Should I get my wisdom teeth taken out?

[Scarpozzi]

I went to the dentist today. My wisdom teeth are straight and I've been using them for the past 4-5 years. The dentist told me that I have cavities on 3 of them. (my toothbrush barely fits back there so they're hard to clean) The dentist told me that as a policy, he doesn't fill wisdom teeth, but my last dentist did. (he already filled the other one, thus no cavity)

What should I do? Get them out of there or go back to my old dentist and keep them?

 

[TJN23]

if they're straight theres no reason to get them removed...find someone who will fill em

 

[filmmaker]

I say remove them, but that's just me.

 

[MrBond]

Might as well pull them if you keep getting cavaties. If they're fully grown in, it's really quick for them to yank 'em out. I don't miss mine at all

It'll probably be cheaper in the long run to get them pulled now rather than keep filling them.

 

[LakerGod]

Getting them pulled hurts like a bitch and the whole process sucks.

 

[notfred]

I haven't been to a dentist in at least a year and a half.. hmm...

 

[Balt]

I was going to say if you have insurance, get them yanked... but when I got mine taken out they were still behind the gums so I didn't have to worry about dry socket (which I've heard can be incredibly painful).

So basically I have no advice whatsoever for you.

If you do get them taken out, though, make sure they hook you up with some good pain killers.

 

[Electric Amish]

What did the dentist say other than he doesn't fill them? I would expect him to recommend their removal.

 

[Derango]

I'd say if you can't brush back there, you might as well get them removed, since you're just going to keep having to go back and get fillings.

 

[TheBoyBlunder]

I'd say get 'em pulled. At least the drugs are fun.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
What did the dentist say other than he doesn't fill them? I would expect him to recommend their removal.

He gave me some forms to fill out to send my Xrays to an oral doctor guy.... Said I should go in for consultation and see about getting them removed. It's just odd because it seems like my old dentist had the exact opposite opinion. He said, "You're 6'4" and have a large frame, there's space to work on them and they're decent sized teeth. So he was for letting them grow in straight.

 

[TwinkleToes77]

Normally id say its worse to have them pulled out once they have already grown in especially since they arent causing you pain or anything. But if you cant reach them to keep them clean then no use having to keep going back for fillings. I still have all my teeth.. havent had to have any pulled.

 

[Dudd]

Get them pulled. Like you, all of my teeth were fully grown in when I got them yanked, and it took at the most 15 minutes, 10 of which was waiting around for the anesthetic to kick in. You'll be glad you did.

 

[Ionizer86]

It'll only be kinda not fun for the next 4 or 5 days. I mean it's not a huge issue. You get knocked out, they're pulled, you're so numb you can't drink or eat properly for the next half hour, but then, all you have to do is switch gauze every 45 min or so and eat pudding for about two days.

It's not too bad basically.

 

[ggavinmoss]

If they're straight, leave them in. Ask you dentist how you can more effectively clean your wisdom teeth.

-geoff

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: TheBoyBlunder
I'd say get 'em pulled. At least the drugs are fun.

 

[yobarman]

how much do these things run anyway?

 

[SaigonK]

Pul them out already...i waited for mine and they got all nasty when i coudlnt clen them out well enough.
It wasnt that painful, and it is usually paid for by your insurance.

 

[V00DOO]

If it doesn't hurt don't do it. When I had my done, I couldn't open my month for a week. Worst experience of my life.

 

[optoman]

Do it, get them out. You get some of the best drugs ever.

 

[BarneyFife]

Just wait until they start hurting then pull them

 

[aircooled]

Might as well have them pulled. Since they are obviously not compacted or sideways under the gum-line, it should be a breeze.

Last I checked, extractions were anywhere from $110-$150 per tooth, but that may vary depending on your locale.

 

[Staples]

I just got braces a few days ago. The orthodontist had me get some front teeth pulled and now he says I have room and can keep the wisdom teeth. I imagine that those teeth are hard to drill and fill so I will have to be sure to keep them cleen. I think you should probably get them pulled if you have cavities in them and are under 25.

 

[Staples]

Originally posted by: notfred
I haven't been to a dentist in at least a year and a half.. hmm...

That isn't such a huge gap of time. Up until a few months ago, I can say I have only been to the dentist office 3 times in the last 12 years. When I got the cavities filled this time (I wish I had gone a few years ago, it was pretty big this time), I decided to get braces since I can now afford them. Needless to say, I will have to go get them tightened every month for the next 30 months.