Bottom lower wisdom tooth removal

roundbox

Hello


I have a wisdom tooth on the lower jaw. Has been there a few years.


It isn't painful, but it maybe causing decay on the adjacent tooth.


I would like to remove it, but I don't want to go to an ordinary dentist. I'm not an expert, but I believe there is a nerve in that area, and if it gets damaged it can patalyse that side of the face.


Are there dental surgeons that specialize in the removal of wisdom teeth, and how can I find one?


Thanks


PS


It would seem that only a general dentist can refer a patient to a dental hospital?


The point I'm making is that if and when it needs to be removed I don't want a general dentist pulling it out. I want someone who pulls out LOWER wisdom teeth on a regular basis; that is, at least several lower-wisdom teeth a week.


If I wannted to have this done privately, how much would it cost roughly, and more importantly how do I know that the dentist/surgeon extracts wisdom teeth on a regular basis. That is, is there is a list of dental surgeons that specialize in lower-wisdom tooth extractions?


Addition:-
It was a normal check-up. I didn't mention the wisdom tooth and neither did the dentist.

I'm leaning towards leaving it in there for now, but if later it needs pulling out, and the dentist says she wants to do the extraction, can I insist on a hospital referral so that it is extracted by someone who extracts at least one lower-wisdom tooth per day?

Toothsmith

You need to go and see an 'ordinary' dentist first. No one is going to sit you down and remove it against your will on the very first visit!! Especially if it really is tricky, as no dentist would want to mess about with anything like that if they didn't feel happy or qualified to do it!!

If you've not seen a dentist for a while, then is it just a concern from googling that there may be decay there, or has a dentist told you there is? This is the sort of thing that needs to be looked at and assessed first. It might be perfectly all right and not need anything doing at all.
You are quite right about there being a nerve in that area that needs to be taken care of otherwise there can be consequences. But every dentist from about a 2nd year student will know this. Despite this, sometimes damage to it just happens. No-one's fault, not due to poor care, or lack of skill, just because these things sometimes happen. The assessment of the tooth is important, and if the tooth is not close to this nerve then damage is much less likely. However, the first thing of importance on the assessment is 'Is there a problem?' If the patient has no pain, and that tooth is of low risk of causing a problem - then the very best thing to do is leave it alone.

Anything from there up is a question of balancing the risk of leaving is vs the risk of removal.

So, once assessed & discussed with you, if removal is deemed necessary, then that dentist can then refer you on to an oral surgeon if needs be who will do the extraction, eithe4 under local or a GA depending on which would be best in that situation.

humptydumptybits

My DD was terrified when she needed a lower wisdom tooth removed. She was warned that it was tricky and the nerve was very close to the roots. She was referred to local hospital and immediately felt confident in the dentist/specialist (I'm not sure what his title would be) who was going to do the removal. It all worked out OK. So my advice is do what Toothsmith says and see a dentist, get a referral if necessary and hopefully you will see someone who can sort it all out for you.

roundbox

If I wanted to have this done privately, how much would it cost roughly, and more importantly how do I know that the dentist/surgeon extracts wisdom teeth on a regular basis. That is, is there is a list of dental surgeons that specialize in lower-wisdom tooth extractions?

Jox

I had my lower wisdom tooth taken out 8 years ago, I have private medical insurance and it cost about £1600 at BMI hospital.

Go to a dentist and get some advice, they are professionals and have seen this millions of times.

Toothsmith

roundbox wrote: »

If I wanted to have this done privately, how much would it cost roughly, and more importantly how do I know that the dentist/surgeon extracts wisdom teeth on a regular basis. That is, is there is a list of dental surgeons that specialize in lower-wisdom tooth extractions?

The cost could depend on how complex it is. That's best discussed with a dentist who can see you. If you want a GA, it will be hugely expensive to pay for, as there is so much extra equipment & manpower needed. Local and sedation would be cheaper, but still quite dear.

If you're referred to an oral surgeon - then wisdom teeth removal is one of the simplest things they are trained to do. There is a lower grade of dentist with a 'special interest' in oral surgery. They often provide the more routine oral surgery jobs for the NHS - but still, simple/intermediate wisdom tooth removal would be their bread and butter. It would be what they are mostly doing all day. If they are sent one they feel is too complex, then they would kick it up to a 'proper' oral surgeon.

As I said in my first reply - go and see an ordinary dentist, and get their advice on the best way forwards. I think you're over-thinking things at the moment.

roundbox

I have been to see my local dentist (NHS), and she didn't even mention the wisdom tooth or the decay that is clearly present on both the wisdom tooth and the adjacent tooth.


Would an "ordinary" dentist be able to realistically and accurately assess the risk of damaging that nerve?

sheramber

I had a lower wisdom tooth that was only part through. It never came any further.

It had no decay but my dentist was concerned that if it did get decay there was not enough tooth to fill and recommended removal while it wasn't causing any concern.

He would not do it himself but referred me to the dental hospital , as he thought I would need a GA.

However, the hospital dentist thought he could do it with a local.

I didn't even know he had removed it. I thought he was still examining it prior to removal.

I had no problems afterwards.

Toothsmith

roundbox wrote: »

I have been to see my local dentist (NHS), and she didn't even mention the wisdom tooth or the decay that is clearly present on both the wisdom tooth and the adjacent tooth.


Would an "ordinary" dentist be able to realistically and accurately assess the risk of damaging that nerve?

Clearly present to whom?

Who has said there is decay there? Did you tell this NHS dentist you were worried about it? What was her response?

Yes - an ordinary dentist could tell you if it was high risk or low risk, but not even a highly skilled oral surgeon would be able to predict the future and tell you exactly what would happen when your wisdom tooth is taken out.

People are all different, and although the distance from the roots to the nerve, or the length and curvature of the roots, or the amount of bone removal/disruption necessary when removing it can all add up to how 'risky' the procedure is likely to be to the nerve, there are also completely unknown factors that could kick in. How much will the area swell/bruise afterwards and what damage could that pressure do? That is completely unknowable beforehand. The low, but undeniably possible risk of post-op infection could also cause a problem. There are several factors that could just add up to make an 'easy' removal a problem.

So no one can say exactly what will happen.

This shouldn't put you off if a wisdom tooth NEEDS to come out, as the risk of keeping a bad one is undeniably greater that the risks of removal, but having a lower wisdom tooth removed unnecessarily is probably a risk not worth taking. This is why I'm asking you who has said your wisdom tooth is bad?

If it is another dentist who has had the opportunity to examin you in a proper surgery with access to x-rays and good lighting, then fair enough.

If it's because you've googled a picture and you and a mate who once had an interview to be a dental nurse both think it looks a bit like your wisdom tooth - then I wouldn't be taling about finding an oral surgeon to pay to take it out just yet.

roundbox

It was a normal check-up. I didn't mention the wisdom tooth and neither did the dentist.


I'm leaning towards leaving it in there for now, but if later it needs pulling out, and the dentist says she wants to do the extraction, can I insist on a hospital referral so that it is extracted by someone who extracts at least one lower-wisdom tooth per day?

Toothsmith

If it is definitely decayed (Another dentist has seen it and diagnosed this) then was it just that this new dentist had missed that? If that is the case, then you need to get it properly assessed and not just leave it.

If the 'obvious decay' in it is something you've just assumed, based on no proper assessment - then you're probably right to leave it until someone tells you there is a need to get it looked at.

If it looks difficult, then unless that dentist has an interest in oral surgery - they would probably prefer to refer it anyway. But yes, your preferences for how it is removed is an important part of the decision making process.

Extractions are paid so poorly on the NHS, though, that even a pretty competent dentist might well prefer to refer all but the most simple extractions anyway!