wisdom teeth! do u need them out? have u kept urs?

Question

ok just wondering about wisdom teeth. do you actually need them out or can some people keep them? i have been to the dentist about 6 months ago as one of my teeth were coming through and i was in serious pain, i got xrays etc and i have three wisdom teeth that are coming through. basically she said to just get them out, but i don't want to if i don't have to!!! since that day i have never had any trouble iwth them. one of them is all the way through now and fine, and the other one is half way through, growing on an angle but doésn't seem to cause trouble. no sign of the other one yet.
have you kept yours? or know someone who does? why do we need them out anyway?

Answer 1

Mine aren't even in yet and I'm 19...they're not even peeking! Sometimes I can sorta feel them back there, and every once in a great while it'll sorta hurt.

But all of my friends who have ever gotten their wisdom teeth have gotten them taken out because they'll mess up their teeth, like make the crooked or something.

I dunno.

Answer 2

I'm a registered dentaly hygienist and have been in practice for 20 years. The general rule that I tell my patients in regard to their wisdom teeth is this: if they can come in all the way (aren't in only partially and still covered by the gum) AND you are able to keep them clean so they aren't getting decay, keep them. If on the other hand, they are partially erupted (as I just described) with the flap of gum on top, they will usually cause repeated infections because you can't clean under that tissue flap and the bacteria will cause what we call "periocoronitis".The one you described as growing at an angle will never come in fully because it's "locked" against the other tooth. If it hasn't broken through the gum yet, it probably never will because it's unable to move anymore. But if it's broken through you will have problems. Basically the tissue gets very inflammed and aches pretty badly. Then it just stops on it's own, but the cycle will continue to repeat. The jury is still divided on whether or not wisdom teeth have the ability (force) to move permanant teeth enough to distort (crowd) the rest of your teeth. Many orthodontists request that you have them removed because they feel the wisdom teeth can "push" forward on the other teeth and cause them to shift and crowd. Personally, from my years of experience, I just don't feel that the wisdom teeth can apply that kind of force. I think not wearing retainers after completing ortho work causes the movement of the teeth. Hope that clears it up for you. And oh, for the record, I did have all four of mine extracted because they were all partially erupted and were getting infected. If I hadn't had that situation I would have definitely kept them. I don't believe in putting a patient through any unnecessary surgery and there can be risks involved with any extraction (usually a situation called "dry socket" where you lose the clot that forms where the tooth was pulled and it hurts like crazy! There's nothing you can do for that situation but wait for the body to form a new clot and heal. Why put yourself through that if it's not necessary?)
Good luck!

Answer 3

I still have my wisdom teeth and probably don't ever need to take it out, my family all had messed up teeth in the back their teeth didn't grow the right way and I believe my mother and brother got all 4 teeth out, but my father only had to take 1 or 2 out, so far I am in luck of not have to take them out. Dentist (my cousin is my dental person) he said if the wisdom teeth doesnt ruin the jaws and the other teeth and doesn't hurt you in any ways then keep in there, but if it causes pain/troubles then make an appointment to have them removed as soon as possible. I hope this helps out a bit.

Answer 4

I know of 1 person that still has their wisdom teeth but that was only because they had to have other molar teeth removed. I have 2 coming down and while they only cause pain from time to time i still need to have them out when they have moved a bit more. If i don't have them removed the wisdom teeth will move my teeth cos i don't have any room for them and i won't be able to clean them properly.

Go with what your dentist has told you and have them out, she knows what she is talking about. One of my friends wisdom teeth were growing on a 90 degree angle and pushing towards her teeth. My mum had hers out because her wisdom teeth were impacted. And my ex-boyfriends were actually rotting his healthy teeth before they had even broken through his gums.

While your wisdom teeth aren't causing you much trouble now chances are they will cause you more trouble later.

I actually envy those who don't get them at all

Answer 5

They caused a lot of horrible pain but I kept them without problem. Do I need them probably not but they do get used cause there is food stuck by there when I brush and floss. Flossing is a little tricky sometimes. We have to have them taken out because some people get infections or the teeth come in on such an angle they are in extreme pain which often includes severe swelling of the face and neck area. Yes, they do mess up your alinement but my teeth had spacing issues to begin with so as an adult I wore braces but I would have had to have them even if I had had the wisdom teeth removed.

Answer 6

I know that some people keep them, but me and most of the people i know have had them removed. A lot of people get them removed because if you don't it can cause your teeth to shift and get crooked. You are better getting them removed now than later in life. I'm not sure how old you are but I got mine out years ago when I was in 9th grade and I'm glad I did it then. Your face swells up and you have to usually miss a couple of days of school. Some people I know got this done during college and later in life when they had more going on and more responsibilities, and it was more of a hassle then. If your dentist says get them out, then just get them out and you won't have to deal with problems with them down the road.

Answer 7

If the pain comes back and doesn't go away you should get them out. It's not so painful and after a couple of days you'll be fine. The only thing is my dentist just numbed my gums and didn't put me to sleep so I wasn't really prepared for the cracking noise. Good luck!

Answer 8

if your wisdom teeth are at all impacted have them removed. They can shift your entire row of teeth because theyll keep pushing where there isnt space. They can also abcess and u can get a nasty infection. Most peoples mouths cant fit 4 more teeth. I had mine out a year ago. It sucked, but its necessary

Answer 9

I had mine taken out because the last ones were growing in sideways, and eventually would have pushed the rest of my teeth crooked, causing me to need braces. But if you're not having any trouble with them, I'd leave them, too. It's nature right!?

Answer 10

It's better to just have them removed. It's a one-time deal and it's not fun, but it doesn't last forever.

I had mine out in HS and although it sucked, I don't have to do it again. You're out of it anyway!

I've known 0 people who have kept their wisdom teeth. Eventually they screw with the alignment of the teeth.