Having a wisdom tooth pulled?

Question

I was wondering if anyone here has had a wisdom tooth pulled who was over 40 years old at the time. Were there any complications? How bad was it?

Answer 1

Having your wisdom tooth extracted at 30 or 40 or even 50 isn't difficult to do. Usually there is a reason the tooth needs to be extracted, it's never done for the fun of it. Most of the reasons are it's staying infected and that can cause bone loss around the tooth. Which makes it easier to remove actually. The wisdom tooth is the smallest rooted tooth in the mouth. The reason it's so hard to extract is that it is so far back there and your mouth is only so big. If we could just jack the mouth open a wee bit more, that little guy would just pop right out. But hey, we can't and you can't open any wider, so there you have it. As far as pain, not really any different than other extractions. Healing time is the same, usually a day or two and your back to normal, if you follow post op instructions. To answer your question, yes I had all of mine (4) removed a few years ago with the dentist I work for and I'm 50. I had no problems, just followed the same instructions I give out to everyone else.

DON'T: spit, swish, drink carbonated drinks through a straw, smoke, nothing hot to drink or eat and avoid sharp crunch foods that might lodge in the socket.

What you CAN DO: drink cold drinks, tea, milk, juice, water, smoothies, cold things tend to soothe the extraction site. Use an ice pack on 10 min off 15. Eat soft foods, soups, scrambled eggs, baked potatos, pasta. Remember to take your medication, expecially the pain med while your still numb. Then as the feeling comes back in your pain level will be lower, continue through the night taking them as directed even if you don't feel like you need them. It's easier to keep it from hurting rather than try to stop it once it starts. Then take them only as needed.

The next day you can gently rinse your mouth with warm salty water, no hard swishing. Start to exercize the jaw muscle by stretching open and closed a little wider each day. This really helps in getting your mouth functioning again after having the 3rd molar removed, your jaw will be sore from being open so wide for us to get to it. Then over the next few days you can increase the foods in your diet but still avoid the really hard crunchy or sharp foods that may traumatize the socket. It sometimes take several month for the socket to completely heal over, so the hole will not be there, but you'll be able to resume eating normally long befor that.

Hope I've encouraged you a little, you've nothing to worry about. If your anxious, ask for N20 and remember to breath through your nose through out the procedure. Good luck, you can do it!

Answer 2

I'm not over 40 but I had 9 teeth taking out at once and the best bet is to be put under no matter if it's 1 or all of them. My guess is the older you are the more dense your jaw bone will become making it harder for the tooth to be remove by a regular dentist. I would talk to your dentist about seeing an oral surgeon.

Answer 3

well I'm not over 40 i'm 34 and i just has 3 of them out @ the same time. I was completely knocked out, it seemed like the whole thing took about 5 mins. It really wasnt as bad as I thought it would be. They prescribe u pain medication and believe me I didnt wait to have pain I was taking them like clockwork. You are going to have some swelling and discomfort eating but i would say within a week you'll be fine.

Answer 4

Having a wisdom tooth *pulled* is trivial. Having one dug out of your jaw bone is another thing entirely. But I just had that done and had no problems. It healed up fine. I'm just not happy with the hole that is left where the tooth once was.

Answer 5

The best filling meal I had after having my wisdom teeth out was chili. The dry socket problem sounds awful. I did not have that. Mostly my jaw hurt since I have problems with it. Milkshakes are good too. I remember I went out to eat with some people and thought, oh no, what am I going to eat? But they had chili on the menu!

Answer 6

The older you are the more difficult extractions can be as the tooth has been in the bone for years. But, it is not horrible. Make sure they put you out and give yourself the weekend to rest. Put ice on your neck to prevent swelling after the extraction, don't smoke or drink out of a straw for 24 hours either. You will do fine.

Answer 7

I have a friend whom had her wisdom teeth pulled,

Its going to SUCK (very painful not fun), although no complications...

hey, if you really can't stand em' its done and then over with,

although if this is something your wife is tellling you to do (haha)
youd problably prefer not going thru it