Wisdom teeth removal: The new tonsils?

[Overload]

I'm not convinced most people need to have their wisdom teeth removed. They've been telling me for 5 years now, and things are pretty much the same. I get the feeling it's just the latest cash cow. They show you scary pictures of your impacted teeth -> write a referral -> $$$. Has anyone else opted out?

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Hardly.

Impacted teeth are excruciating. And the longer you wait to have them pulled, the more painful it is and the longer the healing process gets.

Not to mention that if you have a clean line of teeth, whether naturally or through braces, it'll totally screw up their alignment too (I waited about a year longer than I should have, and my bottom row of teeth moved inward and so I have a few teeth that are pushed back too far.

Obviously it's your body and your choice. But despite what you may think most doctors aren't just out to get your money.

[MrPopo]

You can save money going with the local anesthetic like I did.

[Overload]

If/when I do get them out, that's what I'm going for too, even if I do have insurance. No point in needlessly risking complications, and I get to drive out of there.

[flojocabron]

Years ago, one of them has replaced my rotten tooth!

Through lazyness/fuck-ups/cavities, I had to have my last molar removed

It wasn't pretty, the removal of the old tooth. Had to get lots of anasthetics and shots and the dentist had to use some sort of chisel and he removed my tooth in pieces.

And as my hole healed. my wisdom tooth came out right next to it.

But the tooth is at an angle. Just like all wisdom teeth. I have to be careful when I eat certain foods because things tend to get stuck between that last tooth and my wisdom tooth.

But its ever so slowly lining up with the rest of them. I just have to deal with that little gap.

So far the rest of my wisdom teeth haven't been causing pain. Knock on wood.

But I guess its different for everyone, I guess.

[Erik_Twice]

Impacted teeth are awful. I used to cough a lot because I felt I had phlegms. Do you know why? My wisdown teeth made me gums bleed and the blood formed phlegms. Getting them removed not only got rid of the constant pain and stopped by other teeth from being pushed around, it also made me stop coughing.

And my case isn't rare, impacted teeth are a massive source of infections and wisdom teeth are, by far, the most likely case of them.

[Overload]

My gums look pretty thin (can see faint whiteness of bone all around). I assumed it was due to poor oral hygiene from a little while back, but it could be from wisdom tooth induced infection. At any rate, it's probably not a good idea to risk infection with them already so thin. Looks like it's time to yank em out.

[chupon]

36 years old. Still have all my wisdom teeth with no problems. Unless there's a problem - don't bother.

[Pulsar_t]

How else are dentists going to afford those sports cars?

[Exhuminator]

I tried to ignore dentist advice on having my wisdom teeth removed. Primarily due to monetary constraints I had at that time. The choice caused me years of pain and problems. I finally ended up getting all wisdom teeth removed, and never regretted it. I let the oral surgeon put me to sleep to do it, and it was worth the extra cash IMO. Depending on the state of your wisdom teeth, local anesthesia might work well enough though.