Wisdom teeth PH dentists advice

[PanzerCommander]

For a while now my lower wisdom teeth have been around (I'm nearly 30 so they should be) Upper ones haven't been a problem as they had plenty of room due to two of my forward teeth having been extracted one first/second premolar (I forget which it was nearly 15 years ago) on each side due to overcrowding, and prior to a brace being fitted. Anyhow, my lower jaw was untouched by braces and despite a fair bit of staining (coffee + tea) and one filling I have healthy teeth (or so my dentist says).

But over the past few days (6 monthly check-up on Thursday my lower wisdom tooth on the right side has been giving me some discomfort, they are both impacted which doesn’t help matters (the right one being at my estimates around 70 degrees off vertical with reference to the 2nd molar, the crown of the tooth pointing forward and the left around 45/50 degrees. It isn’t hugely painful and is mainly food getting chewed in that spot, the pain can be dealt with by a) manning up, and b) bonjella/ibuprofen the pain isn’t my main worry, it’s the risk of infection. So with this in mind am I going to need them/it out? Or will I be advised to go away and keep an eye on it?

I’m going to start swilling around with some salt water often to try and minimise the infection risk of course.

And should I need them/it out I take it this will be a hospital and general anaesthetic job due to the angle invoved?

[Marlin45]

If they plan to pull the lot it would most likely be a general at the general

[Turn7]

Slightly OT , But I came into the Health fora to ask about Dental phobia and sedation.

I am massively phobic of Dentists and need to have a broken eye tooth removed. Right now, Im not even sure if standard extraction will work, and it may require surgery.

Any PH dentists recommend a sedation type clinic or how to progress this ?

[Anonamoose]

They should do an X-ray and then it will depend on those as to whether the dentist thinks he can extract them of if the roots are too near the nerves etc.

I had a lower one out a few months ago after it had broken, I'm terrified of dentists but this was okay, not comfortable as it takes a lot of leverage (against your face) to get them out but it wasn't too bad. The hole has only just started to completely go.

In good old PH style 'shut up and take it like a man'

[Turn7]

Should have said, the tooth has very little shwing above the gumline to get hold of.

I know I need to face up to it, but I do find it terrifying.

[geeks]

Turn7 said:

Should have said, the tooth has very little shwing above the gumline to get hold of.

I know I need to face up to it, but I do find it terrifying.

I know exactly how you feel! Broke a tooth about a year ago, rather than have it removed i left as dentists scare the bejesus out of me, no idea why, i was fine as a kid! Anyway fast forward 6 months and the pain became excrutiating! Painkillers didn't touch it so i had to give in and go to the dentist. I went to one who was recomended to me for nervous patients.

They were great the dental nurse was superb and the dentist himself was great as well. Xray done it was time for extraction, I was sweating, shaking basically a nervous wreck, when they put the needle in for the local anasthetic (i couldn't afford the sedation) and gave me the injection the pain relief was instant and awesome. They then removed the tooth wich basically felt like allot of pressure and boom the job was done!

Have to say typing thatout made my palms sweat so i am not over my fear but my point was if you man up just long enough it is worth it!

[Centurion07]

Where do you think the risk of infection is coming from?

From your description it sounds like the tooth will be pushing forwards against the molar in front of it therefore not at risk of breaking through the gum itself.

As long as the surface of the gum is intact there should be no risk of infection?

As I'm not a dentist I could be talking bks though!

Also, at 30 years old they shouldn't be giving you too much trouble for much longer as they're typically done moving that far into adulthood.

Edited by Centurion07 on Wednesday 7th August 12:07

[PanzerCommander]

Centurion07 said:

Where do you think the risk of infection is coming from?

From your description it sounds like the tooth will be pushing forwards against the molar in front of it therefore not at risk of breaking through the gum itself.

As long as the surface of the gum is intact there should be no risk of infection?

As I'm not a dentist I could be talking bks though!

Also, at 30 years old they shouldn't be giving you too much trouble for much longer as they're typically done moving that far into adulthood.

Edited by Centurion07 on Wednesday 7th August 12:07

The tooth is almost totally exposed on the top and the outside of the jaw its not completely at 90 degrees to the no2 molar so there is a gap between what would be the rear of the crown of the wisdom tooth and the rear of the no2 molar.

I'm more worried about bits of food getting into the places that a brush/floss can't reach and causing problems, the gum its self is intact (no bleeding at any rate) except for where the tooth is exposed, there is slight inflamation that has developed over the last 24 hours, but that could just be down to chewing and it causing pressure on the gum (inside of the jaw where the tooth is still paritally covered).

I'll see what the dentist says tomorrow and update the thread.

[Centurion07]

If it's been through the gum for a while then I would say risk of infection is no greater now than at any other point. As I said, you haven't (theoretically) got much longer to go before they should stop moving completely.

Mine are all at wonky angles too and I used to get a bit of pain for 3 or 4 days, 2 or 3 times a year but they eventually realised they had nowhere to go and so stopped!

[tim0409]

I had my lower impacted wisdom tooth out last week and it's not something I would want to repeat in a hurry. The extraction itself was fine - I received IV sedation at the dental hospital and can't even remember getting home, but since then I have been in constant pain. I went back on Saturday due to the pain and they cleaned the wound and applied a dressing and thankfully there was no infection. I am still taking painkillers and really hope the pain goes away soon.

[PanzerCommander]

Well the outcome of today is a referal to the hospital. They are both almost at 90 degrees to the others (X-Ray taken) and my dentist is concerned that there could be issues so there we have it.

This is not my X-ray but they are almost the same as the lower ones in this picture:



Nothing set in stone but looks like they are coming out at some point in the not too distant future, though he did say they'd be able to do it under local!

There is also plenty of clearance between the teeth and the nerve so that is good news.

Thanks for the responses

[Centurion07]

Not sure that's something I'd want doing under local!

[TRB]

I had a wisdom tooth removed under sedation last year. I think my dentist doesn't like doing them though as I've been referred to have another out. Went for my 'consultation' at hospital yesterday (different place to last year as boundary of catchment changed) and they are doing it in the dentist chair (at hospital) with just the gum numbed. I am a big girls' blouse tho when it comes to dentists. Also I need to wait until December which is a bit st for a troublesome tooth.

If you can get it done under sedation I'd go for that option.

[tim0409]

The wisdom tooth I had out last week was in an almost identical position to the one in the picture. I would definitely recommend IV sedation if its offered!