Dentist help :(

[MyGreenBee]

Hi everyone I’m 24 and have all my wisdom teeth. Some are slightly impacted and are hard to brush. Ive decided I’d like them taken out as I can’t brush them properly due to lack of space. My mums scared me a bit as she said 24 is too late to get them taken out.

my nhs checkup is next month and I don’t want to wait that long as I’m just so anxious and want to get put on the referral list sooner Can a nhs patient get a private checkup at their nhs dentist ? Or are you then classed as a private patient ? I’m so nervous about the whole aspect of waiting and then actually getting them out now :(

has anyone had their wisdom teeth out at 24 ? If so how was it ? Also have you ever had a private checkup as an nhs patient ? Thank you 🌸

You can have your wisdom teeth out at any age but it's unlikely they'll agree to take them out on the NHS unless they are actually causing you an issue ie pain or infection.

If you have the private appointment and then need treatment, what happens then? Presumably you would have to have the work done privately? I would investigate how much that might cost before you do anything else - i've had to go private because there are no NHS dentists here and it cost me 140 for a check-up and 440 for 2 fillings.

Mine were taken out a long time ago but pretty sure after 24 and at regular dentist.

I had 3 wisdom teeth out at 24 and no problems, your mum is wrong they can be taken out at anytime. They were removed due to infections.
Highly unlikely any dentist will refer you to have these teeth out under the NHS unless they are causing infection or any other issues. Usual criteria is 2 infections that required antibiotics.
I would wait for your nhs appointment next month and discuss then, otherwise pay privately for a consultation plus surgical removal of them all, it will cost hundreds of pounds.

I can't advise on the NHS dentist assessing you as a private patient - sorry! It's probably possible if the practice takes both.

But wanted to say that I had all my wisdom teeth out at age 21-22 years old. They were growing "the wrong way" and were removed under local anaesthetic, whereas my brother's were more impacted so he went to the dental hospital and had general anaesthetic (I think). Both done some years ago so I expect treatment is much more advanced now!

So I'm pretty sure 24 isn't too old! Everyone's teeth will grow in different ways so only a dentist can tell what is the best course of treatment for you.

My DH was in his 50s when one became problematic and had to be removed.
Can you request removal without it being absolutely necessary?

That’s so reassuring thank you and gosh you’re right just checked it would be nearly £2000 privately think I’m just going to wait until my appointment in Feb thank you 💗

Usual criteria is 2 infections that required antibiotics.

Yes that's what I was told by my NHS dentist. I kept having flare ups where the gum around my impacted half erupted wisdom tooth would get very sore and swollen but I'd be able to avoid an actual infection with some medicated mouthwash etc. But it was frequently very painful.

I had it done privately a few months ago. I'm 32 and it was totally fine. It didn't occur to me age was a factor tbh. It was ~£300 as a surgical extraction without any sedation, just local anaesthetic - sedation would have been extra.