wisdom teeth out for teen

[Anonymous]

Maybe it is just me, but I guess I'm inherently a little suspicious that a lot of the orthodontic procedures are unnecessary. So this skepticism leads me to worry that the just-in advice to pull all 4 of m 16 year old's wisdom teeth is over the top. A few questions:
- anybody have an ortho for a 2nd opinion -- someone who tends to be a little more conservative?
- I know the standard protocol is to pull opposing teeth, but I've not done it myself, and have had no problems. I understand the reasoning given, but how "necessary" is it? (Seems that orthos tend to underestimate the pain and healing required, and are "pull it out"- happy -- even though they are referring to someone else.)

Happy to see informed opinions and hear recommendations.

[Anonymous]

I'd ask why it's medically necessary - just like any other procedure you might have done on your body (or your child's).

fwiw, I am 37yrs old. Ended up having one pulled in my 20s since it had 2 roots instead of 3 and was causing problems. But I have the remaining wisdom teeth and have never had any kind of problem. So, I don't see it as something that owuld happen automatically.

[Anonymous]

I am in my mid 30s and wish I'd had mine out (waiting to have it done until my baby is a older) they're definitely pushing my teeth together now. if you've spent any money on orthodontia, I'd get them out to keep that from happening.

[Anonymous]

Thanks you two! I did ask about medically necessary, & it seem to be purely cosmetic. I am sympathetic w 16:38 - sometimes cosmetics is important; son doesn't care now, but might later. But against that reasoning, in my mind, is (a) who knows how the tech might change in 10 years to make it easier/safer; and (b) it is a medical procedure that has risks (as they always say when they make you sign the form, but say nothing about before you're in the darn chair, at least in my own experience)! For example, my husband's doc warned him that it can sever nerves in the lower jaw that can leave your lower lip paralyzed. I can just see it now: "Sorry, I can't feel your kiss but we can take solace in the fact that my teeth are straight!" Maybe my ultimate frustration is that it seems like a procedure that, as a parent, you should take seriously, but the ortho treated me like an idiot when I queried as to the necessity. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

We were in a similar situation with our 15 y.o. DS last year and elected to have the teeth pulled. We were not concerned about whether there was a medical reason for pulling the wisdom teeth since -- like most people -- we had pursued orthodontics for purely cosmetic reasons. Moreover, both DH and I had our wisdom teeth pulled in college, so we figured that sooner or later there was at least some chance DS might also have to undergo the procedure. As to the risk, we reasoned that yes, there is a risk to any medical procedure, but we felt confident that the oral surgeon we selected had done many such procedures without complications. It was painful for 3 days, then over . . .and DS's teeth look great.

[Anonymous]

I had all of mine taken out at age 14, due to crowding, and my teeth today are still crowded so the pulling must have been really necessary. No harm in getting a second opinion, however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in my mid 30s and wish I'd had mine out (waiting to have it done until my baby is a older) they're definitely pushing my teeth together now. if you've spent any money on orthodontia, I'd get them out to keep that from happening.

me again--it's not that the crowding makes it look bad--my teeth still look fine, but it's harder to get between them for cleaning, and since I tend to get cavities (have to get my teeth sealed every so often), it's more than a cosmetic concern. I do sometimes feel pressure/pain, but not sure if that's what it is.
In my 20s my dentist said I should get them out, so I went back to my old pediatric dentist to get his opinion when I was visiting my parents. He said he didn't think it was necessary, and said something similar to what your husband was told about a risk with the nerve. I think it's probably a pretty small risk; seems like almost everyone gets them out and you never hear about this having happened to anyone.

All the dentists do say that it's easier when you're younger, not sure why, but it's probably better when you're a teen and your mom can take care of you and you don't have to miss work or get a babysitter for your kids When I do get mine out, I'll probably have to fly my mom in to take care of the kids.

Oh, and my brother was a recon Marine--the Marines made him get his removed so there was no chance of him having any issues with them when on a mission. . .

[Anonymous]

I had mine out at 13. There were various options for sedation, and I elected conscious sedation. Vaguely conscious for procedure but didn't feel a damn thing.

Not sure if level of sedation impacts risk, but going under is always what makes me nervous.

[Anonymous]

When I was a teenager my dentist told my parents that my 2 sisters and I should all have ours out. I specifically remember the dentist saying to me, "You're a cute girl; you don't need your wisdom teeth and should get them out." My friends had all had theirs out, which was horrible, and I was really nervous about it. My parents questioned the dentist after they heard what he had said to me, and they decided to take me to another dentist (the trusted father of one of my sister's friends). He said that all of us had plenty of room and didn't need to get them out. FWIW, all 3 of us had braces. I am now 34 and have never had problems w/ my teeth alignment as a result of the wisdom teeth. HOWEVER, they all have cavities because it is so hard to clean them properly. No one ever offered to "seal" them like dentists seal other molars - you might want to inquire about it. also, through the years, I wished I had just gotten them out because it took so many years for them to come in, and it was painful when they would come in. I think I was in my mid to late 20s when they finally stopped coming in and hurting every now and then.

Anyway, I would DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY get a second opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in my mid 30s and wish I'd had mine out (waiting to have it done until my baby is a older) they're definitely pushing my teeth together now. if you've spent any money on orthodontia, I'd get them out to keep that from happening.

me again--it's not that the crowding makes it look bad--my teeth still look fine, but it's harder to get between them for cleaning, and since I tend to get cavities (have to get my teeth sealed every so often), it's more than a cosmetic concern. I do sometimes feel pressure/pain, but not sure if that's what it is.
In my 20s my dentist said I should get them out, so I went back to my old pediatric dentist to get his opinion when I was visiting my parents. He said he didn't think it was necessary, and said something similar to what your husband was told about a risk with the nerve. I think it's probably a pretty small risk; seems like almost everyone gets them out and you never hear about this having happened to anyone.

All the dentists do say that it's easier when you're younger, not sure why, but it's probably better when you're a teen and your mom can take care of you and you don't have to miss work or get a babysitter for your kids When I do get mine out, I'll probably have to fly my mom in to take care of the kids.

Oh, and my brother was a recon Marine--the Marines made him get his removed so there was no chance of him having any issues with them when on a mission. . .

My teeth were so straight they looked like caps. I was in my early twenties and noticed some change in a front incisor. Well one day i had jaw pain on both sides and it intensified dramatically - so bad I could not function even with multiple over the counter meds. That is what dentists mean when the wisdom teeth can end up pushing on nerves . 4 impactions and intense pain requiring surgical removal ASAP.

That is why they want to get them out - before the pain and pressure on nerves.

[Anonymous]

if you've spent any money on orthodontia, I'd get them out to keep that from happening.

I totally agree. As soon as my dentist said they were threatening to undo all of the orthodontic work I had done, out they came - I was a freshman or sophomore in college. I'm another one with two sisters, we all inherited my mother's big teeth and my father's small jaw - we all had tons of work plus wisdom teeth out, I even had permanent teeth pulled as well. No harm in getting another opinion, though. And please ask how common the complications you mentioned are.

[Anonymous]

Hi, OP. NP here. I had braces, and when the dentist said I should get my wisdom teeth pulled, they also showed me and my parents the x-rays of my mouth. Looking at the x-rays, it was crazy, my wisdom teeth were going to come out diagonal and therefore mess up all the years of orthodontics. So out all 4 came at 17 yo. They said to get them out before they break the surface because somehow it's safer then doing it later, I don't remember why.

My advice is, look at the x-rays and then it might be a clear cut decision. If not, then get a 2nd opinion and show a 2nd dentist the x-rays.
If he does get them out, make sure he has about a week that he doesn't have to go to school, because the cheeks could get puffy for about a week (assuming it's still done the same way as 20 years ago.)

[Anonymous]

Most people do need their 3rd molars pulled, not all do it. The early the so much easier as teeth form from the crown down, not root up. Less root, less pain, less problems. I would do it now. As far as Ortho, of course get a second opinion. Not sure what Ortho and 3rd molars have to do with each other except the molars may cause crowding when they do erupt.

[Anonymous]

I had braces when I was 13 and my wisdom teeth ended up crowding my teeth so I needed to have braces again. I got iBraces that go on the back of your teeth the second time around because of my age at the time.

I had my wisdom teeth out at 16 on the Friday of Labor Day weekend under local anesthesia. I drove an hour to go camping that night, didn't have to take any of my pain meds, just ate jello and pudding mostly that first day. I didn't have any swelling either.

If you have heard from an orthodontist and the regular dentist that they need to come out, I would do it. For me it was worth it because I now work with the public and having a good smile is totally necessary and worth it. I was fortunate in the way my extraction went, but my brother's experience was quite the opposite and he spent 2 weeks with ice on his face trying to get the swelling to go away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks you two! I did ask about medically necessary, & it seem to be purely cosmetic. I am sympathetic w 16:38 - sometimes cosmetics is important; son doesn't care now, but might later. But against that reasoning, in my mind, is (a) who knows how the tech might change in 10 years to make it easier/safer; and (b) it is a medical procedure that has risks (as they always say when they make you sign the form, but say nothing about before you're in the darn chair, at least in my own experience)! For example, my husband's doc warned him that it can sever nerves in the lower jaw that can leave your lower lip paralyzed. I can just see it now: "Sorry, I can't feel your kiss but we can take solace in the fact that my teeth are straight!" Maybe my ultimate frustration is that it seems like a procedure that, as a parent, you should take seriously, but the ortho treated me like an idiot when I queried as to the necessity. Sigh.

I'm confused by this statement - how is pulling wisdom teeth cosmetic? B/c it can mess up the other teeth?

Usually dentists are eager to pull wisdom teeth out b/c it's extremely difficult to keep them clean. Unless your son is super disciplined to brush thoroghly all the way back there (and floss) it's most likely the wisdom teeth will get infected and have to be removed anyway.

Are the wisdom teeth already in? Or are they coming in? Many times there isn't enough room for the wisdom teeth to completly come through - again another reason to get them removed before they cause problems pushing the back molars out of line.

Like with any medical procedure - get a second opinion.