What's the usual reason people get their wisdom teeth pulled?

Question

I'm just getting mine in, and I don't have as many teeth as most people do (I had several pulled to make room for growing teeth that were running into each other), so if I can keep mine I'd like to, I'm hoping it'll close the gaps between most of my teeth by taking up some extra space. But anyway, my new wisdom tooth is rubbing a sore into the inside of my cheek, and I was wondering if that's a reason to get it pulled? Why do most people do it? How do I know if it's really my wisdom tooth? I'm just guessing it is.

Answer 1

They are generally removed for the two reasons listed above: not enough room and/or infection. I still have all four of mine (I'm 47). They hurt bunches coming in. It took years for them to fully emerge - like 6-7 years. OUCH! The gums kept growing over them and then cutting back through. With the minimal amount of wisdom I have, I thought it best to keep them: despite the pain.
There is mixed feelings on whether they really need to come out. Most dentists will tell you that they HAVE to come out, but I believe that is so they can make this month's payment on the new Beemer they bought last month. Unless there is a real problem, I don't see any reason to remove them.
Good Luck to You!

Answer 2

People usually get their wisdom teeth pulled either because their mouth isn't big enough and it would make their other teeth crooked, or they grow in sideways. Also, wisdom teeth that grow in the wrong wat can abscess and then you'll have a big swollen lump in your cheek.
You could ask your dentist if you should get it pulled, and yes it probably is your wisdom tooth. Most people have 32 teeth 28 are visible and the 4 wisdom molar teeth are under the gums and usually don't protrude until age 18 or 19 (some not until middle aged).

Answer 3

There are four common ways to do it. 1) You only recieve local anesthetic. This is fine for most people, and means the removal is painless. 2) Conscious sedation. You recieve an IV anesthetic as well as local anesthetic in your mouth. You are still conscious, but are sort of "out of it" and won't remember the procedure. 3) Nitrous oxide aka. laughing gas is used. This is falling out of practise as it involves more risk than the other methods. 4) General anethetic. This is the most risky, and is rarely used unless the patient has a severe dental phobia. If given the choice, I'd pick conscious sedation. As far as post operative pain goes, it is usually only slightly worse than any other extraction. You may look like a chipmunk for a while. Normally, ibuprofen or paracetamol is enough for the post-operative pain, but many oral surgeons will also prescribe a small amount of stronger painkillers, such as Percocet or Vicodin for the first couple of days, if the extraction required more tissue dissection than normal. I wouldn't worry about it though. It's a minor procedure, and most people have no trouble with it in terms of pain or anxiety.

Answer 4

If you are wealthy and or have great dental Insurance (great and dental insurance being a HUGE oxy-moron.) It is always better to get it done before it becomes a problem.

Wisdom teeth are the biggest teeth in your mouth. When they grow in, Usually in your 20's, your other teeth are already established and in. When the wisdom teeth come in they begin to push all of your other teeth forward and you rarely have enough room in your mouth to accomidate them.

When they push and push and there simply is not enough room left for them to grow out... They often become impacted and infected because with all of the skin around a half burried often sideways molar, food gets trapped in them and they rot. This causes infection and pain and pressure, sinus infections and sometimes the roots can become fused into the jawline and muscles. THAT... get's really painfull and really messy and requires an operation, stitches and antibiotics!

Answer 5

Your dentist can take x-rays to make sure it is your wisdom tooth. After the tooth is out more, it may not hurt your cheek. People usually get wisdom teeth pulled if they're interfering with the position of the other teeth. Talk to your dentist.

Answer 6

they are usually removed due to lack of room for them. I had to have all 4 of mine removed because I didn't have enough space in my mouth for them...If I had kept them, they would have grown in and "squished" the rest of my teeth together and made them all crooked. I'm not sure why it would be rubbing your cheek...usually it just hurts your gums... I would definitely have the dentist check it out. He/She can tell you if you should really have them removed or if you'd be safe keeping them.

Answer 7

yeah , not enough room or risk of infection when they try to grow out - especially if impacted... and a lot of pain if they try to emerge w/o any room

although, i think 50% of wisdom teeth removals are just a scam to make money for the surgeon.... i know a lot of people who never got theirs out and they are perfectly fine.

Answer 8

I had only my top ones pulled because their wasn't enough room. My bottom ones are still intact, but I have a hard time flossing the bottom teeth.

Answer 9

They are generally removed because there's not enough room for them or because they're not coming in straight and are going to cause discomfort or injury. Ask your dentist to look at an x-ray and advise you about how yours are coming in and the pros and cons of keeping them.

Answer 10

Mine were impacted--meaning they were stuck down in the jawbone and not coming up properly...One was completely sideways and was pushing on the roots of the other teeth.

So they all had to come out.