Re: Wisdom Teeth Questions

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

I had my wisdom teeth (lowers only - I have no uppers) removed as

they were starting to cause problems (one impacted, the other

exploded). This was quite a few years before my surgery, though.

I am also not in favour of removing teeth. In my early 20s, no

surgery was mentioned and the dentist wanted to remove 4 teeth to

straighten everything out. In my late 40s, when I considered this

surgery (had it at age 47 - 3 years ago), my ortho said no teeth

would have to be removed.

It might be worth consulting with another surgeon or ortho. Many

consult 2 or even 3. I didn't, as I felt my ortho/surgeon combo were

right for me (my ortho only works with one surgeon whom he feels is

the best). But it's entirely possible you can find another combo

that will work with what you have.

Also, please be wary of family's advice. Many people here talk about

how their families do not understand this type of surgery. You need

to speak with professionals and be guided by their advice,

experience and expertise.

I also question whether or not your dentist can give you competent

advice on this surgery if he/she has never had extensive training.

I'd be guided by the ortho/surgeon. Try 2 and see if they agree. If

they don't, try a 3rd combo, or listen to your own inner voice and

see if you can live with their recommendations.

Hope that helps,

(upper/lower/genio Aug 2002)

> Hi Everyone - I've been reading the boards for the past few weeks

and am in

> the process of considering upper and lower surgery. I've been

thinking about

> this for over 10 years and always put it off. I recently met with

OS that I really

> liked and he said I would have to have my wisdom teeth pulled for

him to do

> the surgery - is this common for everyone? I have an open bite

and overbite

> and he said that pulling my wisdom teeth would give me a partial

correction

> due to me hitting my back teeth first. My family thinks I should

try the wisdom

> teeth extractions first and see what type of correction I could

get. My dentist

> thinks it's crazy for me to pull healthy teeth unless I am going

to have the

> surgery. I had braces in highschool and had 4 bicuspids pulled to

make room

> in my mouth so I really hesitate to pull any more teeth unless

it's absolutely

> necessary. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Kim

[Guest guest]

My OS is pulling a wisdom tooth (the only one left) after surgery and after

braces are off. He said he did not want a hole in my mouth going into surgery.

The OD agreed.

My surgeon is Harvard trained (a DMD and an MD) and my ortho trained at Tufts.

The surgery is complete and the braces came off last week. My teeth are

perfectly straight.

The wisdom is scheduled to come out in October.

klmiles_1999 wrote:

Hi Everyone - I've been reading the boards for the past few weeks and am in

the process of considering upper and lower surgery. I've been thinking about

this for over 10 years and always put it off. I recently met with OS that I

really

liked and he said I would have to have my wisdom teeth pulled for him to do

the surgery - is this common for everyone? I have an open bite and overbite

and he said that pulling my wisdom teeth would give me a partial correction

due to me hitting my back teeth first. My family thinks I should try the wisdom

teeth extractions first and see what type of correction I could get. My dentist

thinks it's crazy for me to pull healthy teeth unless I am going to have the

surgery. I had braces in highschool and had 4 bicuspids pulled to make room

in my mouth so I really hesitate to pull any more teeth unless it's absolutely

necessary. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Kim

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

I don't know if its common, but my OS said that if I have to have

lower jaw surgery he wants my wisdom teeth removed. He said its

because he cuts the jaw right behind the wisdom teeth and they would

be in the way of seeing where he needs to accurately cut.

I too had braces before and 4 bicuspids removed. I have an open bite

and will be having my wisdom teeth removed when I have my first

surgery to expand my upper pallet - Oct. 19th. I will get braces

after I wear an expander for 3 months and then have the upper jaw

surgery a year or so out. I won't know if I need lower jaw surgery

also, until they do some practice surgeries on my models.

One good thing I can say about having my wisdom teeth removed is that

it will make it easier to floss back there

This is a hard decision to make, so its good that you find an OS that

you like and can trust. I talked to 3 different orthodontists before

I made my decision. It doesn't hurt to get other opinions and ask

questions. It would be great if removing your wisdom teeth gives you

enough swing to close your bite. And its OK that you thought on and

off about this, I knew at 16 I would need some type of surgery, but

didn't persue it until I was 32. In my 20s it wasn't an issue for

me, but now I am developing TMJ problems and my teeth are overlaping

in the front. The problems I have now are enough for me to have the

surgery done, but everyone is different. This board is a great place

to ask questions and get support while your working through this.

Good luck in your decision.

Amy

> Hi Everyone - I've been reading the boards for the past few weeks

and am in

> the process of considering upper and lower surgery. I've been

thinking about

> this for over 10 years and always put it off. I recently met with

OS that I really

> liked and he said I would have to have my wisdom teeth pulled for

him to do

> the surgery - is this common for everyone? I have an open bite and

overbite

> and he said that pulling my wisdom teeth would give me a partial

correction

> due to me hitting my back teeth first. My family thinks I should

try the wisdom

> teeth extractions first and see what type of correction I could

get. My dentist

> thinks it's crazy for me to pull healthy teeth unless I am going to

have the

> surgery. I had braces in highschool and had 4 bicuspids pulled to

make room

> in my mouth so I really hesitate to pull any more teeth unless it's

absolutely

> necessary. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Kim

[Guest guest]

Amy - thanks so much for the great advice. I knew I

needed this when I was 22 and now I " m 37 and my bite

slowly but continuously gets worse. I keep hoping a

non-surgical treatment will surface but I know that's

wishful thinking.

Kim

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[Guest guest]

Kim,

My wisdom teeth were pulled years ago because my mouth was crowded.

I heard endless jokes about how no one could believe that anyone

thought my mouth was to small. Anyway, I imagine if it had not been

done then, they would do it now. My son will not be able to

accomodate for wisdom teeth either.

~Rene

> Hi Everyone - I've been reading the boards for the past few weeks

and am in

> the process of considering upper and lower surgery. I've been

thinking about

> this for over 10 years and always put it off. I recently met with

OS that I really

> liked and he said I would have to have my wisdom teeth pulled for

him to do

> the surgery - is this common for everyone? I have an open bite and

overbite

> and he said that pulling my wisdom teeth would give me a partial

correction

> due to me hitting my back teeth first. My family thinks I should

try the wisdom

> teeth extractions first and see what type of correction I could

get. My dentist

> thinks it's crazy for me to pull healthy teeth unless I am going to

have the

> surgery. I had braces in highschool and had 4 bicuspids pulled to

make room

> in my mouth so I really hesitate to pull any more teeth unless it's

absolutely

> necessary. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Kim