching MTV and eathing soft foods seems nice. If only I could get that and keep my teeth.

Your DD and I are in the same boat, I'm pullin' for her

 

[luvflorida]

I used to work for an Oral Surgeon. We would suggest taking them out at 15 or 16. The reason why is you want to take them out before they start to grow their roots. When that happens they get embedded in the jaw and will be harder to take out. I was single when I worked there, now I have a son approaching 15 and not looking forward to him having it done.

Kids usually bounce back faster than us adults. The biggest thing you don't want to happen is dry socket. That really hurts!

Good Luck,
Deb

I guess it's a good thing that she's going to have them out at 15, but it just sounds so awful! Could you tell me how common dry socket is and how to avoid it? Thanks.