Dental visits

[redsfann]

A few questions for the soon-to-be dentist Saint...



My dentist is starting to hint somewhat strongly about pulling my wisdom teeth, but I'm sceptical about having it done. Is he being honest with me when he tells me that it will improve my teeth? I'm 40, never had any problems other than a ground down tooth that needed a cap, so is he just looking for that fat insurance check or is he being legit when he tells me to let him pull them?

Thanks!

 

[saint]

A few questions for the soon-to-be dentist Saint...



My dentist is starting to hint somewhat strongly about pulling my wisdom teeth, but I'm sceptical about having it done. Is he being honest with me when he tells me that it will improve my teeth? I'm 40, never had any problems other than a ground down tooth that needed a cap, so is he just looking for that fat insurance check or is he being legit when he tells me to let him pull them?

Thanks!

It depends on a few things redsfann. The reasoning behind pulling 3rd molars (wisdom teeth) is really to prevent future problems. The debate is whether or not it actually is worth it.

In your case, are they decayed? Are they erupted or still stuck down in the bone? I'll make some assumptions. First off, the theory that your wisdom teeth will cause crowding in the front of your lower teeth is now known to be false. So from that perspective, that is not a valid reason. Basically, if you don't get them out, cysts can form around them if they are impacted (still under your gums in the bone), or they can cause the root of the teeth next to them to be eaten away.

Ideally, if they are going to be pulled it should be done ~ 20 years old or earlier because they are easier to get out.

Assuming yours are not decayed and are not causing resorption of the roots around them, given your age I would say it's not a big deal to just leave them in. As long as you go to your dentist regularly he can monitor you should any other those things start to occur.

Of course (disclaimer ), this is just my humble opinion. Visit your dental professional.

 

[SixFive]

A few questions for the soon-to-be dentist Saint...



My dentist is starting to hint somewhat strongly about pulling my wisdom teeth, but I'm sceptical about having it done. Is he being honest with me when he tells me that it will improve my teeth? I'm 40, never had any problems other than a ground down tooth that needed a cap, so is he just looking for that fat insurance check or is he being legit when he tells me to let him pull them?

Thanks!

I'm not saint, but I think you're very wise to question any kind of dental work more than a cavity being filled. I like my dentist now, but honestly, I don't trust her farther than I can throw her when she talks about me needing "restorative" work. I'm not having stuff done unless it is hurting me. Can't see paying 600 bucks for a crown on a tooth that doesn't bother me. If your wisdom teeth aren't causing any problem, leave them be! If they start causing you pain in the future or if they get deacayed, yank away.

 

[kcwolf]

4 times a year here also, I like clean

 

[saint]

I'm not saint, but I think you're very wise to question any kind of dental work more than a cavity being filled. I like my dentist now, but honestly, I don't trust her farther than I can throw her when she talks about me needing "restorative" work. I'm not having stuff done unless it is hurting me. Can't see paying 600 bucks for a crown on a tooth that doesn't bother me. If your wisdom teeth aren't causing any problem, leave them be! If they start causing you pain in the future or if they get deacayed, yank away.

Just curious...do you take your car in for an oil change every 3-5000 miles? Get new tires when the tread is low? Or do you wait until you are broken down on the side of the road and have to pay for a new engine?

This is your mouth. If you plan on living until you are 75+ and want to have teeth to eat steak and solid food, you should treat your mouth like you probably do your car.

Now I will agree that you are correct in questioning your dentist. There are some aggressive treaters out there who crown anything and everything. I tend to be more on the conservative side. It's semantics...do you want to crown something now or wait until you are on vacation somewhere and the tooth cracks in half? Obviously depends on the situation but if you wait until you have pain you might as well tack on 800 bucks for a root canal.

(amuse me 6-5 i didn't mean to get on my soapbox...you know how it, is it's my profession)

 

[redsfann]

Thanks for the reply, Saint.

The 4 wisdom teeth are all above the gum line and none have any fillings in them. They are perfectly healthy if you ask me. Every visit the last 2 years, the hygentist asks me if I use the electric toothbrush back there and I answer yes. She then says that the gums are a bit swollen and that it will get harder and harder for me to keep that area of my mouth clean. The the dentist comes in and says nearly the same thing and tells me that he just had his pulled a year or so ago at age 38.

6-5--

The reason for my crown was exactly that--pain. I had a lower mollar that had been filed twice when I was a kid and the little bit of tooth that was left wore out and started bothering me so I got it capped.