Question about wisdom teeth.

[BlondieK143]

So, I'm sitting at work this morning enjoying DU and my Mountain Dew when all of a sudden.. OUCH! I get this sharp pain in my gum. So, I stick my finger back there and feel around and I think I feel part of a tooth. I haven't even been to the dentist in about a year and a half (bad, I know) but the last time I went, he yelled about my tongue ring so that was that.

Anyway, my question is, how long do dentists normally wait until they cut wisdom teeth out? Can one just grow in? And also, for the past 2 weeks I've been having REALLY bad migraines, could this be in correlation with the tooth coming in? HELP!?!

[PCIntern]

1. OK, No sweat...

How old are you?
Were you ever told that you have impacted wizzies or wizzies which were going to erupt?

"Adam and Eve had many advantages but the principal one was that they escaped teething." Mark Twain

[PCIntern]

4. ...BTW

since I am a dentist, you've come to the right place.

[Lisa0825]

23. I was told 10 years ago that I had to have mine removed.

I still have them. All four came in, three of them pretty straight, one kind of pointed forward, but only slanted toward the next tooth, not really seeming to push it. I never had braces. My lower teeth are crowded, but it doesn't cause me any pain, and cosmetically they don't look bad... just not perfect.

I always thought it was kind of a racket. Everyone I know was told they MUST have their wisdom teeth out. My dentist actually told me I should have what amounts to minor surgery because wisdom teeth sit so far back that they are *hard to brush properly.* Huh?! OK, so I'll make the extra effort to do a good job, but you're not cutting me!LOL!!!

Other than impacted teeth, pain, or cosmetic reasons, do you believe everyone should have them removed?

[American Tragedy]

27. Some people have large enough jawbones to accomodate them

in which case there's no reason to extract them.

But many people do have significant problems. All of mine were impacted and had to be taken out surgically last week. It ain't pretty, either: days later, I looked like I had been on the losing side of a brawl. My face was swollen almost beyond recognition (still a little puffy even now), and I've had nasty bruises under my cheekbones and jawline.

[Lisa0825]

29. are you trying to say I have a big mouth??!!

:evilgrin: ;-)

[BlondieK143]

5. I'm 19.

And the dentist and I never really talked about wisdom teeth besides him saying they weren't there yet (from what I remember). Sorry, that's not much help really.

On edit - You SO rock! I knew I'd find a dentist at DU! You guys know everything!

[iconoclastic cat]

31. Really? 19? Wow. You must be an old soul, then.

I never would've guessed that you were so young! Especially considering the hours you put in at work. That's nuts.

Hey, I'll try to track you down on your early morning thread---I have some news!

[KitchenWitch]

2. I cannot speak for the migraines

but I know the wisdom teeth usually come in during the late teens and early twenties, and often do not completely erupt (ergo the need to have them removed). It is possible that they could be changing the configuration of your jaw and therefore could cause tension headaches.

I hope that helps.

[BlondieK143]

6. Thank you!

That does help so much! I was starting to freak out and think I had a tumor or something but now this is making sense!

[Richardo]

3. Get 'em out of there

I had a lower wisdom tooth coming in about 15 years ago. (Nothing like teething at 35 years old)

Problem: It was sideways, with the crown pointing toward the front of my mouth instead of up. I did not have headaches, but they put me under and took out all four of them at once. Now wisdom teeth are just one thing I don;t have to concern myself with.

[BlondieK143]

7. Did you end up with dry sockets?

That's all I've heard people talk about getting after they have their wisdom teeth out! :scared:

[PCIntern]

8. Dry socket occurs

after you've dislodged the clot. If you take good care of the clot in the socket, it is much less likely that you will get dry socket, or as it's real name is, osteomyelitis. It's just that that's such a horrible word with horrible connotations that people don't want to think about it.

[BlondieK143]

11. That sucks!

I hate blood and I definitely hate going to the hospital and all that good stuff. Plus, I gag really easy so this should be fun. :eyes: But thanks for sharing your experience!

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. As long as you follow the directions...i.e. no drinking out of straws

or smoking and keeping the wet gauzies in, you'll be fine. :hi:

I had two of mine out 4 years ago and it was practically painless. :hug:

[BlondieK143]

14. How long were you out of work?

Both of my jobs involve communication so that'll suck!

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. I went back to work the next day, as a hairstylist. It truly wasn't

painful at all. It's the one time that I'll admit I took painkillers just for the fun of it. :hi:

[BlondieK143]

19. LOL!

I shouldn't laugh at that, but I will!

[Richardo]

21. I took my Vicodin, too

Even though I really didn't need to. :spank:

It's not every day you get a chance to acquire a dependence on prescription drugs, but darn it, it just didn't take.

[yvr girl]

34. I had one of my wisdom teeth out at 7:30 in the morning and then I

went to work. It isn't always a big deal.

[Richardo]

12. I guess not. I remember the term, but I haven't had any problems

I did have a molar extracted 2-3 years ago and that hole was weird for awhile. One of theose things your tongue just can't leave alone. :crazy:

[BlondieK143]

16. I know!

It's like there's a sign in your mouth for your tongue saying "Touch me!"

[WildClarySage]

10. two months ago I had my five wisdom teeth out

(yeah, five) and haven't had a headache since. Before that I averaged about 4-5 a week. I just wish I'd had it done sooner!

[BlondieK143]

17. 5???

Holy crap! How long did it take for you to recover after?

[WildClarySage]

20. not too long. A week, maybe.

It was so much better to have it over and done.

My dad said afterward that he hoped I wouldn't be such a smartmouth anymore. hehehe My poor mother had 8. I really can't complain about one little extra.

[fudge stripe cookays]

24. Me too!

Had an impacted one under the others.

The dentist told me parents he thought I might need braces when I was 11 or 12, but my dad thought they looked straight enough, so no braces.

When I hit 20, had the wizzies pulled. WOOSH! They start moving forward like mad after that.

But my mom scheduled me to have all 5 of mine out the day before New Years Eve while I was home from college. No eating, not much drinking, and no champagne for me for New Year's Eve 86. THAT sucked.

It's not really painful, it's just weird to have these honking holes in your gums. Just follow what the dentist tells you to do and you'll be fine.

And make sure to get a ride to the office, because they will probably put you all the way under, and you'll be pretty groggy when you get out.

FSC

[noonwitch]

13. They can grow in if they're not impacted

If your jaw is too small, you have to have them dug out or they'll mess up the rest of your teeth.

If you wore braces as a teen, you'll probably have to get them removed before they crowd your teeth again. Then you'll end up like me-several root canals/crowns, and many cavaties.

[BlondieK143]

18. Aww man!

Looks like I'm going to need to go to the dentist soon! I never wore braces (my parents thought the small gap in my front teeth was cute). :eyes:

[semillama]

22. I have two left that need to go

They all came in fine, but apparently were really susceptable to tooth decay. I've had the upper two removed because of decay, and my dentist and oral surgeon say I should get the lower two removed as soon as I can , as the older you get, the harder they are to remove.

So my advice: get 'em out!! I wish I had.

[ironflange]

25. Mine have never appeared

I'm 46, never had any sign of them. I'm sure not complaining about that, but the jokes I get have gotten rather tiresome.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

28. My husband hasn't got any either.

He's 27, so maybe he'll be lucky and never get them. I just noticed mine this past year. I'm 25. I'm planning on making an appointment today to get them checked out (and possibly removed on the same day). I've heard of lots of people who have had problems because of their wisdom teeth. I've only had some occasional soreness of the gums so far.

[Cush]

32. I only had 3

same with my brother

[American Tragedy]

26. I just had four impacted wisdom teeth removed last wednesday

You should get x-rays immediately so they can tell you your situation; I would recommend getting all of them out immediately.



Unfortunately, I'm starting to fear that something is wrong. The stitches have dissolved from one of the incisions, leaving a cavity in the gums, and it hurts like hell.

[MadHound]

30. I really think that it depends on the size of your mouth and jaw

As to whether or not to take them out. All four of mine came in just fine, and I still have them. But my mouth was big enough that they came in well. If you have a smaller jaw like my sister, then they start coming in at weird angles and what have , which is when you have to have them yanked.

[Nikia]

33. If they are giving you problems, the dentist will take them out

I had mine out when I started getting headaches. I had 2 completely under the gums and the other 2 had partially emerged. I had them out less than a week after I saw the dentist about my pain. I had my teeth removed on a Thursday afternoon. I felt horrible the next day because of pain and the fact that I was by then vomitting from taking Vicodin on an empty stomach, being afraid to eat anything. I was in pain for the weekend. I was alright enough to go to work on Monday though.