Wisdom teeth removal as preventative measure?

Lily_The_Legend

Hi, just wondered if anybody here has had their wisdom teeth removed as a preventative measure?

I've just seen my new dentist and he said I have two in the top of my mouth (none in the bottom) which are growing against my back teeth under my gum.

He said these could cause me problems in the future, and suggested having them removed. As they're not causing me any problems at the moment, I can't have them taken out on the NHS so would have to pay and go private.

Has anyone here had theirs taken out when they weren't causing them any problems?

I'm not sure I want to give myself the anxiety, pain and big bill for something that is not causing me any problems at the moment.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Bettie

I had my top wisdom tooth removed because it was aggravating an abscess that kept coming on my bottom tooth/gum. That was over 30 years ago and I've never had the abscess come back since so I guess it did something!
I can't recall paying private but times have changed and it's all different now.

WelshPaul

Next time you see the dentist tell him your wisdom teeth are causing you pain.

They can then be removed for free on the NHS!

Lily_The_Legend

WelshPaul wrote: »

Next time you see the dentist tell him your wisdom teeth are causing you pain.

They can then be removed for free on the NHS!

That's what someone at work said this morning! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

davetrousers

My lower wisdom teeth are slowly coming through, they're not causing me any problems atm, and the recent X rays showed they were straight. Until they cause problems they're staying put, I'm not putting myself through wisdom teeth extraction "just in case".

Lily_The_Legend

davetrousers wrote: »

My lower wisdom teeth are slowly coming through, they're not causing me any problems atm, and the recent X rays showed they were straight. Until they cause problems they're staying put, I'm not putting myself through wisdom teeth extraction "just in case".

Mine will never come through as they're growing in the wrong direction. :eek: But my gut feeling is that I don't want to put myself through something like that 'just in case' either.

WelshPaul

having your wisdom teeth is no easy extraction and can be very painful.

I would leave well alone until you need to do something!

jackieglasgow

Lily I have one partially erupted wisdom tooth and one which is sitting in pretty much the same position as you describe, and has been like that for at least twelve years with no symptoms - I have none on the other side of my mouth, in or out of the gums. I would leave it until it starts causing you bother - my new dentist says my non erupted one hadn't much chance of ever coming out now.

Lily_The_Legend

WelshPaul wrote: »

having your wisdom teeth is no easy extraction and can be very painful.

I would leave well alone until you need to do something!

Thanks Paul, I am not keen on the idea I can tell you! My last dentist never mentioned it being a problem so it was a bit of a shock when the new one brought it up this morning!

A woman I work with said she had it done for preventative measures and was in pain for about two weeks afterwards! :eek::eek::eek:

Lily_The_Legend

jackieglasgow wrote: »

Lily I have one partially erupted wisdom tooth and one which is sitting in pretty much the same position as you describe, and has been like that for at least twelve years with no symptoms - I have none on the other side of my mouth, in or out of the gums. I would leave it until it starts causing you bother - my new dentist says my non erupted one hadn't much chance of ever coming out now.

Thanks Jac. The thing is, I've had regular x-rays at my surgery for quite a while and surely if it was a major problem my old dentist would have mentioned it?

I have to go back for a filling on April 1st. :eek::rotfl:

jackieglasgow

The only reason I know mine is like that as the dentist found it on an xray, and I know how long it was as it was just after I got married - I had another xray last year and the dentist said it was almost exactly in the same position.