How do you know if wisdom teeth really need to be removed

[DLgal]

Invisaline is around the same cost as traditional braces here, and most adults I know that choose to straighten their teeth use it, you can hardly see it.

That's interesting. Around here, invisalign is significantly more expensive than traditional braces. Like, 50% more on average.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

I'm wondering how to know when you really need to do this.

My 16 year old was referred over a year ago for an evaluation for wisdom teeth removal. Due to covid appt cancelations, it was just done yesterday and our out of pocket is 2k.

She has no pain, no issues, no crowding.

Part of me thinks it's not really needed and they are doing it because that's when lots of people have them removed. But if they aren't causing any issues, do we really need to do this? Of course the dentist says yes because they want money. I think they probably tell every kid around this age they should be removed.

They tell you this because when the teeth DO start to become a problem, 1)your kid is usually in college, about to come off your insurance plan, and 2)the older you are, the harder it is to heal from the surgery. Yes you just want to get them out. BEFORE any pain, issues, or crowding.

 

[amcc]

The thing with wisdom teeth is that you don't have pain or issues until you do. Mine were no problem until one day, my first semester away at grad school, I opened my mouth to bite a granola bar and I couldn't close it due to the pain. My sister had to drive up to take me to the surgery and take care of me. I had the very basic school insurance so only $200 was covered and a credit card covered the rest - my previous employer's insurance would have covered it if I would have done it 6 months earlier. As soon as I graduated and started work again, I had the other 2 removed.

 

[mjkacmom]

That's interesting. Around here, invisalign is significantly more expensive than traditional braces. Like, 50% more on average.

The typical cost of braces here is $6500.

 

[cedricandsophie]

I never got wisdom teeth, neither did my daughter. I’m 70 and only have 4 cavities my whole life and one Tooth pulled as a child for some Reason but I a mouth full of crowns because I have always been a grinder. My husband had to have a couple wisdom teeth removed but as an adult. My grand daughter had all of hers removed when she was in college. I guess it’s just genetic.

 

[hsmamato2]

I have mine....middle aged adult. I view this as a new trend - my kids dentist kept talking about removal, even tho there were no problems. I let them know they wouldn't be removing them unless they started creating a problem. So far so good...2 adult children with no issues.

 

[tennisfan]

I have the top ones, one has finished coming through and one is on a slow transition. My dentist told me she would leave them alone as long as they grown straight & not causing any problems which they aren't

 

[Arielfan98]

Got mine out at 14. I'm no dentist/doctor, so please take my experience with a grain of salt. I was fortunate enough to grow up with relatively straight natural teeth, so I never required braces or retainers. Dentists always told me to get some for an "overbite" tooth I had, the one bad apple among my row of teeth. My mom always felt it was just to get money and I agree, so far no issues but I'm only 23 now so we'll see.
However, because I had such nice pearls, we decided to go ahead and get all my wisdom teeth removed. I learned from the dentist/orthodontist that there are different types of wisdom teeth, meaning they can grow in different ways. Mine happened to be the worst kind possible, so to stop that from ruining the rest of my good teeth, we opted to remove all wisdom teeth.
In the end, I think you just have to weigh the pros and cons and take a risk. Whether that risk is getting them removed or not. I would see a specialist to ask for more information because I had to go to an orthodontist to understand how my particular wisdom teeth were growing in and how they'd ruin the rest of my teeth like a domino effect.

 

[Brandilla]

Just to add another experience here... I am 35. My parents did not take us to the dentist much as a child. Specifically, I only remember going twice, plus the follow up to fill cavities. As an adult with my own insurance, I started going regularly around the age of 19. My dentist told me at that point, the jaw (or nerve roots? I can't remember specifically) is completely formed and there was no benefit to me having them out at that point vs any other time in my adult life if they weren't bothering me, plus it was a cost that I couldn't afford. I had no issues and wasn't concerned.
Fast forward to 30ish and my bottom wisdom teeth randomly were partially erupted (they were sideways), leaving a pocket that I had a very hard time keeping clean. So I opted to have the bottoms removed but keep the top. It was a tough recovery. Very painful and about 3 weeks or so before I felt normal again. But I don't regret it.
I just went to a new dentist and hygenist this month who complimented my teeth over and over saying they couldn't believe I'd never had braces, my teeth were very straight. So my bottoms erupting were no problem for my alignment. The dentist also noted my top wisdom teeth were still there, and that they will probably never give me any issues because of how high they are. So I felt like I made a good choice to leave them.

Bottom line, I would maybe get a second opinion, but likely hold off. Especially if $2,000 is a large purchase for you (it definitely is for me!).

 

[tvguy]

My dad always claimed he had his out as a teenager........then in his 50's a new set had to be removed because new ones grew in.
I always thought he was kidding, my mom says no and thanks to Google I know it is possible. They are called supernumerary teeth.
My mom on the other hand had her's. She had another tooth pulled as a teen.......by the vet........since there were no dentists anywhere near the farm in the 1930's and she had a toothache.
When I had to move her into a care facility after she had a stroke when she was 90, I got more than one call that she wasn't cooperating and wouldn't take her dentures out. She didn't have dentures, those were her real teeth.

 

[DVC-Don]

I've had three dentists over the years mention removing my wisdom teeth. I'm 68 and still have them. In fact I still have all my original teeth. Got a few root canals and crowns, but the teeth are all mine.

 

[Kestryl]

Got mine out at 16, because three were going to come in sideways. Made a lot more sense to do it then over summer than worry about it later while I was in college.

My husband got his out at 31- his had come in straight, but there was a cavity in one and root damage in another. Insurance kicked in $1500.

I’ve had a few friends in their 20s who did not have dental insurance and either had to live with the pain or pay out of pocket or wait until an opening in a dental school popped up.

 

[dina444444]

I had all 4 of mine removed my senior year of high school. All of mine were impacted and I have a small jaw. I had to have two teeth removed on the top while I had braces, however the surgeon wouldn’t remove the identical ones on the bottom so I am eventually going to need braces again from having crowding on the bottom.

 

[biochemgirl]

I called the dentist and talked to her this morning (my husband took her and didn't ask any questions).

I asked her to explain why she was recommending this if there is no pain, problems or crowding. She basically told me it's recommended for teens for preventive measures as they could cause issues down the line.

I'm torn. I had them removed when I was 18, although I don't really recall if there was a particular reason. Seems like it might be a good idea for "preventive" sakes but dang 2k because it could prevent something in the future.

Sure feels like they just want my money.

As a dental hygienist, I work almost exclusively with adults with moderate to advanced periodontal disease (aka gum disease). I have seen person after person that says their wisdom teeth came in fine - not true. They don't see what I can see. Their wisdom teeth are only partially erupted and due to the limited and angled space, it is physically impossible to fit a standard toothbrush 360 degrees around each tooth. And forget about flossing! This situation creates a perfect reservoir for the bacteria germs that cause cavities and gum disease. These germs are perfectly capable of infecting neighboring teeth, especially in less than perfect self-care cases.

Spending money now will most likely save money later AND save teeth! Gum disease progresses like dominoes through teeth. At 30 a wisdom tooth has an infected gum pocket, but so does the neighboring molar. So the wisdom tooth is extracted and the other one is now too difficult to self-clean. The average person can't clean into a 5 mm pocket by themselves. At 40, the story repeats and molars are extracted or have gum surgery to try to save them. And on and on. It's a viscious cycle of pain, loss, time, and expense.

 

[MrsPete]

My daughter and a lot of her friends had the surgery done around the same time for this reason. Part of my thinking was that it is a lot easier to have the surgery done during an easy time on the calendar. It will not be pleasant if it is a panic situation during college finals week.

Exactly! Earlier in this thread I explained that I had to have my wisdom teeth out in my first semester of college. It wasn't the end of the world, but it also wasn't perfect timing.

I had mine done many years ago while in college. Mostly I remember the pounding pain in my jaw while walking uphill on campus for the first few days after surgery. Eventually I went back to the doctor and found out that one of the sockets was infected.

I don't remember the specifics of the pain, but I remember it was bad enough that I couldn't sleep some nights.

(it was only $400 oop),

I don't remember how much I paid for my girls to have their wisdom teeth out in 2011 and 2014, but I know it was not enough to give me pause.

The thing with wisdom teeth is that you don't have pain or issues until you do.

So true! I was FINE in my last weeks of high school. I graduated on a Friday night and on Saturday morning I left to go to work at a summer camp -- the pain began that first week. I literally went from FINE to AUUUUGH overnight.

They are called supernumerary teeth.

Isn't that what sharks have?

I remember a couple of days being zonked out on my parents' couch, but was fine after that.

I remember coming home and sleeping the whole day ... and when I woke the next morning I ate two huge plates of spaghetti without difficulty. It really was an easy process. I think that's typical for most people.

As a dental hygienist, I work almost exclusively with adults with moderate to advanced periodontal disease (aka gum disease). I have seen person after person that says their wisdom teeth came in fine - not true. They don't see what I can see.

Obviously I don't have your experience, but I believe you.

 

[cvjw]

We thought of wisdom teeth extraction like braces. Neither is required of parents, but it is the right thing to do for your kids. Do it now and save your kid headaches down the road.

 

[shamrock30]

I have all four of mine still. I guess that's somewhat unusual, but no dentist has mentioned it to me since my twenties, and I'm way older now.

 

[Moliphino]

I had mine out at 17 because I have an absolutely tiny mouth and they would have not fit and caused a lot of issues if they had started erupting, potentially undoing 5 years of orthodontic work. As an adult, I have only 24 teeth.

Hey, me too! I had to have four adult teeth out before I got braces due to crowding, so there was definitely no room for wisdom teeth, either. Those came out during a summer break in college.

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

Having room for them and if they are coming in straight are two big keys. I had several teeth pulled when I had braces and I am in my late 40s now with all 4 of my wisdom teeth in and they all came in straight and I had room from them. It is a challenge to keep them brushed and flossed properly, but up to this point, no issues at all. My wife had hers out when she was in college and my daughter had hers out at 14. My son, like me, has all 4 in (19) and they are causing him no issues.

 

[Summer2018]

I'm wondering how to know when you really need to do this.

My 16 year old was referred over a year ago for an evaluation for wisdom teeth removal. Due to covid appt cancelations, it was just done yesterday and our out of pocket is 2k.

She has no pain, no issues, no crowding.

Part of me thinks it's not really needed and they are doing it because that's when lots of people have them removed. But if they aren't causing any issues, do we really need to do this? Of course the dentist says yes because they want money. I think they probably tell every kid around this age they should be removed.

Pain and discomfort should be the only reason. Mine were impacted at the age of 19, and I had all 4 removed at once. It was a painful nightmare. I wouldn't put my kid through that unless absolutely necessary.