Do you have to remove wisdom teeth?

Question

Do they have to be removed? I am 20 and I just left my dentist appointment.... they are going to sugically remove them. They have not grown in yet, but they are pushing the others. Also, how bad does it hurt? I'm kind of a baby when it comes to needles and pain. LOL

Answer 1

Don't worry!!! I have tons of tips and info for you. Here it goes.

- If you want them to be left in, you can do so. However, it may push all your other teeth and make them crooked or get to the point where the must be removed. Once they are grown in it is WAY more painful to have them removed than when they haven't grown in.

- Share with your dentist about your fear or needles. Mine put me under a light anesthetic which made me nervous because I am also afraid of needles so and IV was a scary thought! Once I told him I was scared he gave me a pill to take 45 minutes before I arrived. I guess this is quite common because he had the pills right in his desk! It made me really out of it and loopy and I didn't even notice them sticking me!

- I had to have all four removed, some people have less removed. You will have holes where they were and food will get caught in them. This was the worst part for me because it smells! They give you this device that shoots water in the holes to clean them out.

- As far as pain, there are things you can do to help. Try and not move your mouth around that much after and keep ice on your face. This will reduce swelling, thus reduce pain. Do not smoke are suck on straws. This will give you dry sockets which you can google to learn more on. These are very painful. I didn't get any, but I had a friend who did and she said it was awful.

- They will give you pain killers so really the pain isn't that bad.. You just probably won't be able to eat as much as you would like. If you have someone to take care of you it won't be as bad because you can just lay around...

Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions, I was sooo scared too so you are not alone!

Answer 2

If your teeth haven't grown in yet but are pushing on your other teeth, then chances are good that your wisdom teeth are sitting at an angle that will keep them from ever coming in.  That's called "impaction," and impacted teeth cause problems.  Not only can they move every other tooth in your mouth, but they can push enough on the gums to create flaps that catch food particles, and now you get cavities in your back teeth where the wisdom teeth are pushing.  And it gets worse from there (I used to date a dental student who LOVED to share horror stories and icky pictures from his textbooks, and I also worked for a dentist).

If you're having all 4 done, go to an oral surgeon and have it done all at once.  They'll knock you out and give you some GREAT pain meds after the fact.  Your jaws will hurt for a day or two, then will be sore for a few days.  You'll eat a lot of soft things like mashed potatoes and pudding and Jello.  But I promise, it's a lot easier to do it once than to do it 4 separate times.

Answer 3

If they crowd the teeth, then yes, or else they are going to make the rest of your teeth crooked.

It doesn't hurt bad, they put you under stuff that makes you sleep. It only hurts afterward, when you wake up. But mine gave me painkillers 15 minutes after I woke up, so I barely felt a thing.  

Answer 4

No, if they are not crowding the other teeth. I didn't absolutely have to have my wisdom teeth removed but I chose to because they were not fully erupted and having the gum tissue partially cover them was going to make cleaning very difficult not to mention trap food and cause cavities. Mine were simple extractions and I didn't need any stitches afterwards. I still have a fourth wisdom tooth which has never erupted. It's not impacted but won't come down.

Answer 5

I HATE the dentist.  When I found out I had to have my wisdoms pulled I though I was gonna die.  But I went to a specialist, was "knocked out" had them surgically removed and Bob's your uncle.  Lol was no sweat.  Your wisdoms can rot and absess before even coming through, they can grow sideways, grow into your nerves and crowd your mouth.  They don't always cause problems, but your better off without them.  Good luck!

Answer 6

idk maybe

Answer 7

You don't have to get wisdom teeth taken out.  It is just that most people don't have room in there mouth for them so they end up having to take them out.  No it does not hurt to get the wisdom teeth out but it is painful after the numbing medicine wares out after the teeth are out.  They do give you medicine that helps though.

Answer 8

I had all of mine removed. Sometimes they crowd the teeth.

Answer 9

I had the same problem it is rare that they don't have to be removed.It does hurt a bit after, make sure you have lots of soft foods and drinks the first few days. I had all 4 of mine out at once just got it over with quick. Best of Luck.

Answer 10

they can put you under so you wont feel a thing

Answer 11

I would suggest that you get them removed now if the dentist is telling you to. If you wait too long your mouth will continue to be sore until you get them removed. I had all four of mine removed last summer, and I was in a lot of pain for a couple of days but was swollen for the whole week after. However, I know a lot of people that were perfectly fine the next day so it all just depends. Most dentists put you to sleep so you don't even notice a thing. Besides, the pain pills do wonders.

Answer 12

Oh, my brother had his remove not to long ago. he said  they'll put u to sleep so that u wont feel any pain. they'll also numb u lips and jaw as well.

Answer 13

the procedure shouldn't be too bad. Ask for nitro gas and if they can administer IV sedation and you can afford or the insurance will cover it, get it. After the procedure it will be painless b/c the mouth is still numb. When the numb wears off, you'll be in pain. Use the medication the dentist gives you and have soft foods for a few days. Should be as good as new.  

Answer 14

if your dentist says they have to come out, then they really do. I had the same situation as you and they put me to sleep during it which was really scary because i had to have an iv. it hurt a lot afterwards for a few weeks, but i guess it is better than having all your teeth screwed up for the rest of your life.