Wisdom Teeth

.em. · #1 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 11:39 PM

I have some questions for everyone about wisdom teeth (funny, I know!):

Have you had your wisdom teeth taken out/Do you still have your wisdom teeth?

Is it common where you live for people to have their wisdom teeth taken out?
I ask this because I live in the USA, and I think the country as a whole has a bit of a reputation for being sorta obsessed with having perfect teeth.

Does anyone know why they take wisdom teeth out?

I came up with this topic because I haven't had my wisdom teeth out, and I'm 20 years old (my sister had hers out this year, she's 17). My teeth are in good shape, and I wear my retainer (I had braces) every night. My wisdom teeth seem to be okay too, except for one which feels like it's sideways. My teeth never hurt though. I've been told by the dentist before that I need my wisdom teeth out, but never why, so I wonder if he said that because I really needed too, or just because it's something that everyone seems to have done. I would have them taken out, but I moved out of my parent's house three months ago, so I have no insurance (I accept this though, not angry or anything because it was my choice and I feel better now that I'm 'on my own'). Thus, surgery would probably be pretty expensive and unaffordable. So that's where all of my questions stem from.

Anyway, I'm interested in what you have to say about it!

Wonderwall · #2 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009, 01:27 AM

It's safer to leave your wisdom teeth in if you're not suffering any complications.

catclaw · #3 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009, 01:58 AM

i had mine taken out. i've never heard of anyone getting them taken out for no reason, so there's no conspiracy.

i have an extremely small mouth. i had to have four teeth removed for braces and i still had no room for my wisdom teeth to grow in. when they started coming through it was extremelyyyyy painful and they were pushing my other teeth around.

that's just one reason why people get their wisdom teeth removed. and if the wisdom teeth start to push through the gum but make slow progress it opens up problems with gum infections and stuff.

my dentist knew for a while that i was going to need them out just by looking at x-rays.

the_zorya · #4 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009, 02:13 AM

I haven't had any complications with my wisdom teeth and still have them intact.

My mom's nearly 50 and still has hers. She was just telling me how her wisdom teeth actually grew in crooked and no dentist has ever said anything about needing to take them out.

So I do think a lot of people get them taken out when they don't really need to.

breemm · #5 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009, 09:13 AM

Lol, I've been wondering the same thing about wisdom teeth & am in a similar situation to you. I'm 27 & mine haven't come through yet, but I've had braces & had to get teeth removed for that & at the time my orthodontist said I'd need my wisdom teeth out too, yet it hasn't happened. I have no medical insurance either so I'm bit nervous that it'll happen & it'll be expensive.... It does make you wonder what people in poorer countries who have no dental care do, I've never heard of anyone dying from not having their wisdom teeth out or anything, so I guess it's something you can live with. I'm also paranoidly afraid of pain & needles so it doesn't help my cause for wanting my wisdom teeth out, lol.

catclaw · #6 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009, 02:09 PM

i know lots of people that still have their wisdom teeth too ... like i said before, it's not some crazy dental conspiracy. if they cause you problems, you get them removed, if they don't, you keep em.

aquaxkitty · #7 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009, 03:28 PM

I don't have mine yet! ; 3;

StrawberryShortcake · #8 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009, 04:51 PM

I haven't had my wisdom teeth taken out but I should soon. But the reason why I haven't is because my jaw is locked so they can't get my jaw open all the way in order to perform the surgery or whatever.

It's very common for people where I live to have their wisdom teeth taken out. (I live in the USA as well). Every adult that I know have had their wisdom teeth taken out.

Well, first off, sometimes your wisdom teeth can cause a lot of pain if you don't take them out. You can easily get cavities back there as well because it is harder to reach them when you brush.

Martine-chan · #9 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009, 05:39 PM

I'm 15 and I've got them for 2 years already, but my brother is 18 (19 tomorrow xD) and his are only just coming through. o_O

Haven't had any complications though, so I'll just let them in my mouth I guess. :"D

Tsuyako · #10 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009, 08:59 PM

I've had mine for a couple of years, but they have yet to cause me problems

I think it all depends on mouth sizes or something

chacha · #11 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 06:21 AM

My wisdom teeth were growing in a way that would push the rest of my teeth, resulting in crowding. I got them removed this summer. They said if I didn't, they'd cause pain later on so.

.em. · #12 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 05:23 AM

Hm, so I guess it's different for everybody!

Caitlin · #13 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 09:32 AM

I got all 4 of mine out last year. Horrible. x[ My painkillers weren't strong enough. And one night because of being on so much medication, combined with the pain, and just being grossed out by the blood and huge holes and stuff, I threw up nine times within 3 hours. Ugh.

But yeah, I got mine out because my orthodontist took an x-ray and saw that they'd be coming in soon and would probably push around my teeth which had already been straightened by braces. Sooo I had them taken out like a month later.

katzluva · #14 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 10:27 AM

You get them removed only if it's disrupting something. Does your teeth feel cramped? Is them growing out going to make the rest of your teeth crooked? If no, then you really dont need to worry about it. My jaw is small, and all four of my wisdoms grew up and it was causing me a lot of jaw aches so I HAD to get rid of them. The oral surgery sucked, but after it healed, omg so much better haha.

xshengflipx · #15 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 05:32 PM

unless they are causing you pain or messing your teeth out, you might have to pull them out.
But if they are fine and are growing like a normal tooth, then you are fine.
It's perfectly normal for people to keep their wisdom teeth in.

I had mine taken out this year and it wasn't that bad. Just the blood part was bad and dry tongue. :[[ you can't sleep after the procedure and wait until the anesthesia is gone, which sucked for me. I'm glad I had mine taken out. My holes are completely healed now and it's been like 3 months since i've gotten them done. :]

zixin · #16 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 04:25 AM

My wisdom teeth grew when I was about 14.None of them hurt,so I didn't remove them.I heard it was painful for some people/

kat* · #17 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 12:10 PM

I asked my dentist about my wisdom teeth recently because they're in the process of growing & he said that if my cheek swells up I'd have to get them removed.
But since mine neither hurt or are swelling up my cheeks then I guess I can live happily with them?

Which I think goes the same for you