Wisdom teeth removal - Am I just making my dentist richer???

[busy mom]

I had my wisdom teeth removed in my early 20's, due to an issue. But it seems like it is done routinely these days, even if there are no problems. My daughter just met with the oral surgeon who recommended it, she is 18. He listed 101 reasons to do it, and then continued to tell us all of the "potential, yet unlikely" issues that the surgery could cause. She has beautiful teeth, and I would hate for her to have problems in the future if we delay, but it just seems silly to me to pull out perfectly healthy teeth and put her through surgery.

Any opinions out there???

 

[MKCP5]

they will probably have to come out at some point as they are usually harder to take care of and get cavities. However, if they are not overcrowding her jaw, there is not reason to do ti right away--except if you have good dental insurance as she may not have that as an adult herself

 

[disneymarie]

I had my wisdom teeth removed in my early 20's, due to an issue. But it seems like it is done routinely these days, even if there are no problems. My daughter just met with the oral surgeon who recommended it, she is 18. He listed 101 reasons to do it, and then continued to tell us all of the "potential, yet unlikely" issues that the surgery could cause. She has beautiful teeth, and I would hate for her to have problems in the future if we delay, but it just seems silly to me to pull out perfectly healthy teeth and put her through surgery.

Any opinions out there???

Wow, how I wish I hd ds taken out when he was on our insurance, NOW at 26 they are a mess and he has no dental coverage,.

When I had mine out one had come through and another was impacted, a 4th one never was there.
It is not much to have done now, but a financial disaster later when these kids are not covered,

 

[minnie1928]

I agree...I think getting them done now is easier/cheaper than waiting until there is a problem which more than likely, will come. Those teeth a softer than the others and due to their location, very difficult to keep clean enough to avoid problems.

 

[LisaNJ25]

My 17 1/2 son just got his braces off last month and went to the oral surgeon this week. They want to pull all 4 out. I was shocked that he will have to miss a week of school so we have to postpone it to the summer. His are growing in sideways but are impacted.

Like the other I would rather them get them out now while he has insurance (my ins covers 100%) and I dont want them coming in and ruining his now straight teeth.

 

[fkj2]

Yeah, one reason the procedure is so "routine" is the teeth are extracted (usually) before problems arise.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

The biggest thing is to make sure that there is a problem, or could be a problem in the future. If it means getting a 2nd opinion, then go ahead and do it. I was born with only 2 (upper), and, over the years, I've always been told to get them out. 15 years since that time, they've grown in perfectly, and, with proper maintenance, don't have any problems.

Some dentists are out to make the quick buck, so you have to feel comfortable before letting them do the work. I had a dentist tell me that I HAD to have teeth whitening done before I left college because I'd, "never get a job if I interviewed with teeth that were discolored." I no longer frequent that dentist, and I DO have a great job!

 

[mjkacmom]

My dentist told me not to touch them, but when I asked if they would cause my straight (thanks to braces) teeth to shift, he said they would. They were out within the week. I have also changed dentists.

 

[babyrich]

I had my wisdom teeth removed when I was 19. One was giving me a real problem so they decided to take all 4. I had 2 removed one month and the other 2 removed the next. It was easier for me that way. But if you are doing over the summer, may as well get them all done at the same time.

 

[The Princess]

My dd is 14 and we have an appointment in 1 hour

 

[lindsmom]

I'm 39 and still have all my wisdom teeth. But I'm certainly the exception, as any dentist who has ever looked at my teeth has been shocked to see all those choppers. I don't know that I would take them out on spec that something would go wrong in the future, but that's entirely based on my experience.

 

[Purseval]

You don't know what pain is until you've experienced an impacted wisdom tooth

 

[wdwfan16]

I had mine out at 16 and DH had his out at 29. Guess which one had the easier recovery?

 

[crisi]

My husband didn't have his out until his 40s. He didn't have dental insurance at the "usual" point in time - and then waited until there was a problem.

When the problem arised, it was REALLY painful and surgery needed to be scheduled quickly. We DID however, have great dental insurance at that point in time, so as a financial decision, waiting turned out fine. And as a health decision, there was pain and infection, but it was treatable with antibiotics for him. He did end up missing several days work because he was really doped up - first while they scheduled the surgery - then the surgery day - then post surgery - I think it was almost a week.

 

[Kathi OD]

I had mine out at age 50, but only because after all those years of not really being able to clean the back of them well, I was starting to get cavities waaay back there. The toothbrush didn't fit very well back there. No swelling, no pain afterward. For me it was not a big deal.

 

[thebeesknees]

I guess I'd err more on the side of having them out new if she is covered on your dental plan for it. I was born without them (so glad) but several of my friends have had to get them pulled when they were in their 20's and started to cause problems then. At that point, they didn't have good coverage, since they were just out of school, and it wound up costing quite a bit out of pocket, not to mention lost time at work, etc.

 

[JamesMom]

Just be thankful he has only 4 wisdom teeth. I had 8! Yes, and I have the panoramic x-ray to prove it (and I saved the top 4). I had braces in middle school. My lower jaws impacted wisdom teeth did push the teeth out of alignment. Only two upper wisdom teeth errupted - sidewise into my cheek -and by age 20 when I had them and the two 'baby' wisdom teeth underneath removed, the errupted teeth were black with decay. No brush known to man could have cleaned those teeth. A regular dentist just janked them out under novocain as a simple (yeah, right) extraction.The lower widsom teeth (all impacted, sideways and growing in the adjacent perm teeth) were removed by an oral surgeon under sedation when I was in my late twenties and I have an awful recovery becuase of the gapping hole they left behind. So if the dentist says they will cause problems and you have insurance - do it! I guess God decided I should be extra wise.

 

[ceecee]

There is usually not enough room for them, they are hard to clean if they do erupt and can cause crowding making teeth shift. It is not just a money maker for dentists!

 

[englishteacha]

I waited till I was 27. I was miserable with my recovery. At 16 they said to take them out because they were going to cause problems but we didn't have any insurance so we didn't do it. At 24 they said, "Take them out." They weren't bugging me so I didn't do it. Then at 27 I was getting horrible headaches and needed to have them out. I also noticed that they were pushing my teeth forward and one tooth was a lot more crooked in front than it was when I was 24.

 

[Anjelica]

You don't know what pain is until you've experienced an impacted wisdom tooth

Or a dry socket from getting your wisdom teeth removed - and no I wasn't/am not a smoker.

I still advocate getting wisdom teeth taken out if the dentist recommended it. Mine hadn't come in by 19 but my teeth are crowded as it is/was. It had been recommended by at least two dentists that I get it removed since the age of 16.