Dentist pressuring me to remove my wisdom teeth.

Does he say why they should be removed? I agree with you, if they're not causing a problem, why remove them? Doctors (and dentists) are in the business of making money.

Does he say why they should be extracted, e.g. gum health?

He said it's too hard to clean them which is bullshit. All four wisdom teeth are fully erupted.

If they don’t hurt and aren’t messing up your other teeth by pushing them around then I would leave them.

I still have mine.

If it ain't broke...

Find another dentist

[quote]I still have mine.

How much would you sell them for?

My husband is a dentist. He says getting rid of wisdom teeth is just cosmetic dentistry if there is no negative impact from them.

You’re 44 and you still have wisdom teeth?

I still have all 4 of mine, and a couple of them are only partially erupted and are acting as food traps. Of course they’re rotting and need to be removed. I just don’t want to go through the trauma.

Are there dentists who will do the procedure without general anesthesia, but local anesthesia instead? Waking up from general anesthesia is AWFUL.

I’m also 44. I need to get rid of them, because every once in a while I’ll stick my tongue back there to dig a piece of food out, and that foul odor comes loose… mortifying! YUCK!

Have you thought about another dentist?

Wow, an adult with fully erupted wisdom teeth. That's extremely rare. Something like 90% of Americans get them removed. Do feel any pain or discomfort? If not, why go through it? I had a fairly easy extraction at19, but after healing, having three holes to have to dug food out of was annoying. It took a while for everything to smooth over.

Just monitor and brush and floss. And find another dentist!

I'd switch dentists. Why is he threatening you like that for no good reason? The hell with him.

R10, I had all mine removed with local anesthesia. I don’t know why general anesthesia would be needed.

I am 44 and join you sir.

A dental surgeon i visited in 2008 said that my wisdom teeth were so imbedded and fucked up that I would have nerve damage.

I had that 360' degree scan.

FUCK THAT SHIT.

They are still imbedded and will leave the earth with me , as such.

Little cunts.

That dude was an ARMY SURGEON and told me not to bother, so I didn't.

(Cool guy too!!!)

Imbedded is not the word, there is a dental word for it.

[quote]Are there dentists who will do the procedure without general anesthesia, but local anesthesia instead? Waking up from general anesthesia is AWFUL.

Yes. I had mine pulled and I was awake the whole time.

Reading these posts now..

Oh fuck that! My bitches are NOT ERUPTED. They are in the jaws. Shit.

You have to watch for tumors.

I am half dead anyway. so this world can eat me.

The surgeon told me I was fucked, and I listened.

I want to feel my face!

R25, impacted?

I never needed mine pulled. My mouth is quite healthy.

This guy is a quack.

R18- IMPACTED!!!!

Mine are impossibly impacted to the point my nerves and face will need to be destroyed.

Maybe get a 2nd opinion, OP. There may be a valid reason to get them extracted. Better to do it proactively than to try to do it in an emergency situation.

Types of impactions.

I'm forty three and also still have all of my wisdom teeth. They've never caused me any issue so I've never even asked about getting them removed and no one's ever suggested it.

I was terrified that I would end up losing all my teeth by the time I was 25 because at that age my dad lost his second set of teeth to some weird third set that grew in but we're so messed up they all had to be pulled so he had dentures ever since.

R10, get a water pik and use an antiseptic mouthwash instead of water or a mixture of both.

[quote]He said it's too hard to clean them which is bullshit.

Well there's your answer. Your molars are probably so close together that he has a hard time getting betwen them with floss, pick, or scraper, which can lead to plaque buildup, decay, or gum disease.

I'm over 50 and still have mine. I've never had a dentist suggest removing them. I use a waterpick because it's too difficult for me to reach them with a toothbrush. If they don't hurt or didn't erupt at some weird angle that inhibits your chewing or cleaning, keep 'em.

So the dentist is an old yellow ivory collector?

Who knew warthog tusks were worth something.

What a coincidence! I didn't know your mother and I had the same dentist!

R10 Better make sure it’s not infected. A deep cleaning might help

I'm 62 and have all 4 of my wisdom teeth. They are fully in since mid-teens. Dentist mentioned removing them when I was a teenager, but I never did. My dentist now says I seen to keep them clean and no gum inflammation. She says she sees no reason for them to come out. It is unusual for someone my age to still have all 4 of them.

[quote]Doctors (and dentists) are in the business of making money.

And I suppose your do your job just for the fun of it?

I still have my wisdom teeth AND my tonsils. Never had anything removed from my beautiful body.

^Do you still have your maidenhead?

So your head is still up your ass?

R32, you sound HOT as HELL

I had a gap between my front teeth for years, but once my wisdom teeth were yanked, everything filled 8n and straightened out. So there’s a benefit.

R32, you sound HOT as HELL

My wisdom teeth never came in, and I have never had any problem whatsoever. My dentist never tried to remove them. I'm totally fine and take care of my teeth all the time. I'm 60.

Like circumcision, removal of wisdom teeth is unnecessary. If there is an individual issue, then the issue is addressed individually.

Tell your dentist to go pound sand.

If the teeth are healthy, there is no reason to remove them. Happy chewing!

Dentists, in my experience nearly all of them, are out to rip as much money out of you and your insurance as they can.

A recent dentist told me that unless I agreed to a list of extras on my scheduled treatment that I risked not getting any treatment at all. The group manager then told me they'd held on to an insurance overpayment for six months at which point I said that at the very least that was unethical. So I got the scheduled treatment and only that treatment.

Left them, went to a new dentist, who proceeded to tell me after an exam that I needed to replace a bridge and several crowns, none of which were giving my any problems and most of which had only been done within the last three years. Total estimate for that work: $14,000.

I live near the Mexican border and will be going to Nogales for my next appointments at half the cost for any new work.

Hold on to your wisdom teeth, OP.

I had all four wisdom teeth and a molar removed at one time. Horrible experience.

I'm pretty sick of my dentist, right now. My town doesn't have a lot of dentists, but a friend just gave me a recommendation for someone else (another dentist). I may switch.

I had mine taken out about 18 years ago.

Actually, I'd had one taken out when I was about 23? The last time, there was one that was impacted and causing me a lot of pain.

The sugeon suggested the other two come out while he was in there; he couldn't get to one of them. I asked for the pieces but I they were so shattered I don't think I kept them.

I do have the one taken out when I was 23. It's still pretty intact; the roots were going out in three different directions.

The dentist had his hand in my mouth trying to take it out; he said it'd be easy and then I hear him go, 'Huh,' when he's got a hold of the tooth and it doesn't come out; I bled and bled.

Don't do it!... You'll end up dumb as a box of rocks 😳