Should I get rid of my wisdom teeth before surgery?

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#1 Post by **suzyscientist** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:14 pm

I went for my first (very delayed!) adjustment two weeks ago, and my ortho asked if I wanted to keep my wisdom teeth. She said it won't make much difference to my treatment time, but it might make it easier to align my bottom teeth.

I remember speaking to the surgeon when I had my first consult, and he said sometimes they can take the wisdom teeth out at the same time as jaw surgery, to save the trauma of another general anaesthetic. I mentioned this to the ortho and she said that having jaw surgery and wisdom teeth out might be too much to handle. But I figure, I'm going to be in loads of pain anyway, will having the wisdom teeth out at the same time make it that much worse?

We're going to discuss it at my next adjustment on the 19th, but I'd be interested to hear if anyone here had any views as I'm really undecided about the whole thing. I mean I could actually keep my wisdom teeth if I wanted but if getting rid of them means even a month reduction in braces time then I'm all for it... but not if the general anaesthetic is too awful. Oh I'm so confused! Any advice appreciated

Thanks!

Suzy

#2 Post by **LAJaw** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 2:06 pm

If your wisdom teeth erupted normally (ie not impacted), you don't need general anesthesia at all. I had my wisdom teeth pulled with just local anesthesia and it took all of five minutes. The pain afterwards wasn't terrible - I was eating normal foods again after just two days.

#3 Post by **suzyscientist** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 2:43 pm

They're erupted normally, but the ortho definitely mentioned general anaesthetic. I'll ask her in a few weeks but I want to be prepared if she asks me for a decision!

So - did you have all 4 out? Did they give you pain relief for afterwards? Did you need any time off work? It would be good if they could do it with just local anaesthetic...but I'd be a bit nervous about feeling something!

Suzy (a big wimp about pain)

#4 Post by **James0099** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 4:11 pm

I am going for surgery in a few weeks, I had my wisdom teeth removed before I had my braces put on, they wanted to make some room so they removed them. I had 2 that were under still, I had pretty much no pain after it and was knocked out for the removal. I didn't need to use any of the pain medicine they gave me. [/img]

#5 Post by **BracketRacket** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 4:39 pm

I just had my top wisdom teeth (unerupted, didn't have ones on the bottom) out at the same time as my surgery, they used the same incisions. I didn't really notice any discomfort at all in the back of my mouth and don't think I had any noticable extra swelling or anything. While recovering from the surgery is no picnic, I do think having them out at the same time was definitely the way to go! My surgeon also mentioned that they could possibly get in the way during the surgery.

#6 Post by **revolutionary** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:53 pm

I had my one wisdom tooth extracted during my surgery. It wasn't too much at all, I was too busy focusing on the immediate post-op general yuckiness to notice any additional irritation in the back of my mouth. I'm SO glad I didn't have 2 operations, it made my life a lot easier.

#7 Post by **mountaingirl** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 10:39 pm

I am not sure why your ortho wouldn't make the recommendation one way or the other instead of leaving the decision up to you. She can interpret the x-rays and knows the pros and cons for your specific case. If you have room in your mouth, then I could see keeping them. On the other hand, it seems lots of people having difficulty keeping wisdom teeth clean and flossing back there.

#8 Post by **sadpanda** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 10:15 am

I had my wisdom teeth out before getting braces. They were all impacted, so I had to get them out. I had a terrible time because of the anesthesia after the surgery. It made me cry all day and I couldn't stop the tears. Then, it took a little over a week before I could really eat normally because everything in my mouth was so tender when I'd chew. Finally, the oral surgeon told me I had to start chewing normally and pretend that it wasn't awkward so the recovery could go faster. So, I didn't have to worry about the wisdom teeth when I got braces.

#9 Post by **almost50** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 11:16 am

I had all 4 impacted wisdom teeth removed 3 months after getting braces and about a year before surgery. I think because they were impacted and right where they needed to cut I had to have the bottom ones removed, and allow at least 6 months healing time before surgery.

I've heard some people have it done at the same time, but I was told to have them removed. Also, wisdom teeth removal was covered under my dental plan and surgery under my medical plan.

No major complications during either procedure.

Mon Jun 28, 2010 12:50 pm

I had my wisdoms taken out about a year before my major jaw surgery. a because 2 of the 4 were impacted and b to make room for when they do the jaw surgery. I had IV sedation for wisdoms. It really wasn't that bad. If your wisdoms get sore at all then it may be worth it to get them out prior and then you don't have to worry about them come jaw surgery! the surgeon would also have more room to work with when he does the jaw surgery as well.

#11 Post by **joebraces** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:15 pm

I had to go in for surgery to have 4 wisdom teeth removed + 2 upper teeth in preparation for my braces, and following that my surgery.

I recommend getting it done now. My wisdom teeth were impacted, and for a few weeks after surgery it was painful and menacing altogether but i'm glad its fixed. Now my braces are on since 6 months and i'm closer to my most important surgery

#12 Post by **suzyscientist** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 3:13 am

Thanks for all the advice! Really good to hear.

My ortho doesn't think that my wisdom teeth will make much of a difference to my treatment, and they're all erupted normally (although not functional because of the shape of my jaw) so I have no specific problems with them...

I'll ask my ortho again on the 19th and ask her to speak to the surgeon and give me more information.

Thanks for all the replies

Suzy