Wisdom teeth?

How important is pulling the wisdom teeth? Is it worth the pain and the hassle? Is there a recommended age/range?


The dentist wants them pulled for my son, but I feel that 15 is a little too young for this..


Love to hear from the "been there done that" and the experts on the subject.

Wisdom teeth?
All depends on the individual. Different people have different mouth configurations, some have room for the wisdom teeth, some don't, some they never come in, and when they come in varies widely.





Most oral surgeons like to wait until the teeth break the gums prior to removal, but that is not always possible. If a condition like a bad angle or crowding occurs, it is important to get them removed sooner than later to avoid complications.





I have had all 4 removed at the same time when I was 18. It was not among the more pleasant life experiences, but the bottom two were growing in at a 45 degree angle into my rear molars. They elected to remove the uppers as preventative maintenance, incase they decided to cause trouble, and it is better to get it over in one shot than to have to do it again, since you will not want to do it again after the first experience.





Mine had not broken the gums, so they had to cut the gums and extract the teeth. The uppers went easy, but the lowers needed to be drilled and broken in half in order to get them out of my jaw.





I was awake.





Hearing the squeak, squeak, crunch when they had the pick in to break them was not comfortable.





Everything healed pretty well, and I could eat in a couple days. I had a couple of embedded bone chips in my gums for afew months after the surgery, that eventually worked their way out. Those were irritating, but not a big deal.
Reply:If your dentist wants them pulled, then they're probably growing in a way that will hurt your son's teeth or gums. Let him pull them if he thinks it's the best thing to do. It's better for him to have them pulled than to let them push other teeth out of the way, trying to grow in.
Reply:I am 29 and still have all my wisdom teeth. In fact, I'm stil waiting on 1 to come down. If he doesn't have much space between his existing teeth, the wisdom teeth will more than likely cause him some serious pain. Take him to another dentist, or an orthodontist, just for a 2nd opinion.
Reply:I waited too long and my wisdom tooth got infected and had to get them removed, take them out at the first sign of pain.I was amazed it didn't hurt at all to have them removed because I heard horror stories about others, and I'm a baby when it comes to things like that.
Reply:It really depends on the position of the teeth, WHEN they decide to come down, and how much damage to his adult alignment it will do. Your dentist/oral surgeon is best equipped to make this determination. I believe mine finally started to come down when I was in college (I was very late). I was lucky enough to have naturally straight teeth, so never had to have braces -- which would have been undone had the wisdom teeth been allowed to come down and push my adult teeth out of alignment. And my "been there done that" advise says, have them knock him out! Don't do the "local" anesthetic.
Reply:I got you here.


My mom is a dental assistant and has been for over 10 years.





-pulling wisdom teeth is a good idea if there is a risk of dental problems such as crowding.





- it is definetely worth the pain and hassle. It does not hurt that badly, more like sore for a couple days and it's not that big of a hassle really. drive there, pull teeth, pay money, done.





- recommended age is when the teeth start coming in/presenting a problem.





15 is a great age. I had 2 of mine pulled at 15. I only had 3 wisdom total and when the two started coming in it hurt a lot and my teeth started crowding. So they were pulled and now I am 17 and have no problems with my teeth.





if the dentist recommends that they be pulled then you should go ahead and let them do it. They are trained to see problems that everyday people cannot. If you don't get it taken care of now there could be problems later.


so yeah, I would just have him do it. And tell him it doesn't hurt that much at all. It always seems so much worse than it actually is.
Reply:Its better to take them out because


a. if you dont they might damage your other teeth by making them crooked


b. its painful when they are actually coming out [ripping through ur gums...]





its not painful to get them pulled out...all you feel is the shots and it doesnt take long for them to yank it out...try to get a strong guy dentist...if u get a girl she might take a little longer with all that tugging and pulling...luckily i have a strong dentist =)
Reply:well most of the ppl get there wsidom teeth puklled out its not really a big deal but some ppl get lucky and have certain wisdom teeeth that wont have to be pulled out. and hes 15 its not a big deal i mean he been wothout them this whole time im sure heel be fine after they get pulled out
Reply:As far as I know you only need to have them pulled if they are starting to "crowd" your son's other teeth. I'm no expert but I think most people wait until they are around 17 or 18 to see if they are going to be a problem or not. I was 21 when I had mine pulled. Two came in sideways and I kept biting the inside of my cheeks with them. The other two were impacted and had to be surgically removed. For me it was worth it. If they are causing him pain or discomfort or causing his teeth to be crooked then do it. If not I would wait, some people don't need to have them pulled but most do. Good luck!
Reply:My parents recently reached the same dilemma last month. Our orthodontist suggested that my brother should have his wisdom teeth removed because it could cause crowding in his teeth to occur. If your son has had braces I recommend talking to your orthodontist or dentist. My brother is about 20 and planning to have this done within the year. I am about your son's age and I will have to have it done next year. If you don't want the teeth to crowd or become slightly crooked I recommend doing it. I have had molars taken out in the past, they're not that bad if you have been given Novocaine and laughing gas (that really helped me keep my mind off it).
Reply:Most people know got them pulled in the 15-16-17 year old range. me included. Many who waited until their 20's or even 30's ended up having problems and needed them out anyway and it was more elaborate and complicated.


I would trust your dentist and most likely suggest that you err on sooner than later --


Get some ice cream for later =)
Reply:I had mine pulled when I was 18. None of them were impacted, but my mouth just didn't have enough room for them. If a oral doctor said they needed to be pulled, it is because they are impacted, or like me, no room so they kept on getting infected. 15 is young, but if your son is having problems with them, and a doctor agrees, they need to go.


Been here, done that experience - make sure (if you get it done) he takes his pain killers BEFORE the Novocaine wears off! It hurts if you don't! (Been there, done that!)


Good Luck!
Reply:Do it please! My dad was so frugal and my wisdom teeth caused my entire jaw to deform over time. I had to get braces and all four teeth pulled when I got a Job at 19 it took $2000 out of my pocket. I love my dad but resent him today because of it -- he had good insurance. I am 31 now and have problems with jaw and neck. I will probably need surgery on my jaw in a few years.
Reply:if they need to be pulled ,theres usually not enough room for them to grow in ,so they tilt and start pushing into your other teeth,it can cause a lot of tooth pain and bad migraines


thats what mine did and the surgery was painful and a big hassle but i didnt really have a choice


also the demtist say that the younger you are the easier the surgery will be,people have more trouble with it when they get older



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