Wisdom teeth, what would you do?

[saintshar]

I posted a few months ago about trouble with my wisdom teeth. Basically, i have had trouble with them for many years (pain, swelling infections etc) which has been becoming more regular.
My dentist said that this would continue, so it was best to refer me to the hospital to have them taken out.
I went to the clinic at the hospital yesterday, to have xrays etc to see how the surgery would be carried out.
After the xrays, i was told that the roots of the teeth (lower wisdom teeth) are VERY close to the nerve. On one side the nerve either runs straight past the root of the tooth, or is wrapped around it.
So i have to decide do i have the op, and have a good chance of permanent numbness in my lower lips, or put up with infections etc flaring up for ever more.
What would you do in this situation?

saintshar I am a bit concerned here.
It is VERY rare for wisdom tooth extraction to cause permanent nerve damage/numbness, although it can happen.(I am visiting my very brainy dentist friends this weekend and they will probably remember the incidence if you are interested.) It is a theoretical risk which we always mention but is still very very rare.
In 15 years of practice I have never seen it nor even heard of an actual case via a colleague.

Did the oral surgeon actually say there was a good chance of nerve damage in your case? Did he/she suggest a percentage risk?

Are your lower wisdom teeth peeking through the gum? Do you remember anything else the surgeon said about their angulation? Was the word horizontal used in relation to the type of impaction? On the x-ray were they in a similar line up to your other back teeth but just without room to come in, or were they completely tipped forward or backwards?

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Thanks for the replys.
Jasper i was told by the surgeon that she had never had a case where there was permanent numbness, but she also said she had never seem a case where the nerves are lying as mine are.
I asked percentages, but she wouldn't say, just to say it was much higher than normal, and i need to think about what i want to do.
The teeth are peeking through, about half way. They looked straight to me on the xrays, but i asked if they could not take the teeth next to the widom teeth out, so they would have room to come through. She said no because they would be useless as they wouldn't come through straight????
I have been told that i have to have a general anaestetic, and will probably have to stay in over night, hence i have been booked into a hospital quite a longway away. (They don't do this at our local hospitals.)
Jasper, if you could ask your brainy dentist friends for me and let me know, i would be very gratefull.
I was very worried about this before, now i am petrified. (i know i am soft)
Thanks xx

I had a tooth removed recently that was under my unerupted wisdom tooth and it's changed my life. I had so much trouble like you and felt constant pressure on that side of my face. Plus I had soreness/abcess. Maybe the consultant is just covering herself? Go with your instinct and weigh up the risks with the suffering your going through now.
take care x

I had all 3 which were impacted taken out under GA, painful for a few days then sorted
Would recommend getting them out every time! Complications are rare I am pretty sure
J xx

saintshar sorry I did not get back sooner. Your idea of taking out the one in front is definitely worth reconsidering if the wisdom teeth (8s) are fairly upright. Oral surgeons are notoriously reluctant to do this because the end result does not give a neat line up of the teeth but if it would sort out your current problem with no risk of nerve damage it is def. worth considering. It is something I have done with several of my patients and they have all been delighted - easy extractions under local anaesthetic. The 8 comes through enough not to cause the problems of infections and pain, no nerve damage or post op complications at all.
It's not just lingual nerve damage you have to worry about, but also the inferior dental nerve .
The findings of the original (Cardiff I think) study showing greated risk of nerve damage in GA rather than Local anaesthetic have not been repeated,subsequent studies showing the risks are equal when extraction difficulty is considered. So don't worry about the General anaesthetic. I would have a GA if it was me but it is quite a personal thing. They will actively advise a GA ifthey think it will be particularly difficult.