wisdom teeth?

[Katherine Brengle]

Hey Lounge Gizzards :),

I think one of my wisdom teeth might be coming in. It doesn't hurt and there seems to be plenty of space for it, so from what I have read, that should mean that there's no problem.

I'm just curious--everyone I have ever known has had to get their wisdom teeth pulled. But on WebMD and all those other sites, it says only something like 40% of people need them pulled.

Just looking for the other 60%... I hate dentists, but I care a lot (probably too much lol) about my teeth, so there ya have it...

Thanks

[FunkyLeprechaun]

1. Had my teeth out in September 2001

My jaw started really hurting and the doctor said it was the teeth coming in. It had impacted the teeth next to it (they had to saw off one of the wisdom teeth to get it out).

Makes for a cool souvonier. (if I spelled it right) I was 20 at the time.

[politicat]

2. Mine had to come out - impacted and no room.

But they don't always have to. The big issue is getting a brush back there and flossing enough. If you don't have the room to get back there, they will decay and you will pay for it later.

Now here's the horror story that should make you go to the dentist to be sure (and since you're on Tricare, now's the time to do it.) When I was at university, one of my study buddies in the history department ignored her wisdom teeth coming in because she felt she had enough room for them, and they ended up getting infected. This caused bacterial pericarditis (inflammation of the sac that surrounds the heart), which put her in the hospital for about six weeks, left her with a BIG scar down her chest and on blood thinners and beta blockers for the rest of her life. Kids are also not recommended.

Oral infections and pericarditis are well known to be linked, and infections resulting from wisdom teeth are the leading cause of heart disease among people under 35.

Get 'em checked. Listen to the dentist.