Did you have your wisdom teeth extracted as a teen in the 80s or 90s? I tinkk I only saw a dentist twice between birth and 18. Now, at 44, the dental folks keep saying they need to go.
Posted by cherry-care-bear@reddit | Xennials | View on Reddit | 55 comments
IDK how to feel about it at this stage of my life. They mostly don't hurt but since it's hard to clean between them and the ones in front of them, pockets of bacteria are deepening and doing irreversible things to the bones.
It's one more burden my parents choices have saddled me with. On the other hand, a part of me thinks the hype around the need for wisdom tooth extraction is a racket.
Jerry_eckie2@reddit
I got one of mine out two weeks ago at 46. 3 out of 4 had emerged no problem. The last one grew sideways and was impacted. It was all good until I started getting regular infections about 12 months ago.
That had to take bone and drill it out. Was fucking miserable for about 10 days, but feeling good now.
If they are saying they need to come out, do it now. Infections can lead to heart disease and the longer you leave it, the worse the recovery as your bones become more brittle.
RevolutionaryBake362@reddit
Do it. I did mine five years ago.
lowridda@reddit
I had mine cut out before they grew in.
the-cookie-momster@reddit
Extracting a wisdom tooth doesn't cost a lot of money. Waiting until the wisdom tooth gets massive cavities and the pockets of bacteria eat away at your jaw bone would get them a whole lot of money and pain as well. Many people have left their wisdom teeth in and experienced the latter situation in life. It seems like reasonable medical advice that isn't trying to get tons of money from you.
Frosty_Cloud_2888@reddit
I got them out as a teen. The right after I was messed up. The next day I was back at school and eating cheeseburgers at lunch. I had to take it easy when chewing and I didn’t eat the fries because I didn’t want to mess with the stitches. Then I went to the bathroom and use this squirted thing to get the food out of the holes. That weekend I was at a small concert.
Being a teenager was great for healing. My wife had them out later in life because the dentist said there was a cavity and they were hard to clean couldn’t floss. She had them out and was messed up all week, swollen cheeks.
It won’t be fun but I think it’s what’s best.
Jerkrollatex@reddit
I had them taken out in sets. First the bottom then the top years apart. I think I was 25 when the bottom ones came out. They were moving my teeth and had cists around them. My jaw stopped aching after it was done. In my 30s I was getting migraines. The top wisdom teeth were the problem. They were badly impacted. I had them removed and the migraines stopped.
RedSolez@reddit
I got mine out at 19 because all 4 were impacted (growing in sideways). I was already in pain before removal and they hadn't even broken through the surface yet. They had to break 2 of them to get them out, but I got to keep one of the intact ones. Those teeth are fucking huge.
Magicguy226@reddit
45 here. I had all four out at once my senior year of HS. If you really want to be sure, get a second opinion, but if there are bacteria pockets developing places you can't clean it could lead to some gnarly problems going forward. It's a pain, but don't roll the dice on your teeth. I've taken meticulous care of mine and still have two crowns and needed a root canal in the past several years.
Sufficient_Turn_9209@reddit
I had mine removed at 15. When I was in my early 30s I started having incredible pain in my jaw on both sides. Dentist said, oh, time to get those wisdom teeth out. I told him I'd already had 4 removed, and went for a second opinion. Turns out he wasn't a quack and, yes, I had another 2 coming in, and 2 on the bottom still in the jaw. I verified with my mom that I had absolutely had 4 removed even though I absolutely remember two coming in and two more being cut out. Turns out it's rare, but yes, some people are blessed with TWO SETS of wisdom teeth. 😧 I ended up having 4 wisdom teeth removed TWICE!
AgentQwackers@reddit
OP, I went through the same thing in my 40s. Mine weren't impacted, but I had issues with inflammation and tooth aches.
I went to another dentist and got a second opinion. He agreed they should probably come out.
It truly wasn't too terrible. I went to a dental surgeon, opted for sedation, didn't feel a thing, and pain was really minimal. The worst part was eating super soft foods for a couple weeks, and regularly rinsing out the wounds with salt water.
A year later, and I'm so glad I did it. The random pains are gone, maintenance is easier, cleanings are easier. If you need to get them out, do it while you're relatively young and can still rebound without too much difficulty.
sakkadesu@reddit
doesn't sound like an impaction/aesthetic issue but a potential infection issue. an older friend of mine in her mid-50s developed an infection in that area - a cyst developed from the bacteria and it presumably destroys bone (on top of creating a lot of pain). she's about to go into proper surgery to clean out the cyst and remove parts of the wisdom teeth. doc said bone should be able to regenerate after it's taken care of. it's no joke.
AdelleDeWitt@reddit
I had mine taken out right before I turned 18 because my mom wanted it done while I was still on her dental insurance. I got dry sockets in all four.
Taupenbeige@reddit
I got a carroway seed stuck in one of mine. I think it integrated with my body and I’m 2.5% carroway DNA now.
I came out of anesthesia half way through extraction so they double-dosed me and I spent the rest of the day feeling like I really had to sleep but couldn’t because my body already did all the sleeps, it sucked really bad.
mrnoonan81@reddit
I (44) just had two of mine out a month ago. I already had some bone loss.
Are you an anti-vaxer as well? By all means - leave them in.
PlatypusFreckles@reddit
I wish mine had been taken out as a teen. Since they weren’t impacted, they weren’t a priority.
Now they’ve crowded my mouth and have cavities. I need to get them removed asap and I’m dreading it.
idkmybffjill03@reddit
Similar lack of dental history here. However, when I got my own insurance as an adult, I started going regularly. I still have my wisdom teeth. Same for my 18 yr old- doc says we both have the space as long as we can keep it clean. Predatory dentists exist, but it’s not the standard.
Moxie_Stardust@reddit
Mine happened when I was in the military, I was 20. But my bottom teeth were growing directly perpendicular to the rest of the teeth. I briefly awoke from sedation to see the giant honking power tool they had jammed in my mouth to break them into little pieces and immediately NOPED back to unconsciousness.
I still have the top two, undamaged wisdom teeth.
Careful-Use-4913@reddit
😬 They had to break 2 of mine to get them out as well. I’m glad I stayed under! At least 2 of mine were sideways as well.
Careful-Use-4913@reddit
Yes - mine were impacted. They weren’t causing any issues yet, but my dentist strongly suggested getting them out before HS was over. It was nice to get it done on my dad’s insurance, too. I don’t remember any pain. My dad did all my gauze changes, and I set timers to take my pain meds on schedule, and used the frozen peas bags as directed. Got it done over Christmas break and was taking pain meds & using frozen peas at the NYE party. 😬
16Shells@reddit
yup, all four out at once and then directly to jam with my band while drooling and bleeding and out of it
Dakaf@reddit
I got mine removed in the summer between 10th and 11th grade. I haven’t ever needed braces, and very rarely get tooth pain. I’m happy with my parents’ decision.
dontlikeourchances@reddit
I had an impacted wisdom tooth removed in September at the age of 46.
It was unpleasant but really nowhere near as bad as I had feared, and it was a complex case.
The angle they came in at slowly messed up the work of the braces I had so now I have to decide whether to go for Invasalign to correct my very wonky front teeth.
tacitjane@reddit
No. My wisdom teeth are there (x-rays). They just haven't emerged. My 12-year molars didn't start coming up until after post-secondary school.
If you have the means to get them out, just get them out.
Putasonder@reddit
If they were to telling you to remove them to keep your teeth straight, that might be the case. When they’re talking about bacteria eating away at your skull, that sounds like a legitimate medical recommendation.
cherry-care-bear@reddit (OP)
Could be you have a point there. But I do have MedicAid and get dental services through a health clenic so might need to get a second opinion just to be sure.
This place was the same one that said the pain and discomfort in my dying--an sightless--eye was 'allergies.
Mememememememememine@reddit
Yes mine were removed in high school. We went to the dentist every 6 months and I had braces for a year +
PartTimeLegend@reddit
Still got mine. Had some issues a few years ago and had x rays. They’re in my gums but never come out. Dentist said it’s unusual but not uncommon.
BeBopBarr@reddit
Had mine out when I was like 30ish. 2 were impacted and 2 were not, they recommended for all 4 to come out anyway. It wasn't awful minus the not eating a bunch for a little while.
Down-In-The-Weeds@reddit
Still have mine.
OIIOIIOIIOIIOIOIOIII@reddit
Same here. My dentist has me using a water pik daily to flush those pockets. So far so good.
BigOldBee@reddit
I had mine extracted when I was 19 (1998) because I was about to be kicked off my parents insurance. Yay USA!
Salty-Tea6815@reddit
Same!!
DURKA_SQUAD@reddit
I ignored mine and they were deeply impacted, they ate away at my jawbone creating massive cysts that got infected. get em out.
cacecil1@reddit
Yeah I was like 18, so about 1994
pennylanish@reddit
Bacteria in teeth is linked to heart disease. Please get the wisdom teeth out or else be prepared for abcessed teeth and the inevitable root canal (more money, more pain)
Has to get mine removed in my 20s bc they were coming in at 90 degrees, just like my mom's. Genetics are fun.
impliedapathy@reddit
Same here. Grew in sideways and became impacted. Couldn’t even remove them in the normal way. They had to drill them to bits and then extract the rest.
Festygrrl@reddit
I had them taken out as they became problematic in my 20s. I only had three, but three seperate times of “it sucks”.
9_of_Swords@reddit
Out at 35 because I finally had decent insurance and Care Credit. Mine were impacted so I had to have them dug out.
bransanon@reddit
Unless they are impacting the teeth next to them, don't, and find a better dentist. This is a litmus test for whether or not a dentist knows what they're doing, the ones that work molar mills and do cheap insurance work almost always just push for extractions when they are often not necessary.
DocBEsq@reddit
I had all four wisdom teeth until I was about 30. At that point, there was concern about infection (only two had come in all the way). The dentist decided to pull three of the four, leaving the one that had come in straight and with enough room.
Then it started hurting a bit about two years ago. The dentist said there was a cavity back where I couldn’t brush well, so the last one got removed.
Long story short, sometimes they do need to go, even if they were ok before.
don51181@reddit
I got mine out in boot camp in 1999 at age 18. Not that big of a deal.
If it will help you take care of your other parts of your teeth I’d door it. I’m currently doing aligners at age 44 so my teeth will be easier to take care of and also look nice.
ExistentialDreadness@reddit
Had one taken out in early 20s. For some orthodontic work to have space to function, it was recommended the rest were removed in my 30s.
Sufficient_Purple297@reddit
Not everyone has to get rid of them.
Some do. You seem to be one of them.
Expensive-Candidate4@reddit
In the UK, I had all four removed by maxillofacial surgeon in hospital in the 90s at age 21. They were impacted. (Daughter of a dentist here.) Advice: request strong painkillers.
TargetApprehensive38@reddit
Yeah I had mine done at about 35. The dentist when I was a kid said they didn’t need to come out because they weren’t impacted and there was enough space for them.
He turned out to not be a very good dentist though - I think I’ve had every filling he did replaced and one of them I guess he didn’t drill out enough so the tooth fell apart around it eventually.
It wasn’t a big deal once I finally got them done after my adult dentist convinced me to do it. I declined the anesthesia so it was really just taking a half day off work and soft foods for a few days.
romasexual@reddit
My two bottom ones came in crooked and shattered my two teeth in front of them. Had them all taken it along with the two damaged teeth at 18. I only recall going to the dentist when I was like 4-5 and then nothing until I went in for that. It sucked.
folksongcat@reddit
I was in my 20s when I got them taken out. They were pushing one of my other teeth sideways and I had a lot of pain. I healed pretty well though. Got them pulled on a Friday and was back at work on Monday.
Jr5309@reddit
Mine came out in my mid 20s. I didn’t need them, why bother with fillings & maintenance. One and done instead of years or upkeep.
balding_git@reddit
same here, but my dentist pulled 3 and left me one for some reason. i got it pulled eventually in my 30s
Roland-Of-Eld-19@reddit
Mine were coming in at crazy angles I had to get all four ripped out when I was 22 it friggin sucked
originalbrowncoat@reddit
Got mine taken out in college. Super easy. I was awake the whole time and chatted with the dentist (except when he stuck the whoosits in there and cracked them out one by one). Recovery was a breeze.
usernames_suck_ok@reddit
I got mine out at 25, I think, because one of them was bothering me. I was taking painkillers every 3-4 hours because of the pain. I thought dentists only wanted to take those out when there was a problem. Like, my sister's wisdom teeth grew in oddly/not straight. I'm sure they caused problems, and her extraction was painful because of it. My teeth grew in straight, so it was no big deal to get them extracted in terms of the during and after.
SweetCosmicPope@reddit
I had two removed when I was 15 as a preventative measure. I had the other two removed when I was 27 and one shifted and pinched a nerve putting me in a ridiculous amount of pain.
I WISH I had them removed with the other two because I was miserable for days until they could get them extracted (and then had two dry sockets that caused me another couple of months of terrible pain).
Get those fuckers out.
jessupjj@reddit
Got mine out in my late 30s, 2017 or so. So opposite here: dental work until about '93 when my folks split and nobody was really looking out for me. And then didn't have health or dental care that I could afford. Not getting my WT out f'd up my other molars badly (several crowns now) and crowded my front teeth (still not fixed).
NW_Forester@reddit
Mine were taken out when I was a Jr. in college during spring break.
"pockets of bacteria are deepening and doing irreversible things to the bones."
and you are wondering if there is wisdom teeth extraction scam while irreversible things are happening to your bones?
Do what the oral surgeon suggests. If its extraction, get those fuckers out of your head. Bad oral hygiene can ruin your entire health.