Wisdom teeth ~Do I really have to?

[december]

I'm 36 and still have mine. As far as I know, all of my family members do too. I had no idea it was common for people to have them removed when they weren't having problems. Dentists always question if they hurt, but they don't, and I haven't had a cavity since I was a young child. Since I have a checkup every 6 mos, I'm assuming that if they start to be a problem it will be caught early.

 

[merryweather20]

I got my wisdom teeth early, but one of them had a flap of skin over it. The dentist and all the hygenists swore up and down that it would get infected, and the pain would be worse than being pregnant. 15 years later I've never had that horrible infection, they were sure I'd get. The odd time I have to fish an errant piece of popcorn hull from under it, but thats it.

Honestly now it would be alot easier to simply get time off work, vs. when I was a student, and I'd have to get time off work, chase notes and projects and get whatever notes my teachers wanted for writing tests at a later date etc.

 

[claudia]

If they are entirely erupted, in alignment and you are able to floss and clean them then I would not have them removed. I'm 54 and never had a problem.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My dh had his out at 42. It was awful. He developed a bone infection from it.

Anyway he had to have them pulled because they were deteriorating his jaw bone. Why, I don't know but they were. I saw the films.

 

[Imzadi]

From reading this thread over, most people have said one of the reasons to get them out is because the wisdom teeth are so far back and may cause decay.

But, the OP said she had braces. If she was like, she probably had to have 4 teeth pulled for the braces. plus, her ortho already factored her wisdom teeth into the equasion. If her wisdom teeth are now erupted and she did have 4 teeth pulled, those wisdom teeth would be filling in for the 4 pulled teeth, so they are not that far back.

 

[SeaSpray]

To tell you the truth, having wisdom teeth out now days, is a piece of cake. My daughter had her wisdom teeth out about a year ago. The procedure took about ten minutes. They gave her the twilight sedation which did not make her sick. In fact, she felt fine after about a half hour of waking. She had to eat soft foods for a couple of days, but had no problems.


By the way, I had mine out when I was 19 and have never regretted it.

I could've written this exact post, except my DS18 just had his 3 removed on Monday. Yes, he only had 3 total. I had 2 of mine removed when I was 18 (they were causing MAJOR pain), and then had the other 2 removed about 8 years ago because one of them developed a cavity and it cracked and the same was happening with the last one, too. I'm glad to be rid of them, and I'm glad that DS had his removed too.

Later this summer I'll be getting DS21 in to have his 3 removed, as well. He only 3 of them also, but he's been complaining about pain, and I wish I would've had his removed when he was 18 as the dentist recommended.

DS 18 had his out a few days ago.... and is doing very well. All four were impacted.... two laying sideways. One they had to cut muscle and remove a small piece of bone to get the tooth. He got along MUCH better than DH though... much easier when you are younger.

DS 17 may have his out yet this summer.... no problems but with the history they are coming out! As for me, at 41, I only have two and that is all I have ever had. My teeth are crooked anyhow and the wisdoms are fully erupted and have been for years. I don't plan to have them removed.

I guess it all depends on your individual situation, but from everyone I have talked to it DEFINITELY is harder on you to have them out later rather than sooner.

I'm glad that your DS18 is doing well. One of his wisdom teeth was laying down sideways too, and you could see it rubbing up against the adjacent molars.


I agree that if a person has a large enough jaw to accomodate them that there's no reason to have them removed, but it seems as if most people do not have enough room.

 

[SeaSpray]

IHonestly now it would be alot easier to simply get time off work, vs. when I was a student, and I'd have to get time off work, chase notes and projects and get whatever notes my teachers wanted for writing tests at a later date etc.

Good point. That's why I made sure that DS18 got them out NOW, because he's starting college in the fall and I realized it'd be much more difficult for him to take the time to have it done at a later date.

When DS21 was 18, we put it off too long, and that's why 3 years later he still hasn't had them removed. But he will...by the end of this summer.

 

[torinsmom]

I only have two, which have never erupted, and are not causing any problems(I am 38) DS14 has NONE and has never had them. The dentist said that some people are just born with fewer wisdom teeth or like my DS with none.

Marsha

 

[maelstrom]

I had both of my bottom wisdom teeth taken out at the same time when I was 18. It was a very traumatic experience. I was awake (no sedation, twilight, etc) and I could hear my teeth being cracked apart, see the blood splatter on the dentist's protective eyewear, etc. The vicodin he gave me for the pain did a whole lot of nothing. The dentist said that he didn't think that my top wisdom teeth will ever have to come out, and that's good, because I'd never go through that again.

 

[Jaclynfett]

I'm 30 and only had my top ones removed. My bottom ones are impacted and I'll probably have them removed one day. I opted to be knocked out getting the top ones done, since they were under the gums and I didn't want to feel them pulled.

 

[kellyg403]

I am 44 and still have my wisdom teeth. No issues with crowding and my teeth are very straight. As a child my baby teeth would not fall out and finally when I was 8 an adult tooth starting coming through over top of one so I had several dental visits where he pulled 4 baby teeth at a time. It has really skewed my feelings for dentistry. Not that I hate dentists but I just don't want to have the procedures...I am a baby!

All my wisdom teeth are straight, no problems. I have had one cavity, the same filling since I was 17. I don't have any pain or anything associated with the teeth so I am just kinda hoping to not have any. My dentist does try to tell me every year I need them out..I have been able to dodge him so far.

Kelly