Wisdom tooth extraction - advice please!

[WheresItTo]

I have a broken wisdom tooth which I am (thankfully!) having removed tomorrow. The dentist who referred me suggested that I have the bottom wisdom tooth on the same side removed at the same time as if I don't it could start to grow up and out of the space as it won't be used anymore with the upper tooth gone. Is this right? He had no reason to suggest extra work if it wasn't needed as he I am having the work itself done by a different dentist, but I am reluctant to have a perfectly healthy tooth removed if it is not necessary, especially as I am having it done privately and the extra cost this would add.

WWYD? I will be sedated anyway, so the extra work isn't an issue (also getting them to re-do a filling at the same time), more the missing tooth if not necessary and the cost.

I would never let them take out a tooth which wasn't causing problems, as I had three wisdom teeth removed (under GA) because of one that was a problem. They convinced me that the others were bound to cause bother at some later stage so might as well get them all out together.

They hit a nerve under one that had never given me a day's bother in my life, and I still (15+ years later) do not have full sensation in that part of my face...

My tip would always be to avoid any medical intervention where you can't see an immediate need, unless they are very, very convincing that it's worth the risk of complications.

Thanks for the reply. I really don't know what to do! What you describe is exactly what I am worried about, but then if at some point I need to have something done to this one I will be kicking myself that I didn't just let them take the thing out when they had chance! I have bad gag reflex so any work on my back teeth requires sedation so that the dentist can just get on with it! So I either have a loooooong wait for NHS treatment (was referred in February to our local hospital and they can't do it until September) or I pay to have it done which is expensive.

I can't wait to have the broken one out as it is so painful, but this other one I just don't know.

I had two out at the same time and was glad I did on NHS.

My (adult) son had a second one out yesterday (on NHS) and I think he wished he had had both done at the same time to avoid the two separate extractions. At the time his dentist said as the second was not bothering him just have the one out first.

Thanks JaneParker. I can't get hold of my regular dentist to ask them about it. I have seen one NHS dentist (at the dental hospital) and 2 private dentisits regarding the tooth and only this last one said anything about the second tooth being removed, which is what made me question it. I have, however, just looked up the dentist who will be doing the work tomorrow and there are lots of good reviews, so that puts me at ease somewhat.

I still have time to think it over and I will talk it through tomorrow before going ahead, but I am really on the fence with it. I had 6 teeth removed as a child as they were very overcrowded, then I had to have another removed a couple of years ago as I went to a dodgy dentist who filled my tooth, but didn't do a very good job and it ended up very infected, so my worry is that I will end up with very few teeth! Luckily these are all back teeth, so no gappy smile just yet!

ps, hope your son recovers quickly, Jane Parker!

I've had all three out...and one never came through...
One kept trying to grow through and then didn't and was told eventually I would likely get an abscess and if I didn't have the opposing one out it would overgrow...so had both out at the same time...
Then 10 yrs later the lone one on the other side was irritating me ...it was slightly longer than the surrounding teeth - cos nothing to grind against (over grown) -made it harder to chew on that side - and also food would constantly get stuck between that tooth and the one next to it (not sure why) but I was constantly trying to dislodge - even chewing gum - with my tongue ...so had that out too- no problems, no regrets ...
(Except maybe a little - one tooth next to the first healthy wisdom tooth I had out got damaged (bit on a stone in grains) - I've had it filled etc but cos it on the back edge needed doing a couple of times and I have a pin in it now - wisdom tooth may have protected it/got chipped instead...)

One of mine has never grown through and never been a problem.
It is hard to tell. Now my son has had a second out he wished he'd had both those done at once but if at the time they thought it was never going to cause problems best not to take it out. If you have pain in it both at all get them both taken out.

He's fine today, been at work all day, I think he took some pain killers but i was only a local anaesthetic and they were not impacted/growing sideways and the same when I had mine so could be worse.

That's interesting, Unlucky83. Sounds like what the dentist was saying would happen if I don't have the bottom tooth out too. I have managed to get an appointment with my usual dentist tomorrow morning before I head to the clinic to see what she says.

JaneParker, glad to hear your DS has had no problems with his tooth. I am really hoping mine will be straightforward too!

I am veering towards having both out the more I think about it as I really don't want to have to have this done again! Was fine earlier today, but the closer it gets the more nervous I become.

This time tomorrow it will all be done

He is right - this happened with me; had one wisdom tooth not come through and the opposite number just grew further down with nothing to grind against/check its progress.

I had it out recently as it was getting more stuck out and a bit wonky too; pushing against other teeth and causing sensitivity. The extraction felt uncomfortable; a bit like a stick of rock splintering, but was over in seconds. Afterwards you just have to beware of dry socket. I gently gargled salt water and later on Corsodyl, and did the cold compress thing in the immediate aftermath. I had no pain, no bruising, no swelling.

Thanks EugenesAxe, that is pretty much exactly what he said would happen. At the moment I would happily let him whip out all 4 wisdom teeth with the pain the broken one is giving me! Looking more like I will be 2 teeth down tomorrow!

I had two bottom ones out as there wasn't space in my jaw for them and causing infections with trapped food where I couldn't clean. Upper two were taken out at the same time for the reason your dentist gave. This was NHS.

Thanks, Bumply. Good to hear this advice has been given to others too. Sounds like it is best to whip them both out. Dreading it TBH, though!

I have to have 3 wisdoms taken out and I'm terrified. Do they put you to sleep?

I had all mine out under local - and it was no problem -
Dentist did have to wrestle a bit with one - which was a bit unnerving and there was a cracking noise - -but no pain.
They do an xray first - in general NHS only put you to sleep if they have really big roots...
First ones I was under a private dentist - he asked me if I had insurance - I didn't - he gave me the option
IIRC - hospital/general £600 - or he'd 'whip them out' under local for £180

Well been to see my usual dentist who confirmed that it would be best to whip them both out, so that has decided that for me!

Patrick, I am having it done privately under IV sedation as I have a bad gag reflex and also am very nervous! It is costing around £700 for the sedation, 2 teeth out and 2 small fillings. I could have the sedation on the NHS but the wait is much much longer and am in lots of pain. My friend had hers out under a general on the NHS too, but again a long wait. Best to check with your dentist.

3 hours to go.....

All done. Am very sleepy, though. Will update tomorrow. Don't remember a thing!

Just a quick update. Had both teeth removed yesterday under IV sedation (which is lovely!!!). Luckily they checked the xray again as I had an infection in my jaw underneath the lower wisdom tooth that I was questioning, so that would account for the extra pain I was getting. Both teeth came out without the need for it to become surgical, but with the top one apparently some bone came away with the tooth (I knew nothing of this by the way until I asked DH what had happened) and so they had to give me a couple of stitches to close up the wound. If I didn't have the stitches I would have very little pain, just a little bruised feeling, but the stitches are quite painful. Luckily soluble paracetamol is helping.

Apart from that, no nasty side effects from the sedation or injections. Glad I have had it done at long last and if you are due to have this procedure then please don't worry too much! I knew absolutely nothing and woke up after it had all been done and dusted. The cannula in my hand was pretty much painless (have always had it in my arm before but in the hand was much better and no bruising) and they wait until you are under to numb everything up. I did manage to tell them I could feel the lower tooth being wiggled, so they just topped up the numbness stuff (I don't know what it is called!) and topped up my sedation and then I was off again!

Am staving, though and Muller rice just isn't hitting the spot!