Wisdom teeth removal as preventative measure?

Lily_The_Legend

jackieglasgow wrote: »

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.

I reckon mine must have been in the same position for a while now, it couldn't have just happened in a year or six months surely!

welshdent

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!

Doesnt really work like that paul.

Also we are more than capable of figuring out if a tooth is causing pain or not

We are largely obliged to follow NICE guidelines on extraction of wisdom teeth. Seeing as they are apparently free of decay, not causing any problems to adjacent teeth or affected with gum disease of some other condition that would leave the most common wisdom tooth complaint I see ... pericoronitis.

We are capable of telling what this is because the tooth wouldnt be all the way out and covered by some gum ... and sore and probably this gum would be swollen .... you need to have had this at least twice.

Toothsmith

I really can't comment on whether your teeth need to come out or not as I obviously can't see you or your X-rays.

NICE do have guidelines on wisdom tooth removal though, and it does say that patients should be actually having symptoms from them before removal should be considered on the nHS.

Things are rarely this black and white though, and there certainly are other circumstances where a judicious early removal will save a string of problems later on.

I generally refer all my wisdom tooth removals to oral surgeons unless the teeth are through, and look easy to get out (A lot really are very easy).

But I do find that a well written referral letter explaining my reasons why this or these particular wisdom teeth need to come out and addressing it directly to the consultant will pay dividends, and get the patient the required treatment on the NHS.

If the dentist is taking them out himself, then it's really up to him to say whether it's an NHS case or not. But the regulations do say that 'All necessary treatment' should be carried out on the NHS. So if he's saying this treatment is 'necessary' then it should be available on the NHS.

It really is a tricky one to call without being able to see your specific case, because NICE and NHS regulations are in conflict here.

welshdent

p.s. unless exempt the only way to get a free extraction is if we as the dentist feel we can not do it and then refer you to the hospital .... and then THEY need to agree to do it which is by no means a certainty as I am increasingly finding

LoopyLil_2

I had mine removed as a preventative measure when I was 18, I had had no previous pain from them at all. Having them removed was not a nice experience I can tell you, I had them all done at once under a general anaesthetic and they had to go digging for them! I was advised by my dental surgeon to have them out before they started causing any pain.
Wisdom teeth can grow at a funny angle, sometimes into the direction of the roots of the tooth in front.
My OH when he had a bit of pain from his wisdom tooth, the dentist removed the tooth in front of the wisdom tooth so that the wisdom tooth could grow freely.

Am I glad I had it done? yeah, after seeing some people in pain with their growing wisdom teeth.

Lily_The_Legend

Toothsmith wrote: »

I really can't comment on whether your teeth need to come out or not as I obviously can't see you or your X-rays.

NICE do have guidelines on wisdom tooth removal though, and it does say that patients should be actually having symptoms from them before removal should be considered on the nHS.

Things are rarely this black and white though, and there certainly are other circumstances where a judicious early removal will save a string of problems later on.

I generally refer all my wisdom tooth removals to oral surgeons unless the teeth are through, and look easy to get out (A lot really are very easy).

But I do find that a well written referral letter explaining my reasons why this or these particular wisdom teeth need to come out and addressing it directly to the consultant will pay dividends, and get the patient the required treatment on the NHS.

If the dentist is taking them out himself, then it's really up to him to say whether it's an NHS case or not. But the regulations do say that 'All necessary treatment' should be carried out on the NHS. So if he's saying this treatment is 'necessary' then it should be available on the NHS.

It really is a tricky one to call without being able to see your specific case, because NICE and NHS regulations are in conflict here.

Thanks Toothsmith.

I have had no problems with them at all.

He showed me the x-rays and explained some of the problems which could occur in the future.

As it's not a necessary removal, I'd have to go private.

I'm not too worried about paying for it, if I think it will prevent serious problems in the future, but on the other hand I don't want to go through the anxiety of worrying about the operation and the pain afterwards when I'm not sure they will ever cause me problems if you see what I mean.

Lily_The_Legend

welshdent wrote: »

p.s. unless exempt the only way to get a free extraction is if we as the dentist feel we can not do it and then refer you to the hospital .... and then THEY need to agree to do it which is by no means a certainty as I am increasingly finding

My issue is not with paying for it, but having to pay for a preventative measure when I don't know if it will actually cause me any problems in the future.

LoopyLil wrote: »

I had mine removed as a preventative measure when I was 18, I had had no previous pain from them at all. Having them removed was not a nice experience I can tell you, I had them all done at once under a general anaesthetic and they had to go digging for them! I was advised by my dental surgeon to have them out before they started causing any pain.
Wisdom teeth can grow at a funny angle, sometimes into the direction of the roots of the tooth in front.
My OH when he had a bit of pain from his wisdom tooth, the dentist removed the tooth in front of the wisdom tooth so that the wisdom tooth could grow freely.

Am I glad I had it done? yeah, after seeing some people in pain with their growing wisdom teeth.

:eek::eek::eek:

I should point out that I'm 30, do teeth carry on growing/moving at this age?

my1stbaby

I was 36 when I had my wisdom teeth removed. Top and bottom right hand side. I was having awful problems with bottom one and the dentist removed the top one at the same time. I was surprised at my age, always thought it happened when you are younger. Having gone through the operation which had to be under a general and having some bone removed, I would leave well alone as in my case it was not a nice experience, the after effects were pretty grim and I wouldn't even consider going through it 'just in case'. If I were you I would leave well alone. But it is your decision at the end of the day.

LoopyLil_2

Lily_The_Legend wrote: »

I should point out that I'm 30, do teeth carry on growing/moving at this age?

They could stay as they are for a while, they could move - it's anyones guess.

welshdent

Lily_The_Legend wrote: »

My issue is not with paying for it, but having to pay for a preventative measure when I don't know if it will actually cause me any problems in the future.

I know it was directed at welsh pauls comments on getting it free