Dentist taking wisdom tooth out question

[Okate]

Hi everyone, just a quickie. On thursday my dentist is taking out my wisdom tooth as she feels it will give me more room for when my lower braces go on plus I do get a bit of pain from it every now and again. Also I think she's getting a bit paranoid about someone else looking at my teeth and judging her sometimes questionable work....

Do you think I should let my ortho know? It might sound silly but we have a plan for my teeth the way they are and I'm thinking this may change the way the braces work?? If that makes any sense at all!! Thanks if you can advise : )

[busy bee]

I definitely think you should discuss it with your orthodontist. In fact, I wouldn't go ahead with it without getting the all clear from the orthodontist first.

[sirwired]

I would not get the wisdom tooth out without the orthodontist's approval. Your ortho is in a MUCH better position to judge your needs for space than a general dentist. And the wisdom teeth being out will almost certainly change the ortho's treatment plan.

That said, given that 3rd-molars causing crowding is such a common issue, it's most likely the ortho will agree.

On another note, if you don't trust your general dentist's motivations or think she does a poor job, what's holding you up finding a new one? (And, as a more immediate question, why agree to let her take out your 3rd-molars on Thursday?)

[katsface]

YES! Tell your orthodontist.

I'm really surprised that your dentist hasn't either told you to contact your ortho, or done it herself. And I'm especially surprised that she's making decisions about your orthodontic treatment without your orthodontist requesting it. If extractions are needed for orthodontic reasons it's your orthodontist who should let you know, not your dentist.

However if you need the tooth out for dental reasons (it hurts, is infected, is impacted etc.) then that would be up to your dentist. But you should still tell your ortho before you do anything. He/she may already have a plan for that tooth which may me better than extraction, or which may affect your orthodontic treatment.

In my view, sharing too much information is always better than sharing too little. Leave it to the orthodontist to decide if what you're sharing is important or not. We don't have the training to know what will affect our treatment. You could end up withholding information that you don't think is important, but would completely derail your treatment. So it's probably better not to withhold any information that might be pertinent.

What do you mean by questionable work? Do you think the ortho wants to remove your wisdom tooth because she did a botched treatment on it and she doesn't want the ortho to judge her? If something like that is the case, I STRONGLY urge you to find a different dentist.

[Ciara]

Of course, tell your ortho. In fact, I think your dentist should tell her or have already told her.
Also, what do you mean by "questionable work"? If you have not happy with your dentist, why are you still using her?

[Okate]

Hi all thanks for replying. The thing is I didn't even agree to have the tooth out and was surprised when I phoned my dentist today to confirm my appointment and they said I'm coming in for an extraction! When I saw her on the 11th of march she said to come in for a cleaning which would have been perfect timing just before my braces go on.

I don't distrust her it's just she always rushes things and if I get a filling it almost always comes out. I don't know but I think it's because I get free NHS treatment at my dentist and as I don't pay I don't get the best?? I think your right though I'm going to phone my ortho on his mobile first thing and tell him what's happening and in the meantime look around for another dentist. There's actually one about a two minute walk from my house.

I was gonna ring the ortho just wanted to double check on here first and I'm glad I did, thank you : )

I'm paying for my braces though! ALOT as most of us are. So yes I don't want anything to change mine and my orthos agreement.

[rhibee83]

Definiatly tell your Ortho, afterall he is the one who will be organising your treatment plan and basically the Dentist only follows orders from your Ortho.

Hope all goes well

[AdultGettingBraces]

As everyone else has said definently check with your ortho, mine plans to make room for my wisdom teeth as I haven't had any problems with them.

[JillD]

When my periodontist thought that removing my wisdom teeth at the same time I had premolar extractions is a wise thing to do, she didn't even say anything directly to me. She called my ortho and they agreed about this recommendation, and then my ortho suggested it to me later.

[prairiehouse]

Also, by dentist are you referring to an oral surgeon?

My wisdom teeth were removed by an oral surgeon. I'm not sure how complicated the procedure is (as far as the training that should be undertaken before performing this surgery), but I'd look into whether you should get an oral surgeon to remove them, rather than a general dentist.

Wisdom teeth are interesting. Maybe they should be removed anyway. Some dentists say you shouldn't unless there are problems. Others say that it should be done as a preventative measure, even when there are no symptoms.


I second talking to your orthodontist.

[Okate]

Hi all, I rang my ortho this morning and he said it will be fine for my dentist to take out the wisdom tooth. He said if it was any other tooth from the wisdom tooth onwards then its not necessary.

It will just be my regular dentist carrying out the extraction and I will be getting numbing injections which will be pleasent! Not! The tooths a bit of a mess anyway so I shan't miss it.

So the ortho gave the all clear and that's ok in my book. Still gonna look into the other dentists in my area though. Thanks for all the comments.

[rhibee83]

I had one of my wisdom teeth out (only got two top ones, the other one is impacted and near my sinus so that is staying there for now!) anyway the one I got extracted at the dentist had erupted and was quite easy to remove at the dentist with numbing needle. Didn't even hurt you will be fine

[Ciara]

I got all 4 wisdom teeth removed with just a local anesthetic (no gas or any form or sedation) by my regular dentist and it was fine. One was impacted and still not a problem. Just make sure you take any medication you are given, follow any instructions and you will be fine.

[Okate]

Thanks guys-it can't be any worse than labour and I've done that twice. So this should be a walk in the park!!! : )

[isthistaken]

I wish I still had mine. There is talk of regrowing teeth with cells from one's own wisdom teeth. I fought tooth and nail to avoid these routine extractions on my kids. The ones that were causing problems came out, of course. If there is room for them I don't see putting one's self or child through that. Having been infiltrated with a double dose of anesthetic in the surgeon's office and not waking up until the next day, I am not a fan of outpatient surgery unless absolutely necessary. My husband and two of my kids never had theirs out. They will get to regrow their teeth, except they have good teeth and probably won't need to.