Hi everyone,
Do you recommend extraction of the wisdom tooth? I have seen a few dentists here in CA, and they all recommend it. The thing is that they don't really bother me, plus getting them removed, 3 regular and 1 impacted, will set me back about one month on retirement savings. What should I do?
On the same front, what are your thoughts on dental deep cleaning? Is it more cost effective to get preventive care? or it is just dentist overselling ?
Any inputs are appreciated,
Altoid
Wisdom tooth extraction ?
Chenda, thank you for your reply. I am glad to know that I am not the only one with wisdom tooth left. A lot of my friends growing up in the US, all seemed to have their wisdom teeth taken out when they were teenagers.
The dentist's main argument is that the wisdom tooth is located way in the back of mouth, and it is hard to clean.
It is so true that there are a lot of overselling in dental industry and their service is incredibly expensive:(((
The dentist's main argument is that the wisdom tooth is located way in the back of mouth, and it is hard to clean.
It is so true that there are a lot of overselling in dental industry and their service is incredibly expensive:(((
I never got my wisdom teeth out, and I was told to do so years ago. So far no problems (knock wood). I fear dentists because of this overselling. I once went to a dentist who told me I had all kinds of cavities and problems that would cost thousands of dollars to fix. I never went back. About a year later, I went to another dentist who said my teeth were fine. Scary.
When I was 15 or 16 our family dentist told me I had to have my wisdom teeth out. He referred me to a specialist who said two of the teeth were impacted and would never come in properly. My parents and I decided we would wait to see if I experienced any pain or if my teeth were made crooked by the mouthful of teeth.
Twentysome years later and my wisdom teeth all came in perfectly. No pain. No problem cleaning them. No crooked teeth.
Twentysome years later and my wisdom teeth all came in perfectly. No pain. No problem cleaning them. No crooked teeth.
Dentist A: needed 4 wisdom teeth gone, braces and [lol] 30+ cavities fixed. After awesome government insurance it was still $20k and it would take half a year of constant visits. >:(
Dentist B (nonUS): Took an x-ray, said 1 cavity critical. Fixed it with higher quality materials (ceramic not mercury) and I paid a small amount of cash that day... She said American doctors fix tiny imperfections that don't need work. I think she was being diplomatic.
That was almost 10 years ago and I've had no problems outside of 1 wisdom tooth that got irritated by the gum. The solution is to keep them very clean with these:
http://www.amazon.com/Plackers-Twin-Whi ... roduct_top
Dentist B (nonUS): Took an x-ray, said 1 cavity critical. Fixed it with higher quality materials (ceramic not mercury) and I paid a small amount of cash that day... She said American doctors fix tiny imperfections that don't need work. I think she was being diplomatic.
That was almost 10 years ago and I've had no problems outside of 1 wisdom tooth that got irritated by the gum. The solution is to keep them very clean with these:
http://www.amazon.com/Plackers-Twin-Whi ... roduct_top
the impacted wisdom tooth I have on the left lower part, is causing some crowding issues and I can see that my front teeth are getting a bit crooked, one particularly bad. So what the dentist said makes certain sense. But my mom who had gone extensive dental work over the years, told me that once you start to extract tooth from your bone, it will become loose in space, and in some way destroys the natural structure of the teeth.
I had some similiar floss picks before, but because my teeth are close to each other, it is very hard for me to get floss in, to clean the gum. Does these from Amazon bend easily? as I need press it really hard to get it in. a bit TMI maybe...
I apparently also bite at night, and the dentist recommended me to use a night guard, which I find very uncomfortable, as it always induced a vomit reaction.
I had some similiar floss picks before, but because my teeth are close to each other, it is very hard for me to get floss in, to clean the gum. Does these from Amazon bend easily? as I need press it really hard to get it in. a bit TMI maybe...
I apparently also bite at night, and the dentist recommended me to use a night guard, which I find very uncomfortable, as it always induced a vomit reaction.
we learned a trick about getting a good dentist referral, as dw and i have legacy dental issues, and need good dental care. ===
Call an endontist in your area and ask for a referral to the best dentist in the area. Endontists, as specialists in certain dental procedures, see the work of all area dentists, since dentists refer patients to the endontist for work that they don't do.
Of course, I guess the best dental work is not necessarily the most practical minded dental work, but is a good place to start if you are new to an area and need quality care.
Call an endontist in your area and ask for a referral to the best dentist in the area. Endontists, as specialists in certain dental procedures, see the work of all area dentists, since dentists refer patients to the endontist for work that they don't do.
Of course, I guess the best dental work is not necessarily the most practical minded dental work, but is a good place to start if you are new to an area and need quality care.
@altoid: Are you/dentist certain it's the wisdom tooth causing the crowding? Perhaps yours are nearly in and it won't get any worse? My wisdom teeth never protruded fully from the gum, when it seemed they had more to come in. This is why I need the pick on the flossers, so keep it clean between tooth and gum.
They have the flossers at grocery stores for a few dollars. I will say every other brand/type I tried was inferior to those. Try and see if they work. My teeth are tight too and they work for me, and it definitely got easier as I did it more.
I know sometimes you need dental work. But in my experience dentists are worse thieves than mechanics and they have completely disregarded the Hippocratic oath... Maybe you could find an honest dentist that wasn't out to pay for his new degree.
They have the flossers at grocery stores for a few dollars. I will say every other brand/type I tried was inferior to those. Try and see if they work. My teeth are tight too and they work for me, and it definitely got easier as I did it more.
I know sometimes you need dental work. But in my experience dentists are worse thieves than mechanics and they have completely disregarded the Hippocratic oath... Maybe you could find an honest dentist that wasn't out to pay for his new degree.
@anomie, thank you for the suggestion. That makes a lot of sense, as it is hard for us no doctors to figure out who is good dentist, maybe until after a few treatments.
@JohnnyH: The impact wisdom tooth is growing horizontally under the gum line, and the dentist seems certain that is the cause for the crowding. Should I have to do the extraction, it will be an oral surgery, which I am not looking forward to at all. I am glad that the flossers you use work for tight teeth, I will give it a try.
I also start to see vertical fracture on my 2nd lower molar from each side. One even is getting a little sensitive when brushing.
So I am probably heading towards a big dental bill somewhere in the future. Now if there is no ways I can avoid it, I am hoping at least this can wait until 1/1/2013, when I can refill my FSA account.
@JohnnyH: The impact wisdom tooth is growing horizontally under the gum line, and the dentist seems certain that is the cause for the crowding. Should I have to do the extraction, it will be an oral surgery, which I am not looking forward to at all. I am glad that the flossers you use work for tight teeth, I will give it a try.
I also start to see vertical fracture on my 2nd lower molar from each side. One even is getting a little sensitive when brushing.
So I am probably heading towards a big dental bill somewhere in the future. Now if there is no ways I can avoid it, I am hoping at least this can wait until 1/1/2013, when I can refill my FSA account.
About 3 years ago, my jaw would occasionally hurt with a "clicking" sensation while chewing. The dentist recommended removing 4 severely impacted wisdom teeth to fix the problem.
So, I did. The painful clicking sensation went away for about a year, but now it's back. Meanwhile, I'm out $3000 and have permanently lost sensation in the left half of my chin due to nerve damage incurred during the surgery.
Knowing what I know now, I would not have made the same decision. I'd much prefer that somewhat painful and occasional clicking sensation in my jaw than nothing at all in my chin.
So, I did. The painful clicking sensation went away for about a year, but now it's back. Meanwhile, I'm out $3000 and have permanently lost sensation in the left half of my chin due to nerve damage incurred during the surgery.
Knowing what I know now, I would not have made the same decision. I'd much prefer that somewhat painful and occasional clicking sensation in my jaw than nothing at all in my chin.
@MattF, I am so sorry to hear about the nerve damage. I wish the dentist are more upfront about these risks involved. These surgery after all are not reversible. I had a major surgery on my mandible about 6 years ago(biggest mistake of my life), and lost the feeling on the chin since then. The nerves are not completely dead as when I scratch it, I can still feel it. But if there is a bit of food or water on the chin, I won't feel it at all, and that is a very awkward situation.
So if possible, I do not want another operation on me.
So if possible, I do not want another operation on me.
I had one removed a few years ago, because it was coming in and pushing the other ones. Still have the other three. But I have a big mouth -- or so they say . . .
I did lose some sensation in my face for awhile, but it came back. I would do it again, but only if the tooth is actually pushing on something. And I would wait until it is actually pushing or hurting. These things just don't happen that quickly.
I had mine done in the office -- just gave me a local and dug that thing out. Lots of ugly bone cracking noises, but it worked.
I did lose some sensation in my face for awhile, but it came back. I would do it again, but only if the tooth is actually pushing on something. And I would wait until it is actually pushing or hurting. These things just don't happen that quickly.
I had mine done in the office -- just gave me a local and dug that thing out. Lots of ugly bone cracking noises, but it worked.
I'm hyperdontic and was born with 8 wisdom teeth (They charge per tooth, so not very frugal of me). So far I've had two pulled because one had a painful cavity in it and the other was right there so the dentist just pulled it right out while he was in there through the same incision.
It wasn't at all painful and took all of 5 minutes, though there was some pain while recovering over the next few days but the happy pills do a pretty good job on that.
They recommend I get my other 6 pulled. I do plan on doing it in the next couple of years (I'm 28) because I read in one of their scare-brochures that once you get into your 40's the tooth can pretty much fuse with the jaw bone making it much more difficult to extract. So if I had another issue with them in the future where they had to be removed it would be much more involved than a 5 minute cut and pull session.
I go to a dental school for oral care. It's fairly cheap and what's nice is that you get to hear and participate in the discussion as the dental student and supervising dentist discuss your issues so you get better informed about the judgment calls they have to make. You can also get fairly cheap cleanings at technical schools with dental hygiene programs. Just check out their websites for a phone number to make an appointment. Though the school I go to won't do wisdom tooth extractions, I had to go to an oral surgery center for that and pay through the nose.
It wasn't at all painful and took all of 5 minutes, though there was some pain while recovering over the next few days but the happy pills do a pretty good job on that.
They recommend I get my other 6 pulled. I do plan on doing it in the next couple of years (I'm 28) because I read in one of their scare-brochures that once you get into your 40's the tooth can pretty much fuse with the jaw bone making it much more difficult to extract. So if I had another issue with them in the future where they had to be removed it would be much more involved than a 5 minute cut and pull session.
I go to a dental school for oral care. It's fairly cheap and what's nice is that you get to hear and participate in the discussion as the dental student and supervising dentist discuss your issues so you get better informed about the judgment calls they have to make. You can also get fairly cheap cleanings at technical schools with dental hygiene programs. Just check out their websites for a phone number to make an appointment. Though the school I go to won't do wisdom tooth extractions, I had to go to an oral surgery center for that and pay through the nose.
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LiquidSapphire
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When I was 17 I had an x-ray done and it showed two impacted wisdom teeth about to screw up 2 years worth of braces. When my frugal mother asked, "is there any chance it's going to fix itself?" our down to earth, no nonsense dentist pointed at the X-ray and said, "does THAT look like it's going to fix itself?" In his defense he never told us we needed work when we didn't so I respected that an awful lot. Also these wisdom teeth were at a flat out 90 degree angle headed straight for my molars on both sides on the bottom. I had two wisdom teeth (normal, on top) coming in that he didn't say needed to be touched.
I ended up having oral surgery that cost $1000 total for both teeth. We were warned of a chance that there was a smallish risk of jaw paralysis if certain nerves were touched in the jaw. I ended up fine but because of that don't know how I'd feel about going to a dental school with that risk. I was given 3 pain management options, the cheapest of which was six shots of novacaine and that worked out just fine; I found the bone/teeth cracking part facinating.
I still have the other two wisdom teeth. I did have cavities on both due to their being so difficult to reach but I have since gotten better at really getting in there to brush and no problems since. I'm told since the wisdom teeth at least partially touch the opposing molars I should be able to keep them indefinitely. If there was nothing on the opposing side touching the teeth apparently that is an indicator for other problems. (they keep on growing or something.)
A cautionary tale for not getting the work done on at least the impacted teeth: http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2012/ ... ng-misery/
I ended up having oral surgery that cost $1000 total for both teeth. We were warned of a chance that there was a smallish risk of jaw paralysis if certain nerves were touched in the jaw. I ended up fine but because of that don't know how I'd feel about going to a dental school with that risk. I was given 3 pain management options, the cheapest of which was six shots of novacaine and that worked out just fine; I found the bone/teeth cracking part facinating.
I still have the other two wisdom teeth. I did have cavities on both due to their being so difficult to reach but I have since gotten better at really getting in there to brush and no problems since. I'm told since the wisdom teeth at least partially touch the opposing molars I should be able to keep them indefinitely. If there was nothing on the opposing side touching the teeth apparently that is an indicator for other problems. (they keep on growing or something.)
A cautionary tale for not getting the work done on at least the impacted teeth: http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2012/ ... ng-misery/
Speaking of teeth, there are companies like www.bioeden.com which extract and store stem cells from milk teeth, which may be of use in future medical treatments. I understand wisdom teeth can also be used as a source. Of course, it's expensive and locks you into payments for decades for something which may ultimately be of no use.
Thank you everyone for sharing your story and input.
When it comes to dental care, do you use insurance or just pay cash?
I am currently using Delta dental from Costco,around $180 for two every year, which covers some, but the total comes close to what dentists charge for a cash patient on the wisdom tooth extraction.
When it comes to dental care, do you use insurance or just pay cash?
I am currently using Delta dental from Costco,around $180 for two every year, which covers some, but the total comes close to what dentists charge for a cash patient on the wisdom tooth extraction.
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jacob
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I'm very wary of the US dental system. I think I've gotten railroaded (oversold) twice. However, by asking people's opinions [instead of picking the first one in the phone book], it's totally possible to find dentists who are not operating one a pay-per-drill basis leasing their facilities. Expect to pay a bit more for the conservative dentists though as they're not trying to make up for it on volume.
That said, I got all my wisdom teeth extracted in the US. I had two semi impacted molars and two non-impacted. The first semi-impacted one came out when I was 28 due to trouble keeping it clean. The dentist figured he might as well pop out the two non-impacted ones as well.
Non-impacted: 10 seconds each.
Semi-impacted: 25 minutes.
Cost: About $500 with insurance.
(Impacted cost a lot more! Non-impacted are cheaper than cavities.)
The last semi-impacted one later developed the same issues. It took almost an hour digging it out and it had to be cut up in several pieces. The dentist used a set of pliers looking like a Leatherman Crunch.
Cost: $650 without insurance (in California).
My non-medical recommendation: If the medical opinion is that the molars _might_ cause trouble later, just get them out now. If they look fine and look like they will remain so, preemptive strikes are excessive. (The general policy in Europe is NOT to take them out.)
I'm very wary of the US dental system. I think I've gotten railroaded (oversold) twice. However, by asking people's opinions [instead of picking the first one in the phone book], it's totally possible to find dentists who are not operating one a pay-per-drill basis leasing their facilities. Expect to pay a bit more for the conservative dentists though as they're not trying to make up for it on volume.
That said, I got all my wisdom teeth extracted in the US. I had two semi impacted molars and two non-impacted. The first semi-impacted one came out when I was 28 due to trouble keeping it clean. The dentist figured he might as well pop out the two non-impacted ones as well.
Non-impacted: 10 seconds each.
Semi-impacted: 25 minutes.
Cost: About $500 with insurance.
(Impacted cost a lot more! Non-impacted are cheaper than cavities.)
The last semi-impacted one later developed the same issues. It took almost an hour digging it out and it had to be cut up in several pieces. The dentist used a set of pliers looking like a Leatherman Crunch.
Cost: $650 without insurance (in California).
My non-medical recommendation: If the medical opinion is that the molars _might_ cause trouble later, just get them out now. If they look fine and look like they will remain so, preemptive strikes are excessive. (The general policy in Europe is NOT to take them out.)
@Jacob, thank you for sharing you experience. Did you have any nerve damage during the extraction? I am really concerned about the risk involved.
The next thing dentist wants to do is a deep cleaning, which she said will tell if there is any cavities on the wisdom tooth.
I have friends who went through the extraction, and they told me dentists will remove wisdom teeth in pairs. So they take out the bottom one, the upper one has to go as well. Otherwise the upper one will just keep growing... scary..
The next thing dentist wants to do is a deep cleaning, which she said will tell if there is any cavities on the wisdom tooth.
I have friends who went through the extraction, and they told me dentists will remove wisdom teeth in pairs. So they take out the bottom one, the upper one has to go as well. Otherwise the upper one will just keep growing... scary..