Do you have your wisdom teeth?
By eloouuu
@eloouuu (176)
June 13, 2008 5:27pm CST
As I was growing up, I was told that aside from puberty, one of the biggest things to look forward to that would signify the coming end of my adolescence would be getting my wisdom teeth. In fact, many people used to terrify me by making it out to be the most horrifying experience second only to childbirth. However, at the delicate age of only 17 years old, I already have one wisdom tooth and a second on the way. I am told by my dentist that this is unusual, as many people don't get theirs until they are around 20, 21 or even later in some cases. Having asked my friends, they don't seem to have theirs.
Do you have yours yet? If so, at what age did you get them? Did you find it painful? Have you even had them extracted? And if not, do your parents or friends have them? It is a rather unusual sensation; with the first wisdom tooth that came through, I never felt it until one day I noticed it was there. This time round, I can actually feel the tooth pressing against the gum where it is going to come through, and it is somewhat tender. Tender, but not painful. The second has arrived within only a month or two of my first which is now almost fully through.
I would love to hear any stories you have - although if yours involves anything that may include big anaesthetic needles or excruciating pain, I would rather not know about it.
5 people like this
23 responses
@eloouuu (176)
•
13 Jun 08
One of the things that primarily concerns me about these new teeth is that I won't have enough room for them in my jaw. I have already had two teeth removed to allow other cramped teeth to spread out, and I doubt that four new teeth are going to make the situation any better. It wasn't that I didn't like having my teeth pulled - it's just not something I would ever wish to have to experience again.
I know that the operation in which they remove the wisdom teeth can be quite painful and this is one of the things that people love to remind me of when I express my excitement at having gotten them. Did you have to wear braces or were there other reasons for having your teeth pulled?
2 people like this
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
13 Jun 08
Yes, you spoke correctly. I had worn braces in the past. And I had an overbite and overcrowding.. I had to have 4 innocent teeth removed just to make room for my braces.. Ain't that something? Other times, I had a teeth removed, it has came from a cavity or asbet..
2 people like this
@eloouuu (176)
•
14 Jun 08
I had an abcess on my gum when I was younger and it was feared that it could be a tumour as it constantly grew and was very sore, although it seems to have disappeared over the years and has never returned since. I had to wear a brace though and I was told that unless I had two teeth removed, there would be no space for my teeth to spread into. However, I didn't have the type of brace which is cemented to the teeth - I had a "retainer" style brace, with a wire on a plate that I had to tighten every day.
Some people would argue that they would have rather had that but I think I would have preferred an alternative. I suffered a lot of bullying due to the lisp caused by my plate and it was somewhat unpleasant to have to clean it after eating. I don't think the effects were that good, either...
1 person likes this
@DaddyOfTheRose (2934)
• United States
13 Jun 08
That is a delicate situation! I had 2 of mine removed by a dentist for $250 dollars when I didn't have insurance. I had the other two removed when I had insurance and I don't remember how much it cost. It is kind of scary trying to get dental work done when you don't have insurance.
1 person likes this
@eloouuu (176)
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14 Jun 08
Yes, definitely. I think it is especially unfortunate for people who decide to get braces post-adolescence who then have to pay fees for something they could have done only a couple of years earlier for free. I know there are special circumstances under which you don't have to pay as well. For example, my father broke his teeth in a cricket accident when he was younger and didn't have to pay for false teeth because it was not his fault. I'm not sure if we have any insurance or if I intend to get any as I don't really require much dental assistance nowadays.
Still, I think the costs are extortionate! No wonder dentists are so well off. Then again, I understand that they have to charge so much because there is a shortage in England and so dentists are in high demand. Anybody can figure out that the higher the demand, the higher the cost. I'm just glad that it's not something I have to worry about for a while...
@eloouuu (176)
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13 Jun 08
I am extremely fortunate. Because I am under eighteen years old and still in full time education, I can receive free N.H.S dental treatment. If my dentist thinks I am going to require extraction, I would rather have it sooner than later so that I don't have to pay - I have university fees and as far as I'm aware, in America, there is no N.H.S to cover the costs for me.
I only just had a bunch of injections to get teeth drilled and filled and they were not pleasant, so I'm hoping he says that I won't need to undergo that procedure if they pose no evident threat.
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
13 Jun 08
I still have my wisdom teeth. Sometimes they're OK, other times they hurt. They're not bugging me right now, but they were bugging me last week, and they will probably bug me again next week. LOL
2 people like this
@eloouuu (176)
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13 Jun 08
That's awful. I have never had any problems yet with the first wisdom teeth that arrived, although I did find it was somewhat sensitive and didn't feel as if it had hardened fully - if that makes sense. As if it was still a milk tooth. It seems fine now though.
If you commonly experience dental discomfort, you should really try Corsodyl. I used to suffer extremely badly from ulcers, and I tried everything - normally gum creams or toothpastes that are designed to help teething babies or rubbing dentures. None of them really worked, but the best one I have tried is Corsodyl. It might not taste very nice, but it eliminates any pain or discomfort I have experienced and also reduced bleeding, inflammation and helps to fight gum disease. Alongside that, it is easy to apply. You should definitely try and get hold of it if you can because that might help!
2 people like this
@wpark2419 (265)
• United States
13 Jun 08
I have mine. They grew in very slowly, and they were fully in when I was either 19 or 20. Mine were a little tender for a bit, but not long, and they've never given me any trouble. My dentist has said that there's no reason to remove them if they aren't causing problems. Other dentists have told me that once they came in they needed to be removed because they can cause problems in the future. I kinda feel if it's not broken, don't fix it. So, I still have them, and then don't bother me at all. **One other thing, is that the reason so many people have trouble and have to have them removed is because it's hard to brush them good. So just make sure you brush all the way in the back every day.** Good luck to you :]
2 people like this
@tessah (6617)
• United States
13 Jun 08
i dont think there is any set age at which we get wisdom of any other teeth. same as babies sometimes get their first tooth at 3-4 months.. and some dont get any until they are nearly a year old.. itll vary tween the individual. i got two of my wisdom teeth a month or two apart same as you are now.. when i was 20. and same as you, they were only semi tender and sore. i got the third when i was about 28.. im now 39 and have yet to get the last one.. altho it makes pretend like its going to come through, and has for years.. it never actually breaks through the gums and goes back dormant. last time i went to a dentist.. he seemed surprised that i had them.. and asked why i hadnt had them pulled. i asked him why i should go through that when they dont give me any problems at all? apparently, its kinda customary.. regardless. i think its rather idiotic to pull perfectly decent teeth just because most people do.
1 person likes this
@tessah (6617)
• United States
13 Jun 08
i think theonly way theyd cause a future problm would be if you werent able to clean them well.. or if here wasnt enough space for them so they started causing pain. thankfully mine have decent speace tween them so im able to floss, brush, waterpik.. etc etc .. im ery anal when it comes to my oral hygiene.. i despise the dentist and do whatever i can to aoid them like the plague 
1 person likes this
@eloouuu (176)
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13 Jun 08
You raise a very good point. I think it could possibly be affected by the fact that I was a premature baby. Everything came early: growth spurts, puberty and now these.
I am surprised that it would be recommended to get perfectly healthy teeth removed if there was no need to. I suppose it is true that they could pose a threat to your teeth in the future, by which point it could very well be too late or even pointless to do anything about it. However, in England at least, I think it is becoming less and less frequent that people do get them pulled unless they cause significant discomfort - the same with people having their tonsils removed. That used to be a very common practise, regardless of if somebody had tonsilitis or not, and now it's apparently unnecessary...
1 person likes this
@eloouuu (176)
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14 Jun 08
Really? I don't mind my dentist - in fact, I prefer him to my doctors, as he is the only dentist I have ever had in my life and he knows me quite well. My doctor changes every week and I don't know if I can trust them or not. I don't know them any more than I would know a stranger in the street, yet I am expected to put my trust and health in their hands.
I have had problems with there not being enough space in my jaw for my teeth which means I have a potential for future problems, although they have caused me no discomfort or worry yet. I can still reach them when brushing and I use a mouthwash regularly, but I can't floss. Is there any reason you hate the dentist so much?
1 person likes this
@ashly1979 (1376)
• United States
13 Jun 08
i do have my wisdom tooth, and it still in now. i can take it out sometimes though, but, not all of the time. hehe lol i like taking it out though.
do you like taking your wisdom teeth out a lot of time?
2 people like this
@ashly1979 (1376)
• United States
14 Jun 08
i've got partial wisdom teeth. and i put them out all the time after I eat.
or at least before i eat. i like the partials. do you have any partials?
1 person likes this
@eloouuu (176)
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13 Jun 08
Well that's unusual - I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to be able to whip 'em out whenever you want. Are you sure we aren't confused?
My wisdom teeth haven't even grown in completely yet so I would be somewhat worried if I was able to take them out. Perhaps I am just missing something, but I think we definitely have our wires crossed somewhere along the line... what do you mean?
1 person likes this
@eloouuu (176)
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14 Jun 08
I think we are definitely confused. As far as I am aware, you don't need to remove wisdom teeth, and if they are removed, you don't need to put them back in again. Are you referring to false teeth or dental veneers? That is the only thing I can think you mean, and if you really mean wisdom teeth - well, yes, mine are "partial" or they haven't grown through the whole way.
If there is somebody who understands this better than I do, or if I am missing out on something, could you please let me know?
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71663)
• United States
14 Jun 08
When I go to the dentist they are always surprised that I have my wisdom teeth because apparently a lot of people have problems with them and have to have them removed by the time they are my age. I think that is odd since I am only 24. I was only born with 3 wisdom teeth so I never had to cut the fourth one thank goodness. Two coming in hurt but not horrible but the one was so bad that that side of my face swelled up really bad and was hard to talk or eat for awhile. A friend of mine never had her wisdom teeth come in so when she got braces they went in and extracted them. My husband had his removed because the skin was growing over them. When I was younger my dentist wanted to remove them even though there was nothing wrong with them just to prevent problems in the future but to me thats pointless and they are not coming out unless they give me problems. The top ones came in strange and tilt way towards my cheeks so its harder to brush them but I manage.
1 person likes this
@CherylsPearls (1269)
• United States
14 Jun 08
My first one started coming in when I was 14. Of course, everyone says that is impossible! I'm here to tell you it's not! lol
The problem with it though, was that it came in ok, but it's root was curved and touching the nerve in the tooth in front of it. I ended up having it pulled. The second one barely came out and hurt as well. For years, it would swell up (the gum) and get really tender and sore. I ended up having them cut out because they were impacted. I really didn't have room for them.
I read that people's jaws have shortened over time, and most people don't have room for wisdom teeth anymore. Interesting, huh? I don't know if that's true, but it was in my case.
My daughter had braces. Her teeth were perfectly straight, then her wisdom teeth started coming in. When they did, they started moving her teeth around again. She ended up having her's pulled (2) and cut out (2).
1 person likes this
@eloouuu (176)
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14 Jun 08
I'm glad mine haven't started arriving until now, I'm sure it would have been disastrous as I still had my braces when I was 14. I bet that was no fun for you. I think I am rather lucky in that a large majority of people tend to experience pain with their wisdom teeth and I haven't as of yet. I hope I never do either. I hope what happened to your daughter doesn't happen to me because I spent a lot of time wearing that stupid brace and I don't think I would ever be able to do it again. My teeth weren't even completely straightened and the dentist ignored my bottom jaw which was equally as bad as the top! Do you mind if I ask how old she was when she got hers?
Do you mean that people in general have smaller jaws than their ancestors or that people's jaws actually shrink? I think that could possibly be true, or maybe our teeth are just getting bigger.
1 person likes this
@CherylsPearls (1269)
• United States
14 Jun 08
I'm glad you haven't had any problems or pain with your wisdom teeth yet. Hopefully, you won't.
My daughter had braces from age 13 to age 15, top and bottom. Her wisdom teeth started coming in around age 16. By the time she was almost 18, she had them removed.
According to the film the dental surgeon made us watch, evolution has made the human jaw shorter, and according to the film, we don't need our wisdom teeth anymore. I searched online and found something similiar for you:
http://scienceline.org/2007/02/05/ask-cooper-wisdomteeth/
Everyone doesn't have problems with their wisdom teeth. My Mom still has 3 of hers. Only one gave her any problems and she had it pulled. And she's 79!
1 person likes this
@Cocoa33 (921)
• United States
14 Jun 08
i had them before. they started to bother me, and it got worse over time. i had a hard time getting an early appointment so i can get rid of the tooth. it was giving me a lot of grief. i couldn't sleep. i was in pain a lot. finally i got all of them out. i find they serve no purpose.
1 person likes this
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
14 Jun 08
I haven't had any real problems with mine. I can't say they bother me. I have had one pulled. That was in my late 20s. Other than that no problems. I guess I am lucky.
@pixelpixie (473)
• Canada
14 Jun 08
I am lucky enough, like my mum, to only have 2 wisdom teeth. The bottom two. Unfortunately, they are coming in sideways, so it will be an expensive and overly painful surgery probably. I don't know when I'm going to get them out...so far they haven't been bothering me very much, other than a bit of a jaw ache on occasion and they haven't "come through" yet. Though I don't think they can...since they're sideways and all.
1 person likes this
@walkerkdj (107)
• United States
14 Jun 08
I had mine surgically removed at the age of 16 which is very unusual. Mine grow in really fast and there was no room for them because I have a small mouth. It was painfull, my cheeks bruised when they were trying to come in. They can be panfull, but just know that if they are painfull it does not last long. My husband is 24 and still hasn't got all of his. He dd not have much pain for the ones he does hve.
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
14 Jun 08
oh yes... i do have wisdom teeth... and my dentist asks me to pull them out... but it is not bothering me yet... so i think i will just keep them for as long as i can until i have the money to pull them out or until they start giving me trouble... take care and have a nice day...
1 person likes this
@Celanith (2327)
• United States
14 Jun 08
I have only ONE of my wisdom teeth left. When they came in one was so large it split and broke the back molar and both had to come out. Another on the other side came in sideways or so the dentist said. It too caused trouble for my molar and both had to come out. Then there was another that came in decayed as it was forming and it came out. Only one on the bottom right came in normal and I still have it. The were painful coming in. I was about 18 with the first one. I finally had them all and lost three by the time I was 22. I have lost seven teeth due to those bad wisdom teeth. I still have most of my natural teeth but some are giving me trouble at age 59. Four in front and one on the right bottom is causing trouble. I do not have and cannot afford dental or medical.
@prabodh1987 (297)
• India
14 Jun 08
i m 21 i have one wisdom tooth, its painful!!!
1 person likes this
@k1tten (2318)
• United States
14 Jun 08
I was 20 before I got mine out. I waited over a year because that tat time we didn't have the money to get them out. Impacted teeth are never fun. I suffered a whole semester of my teeth shifting and I was in pain the whole time. It wasn't a sharp pain but it was a constant hurt. Some days were better than others though. I had mine cut out the first week of January this year right before I went back to college. The first few days my cheeks were swollen and sore and I couldn't open my mouth very much to eat anything but soups, yogarts, and the such. It sucked. It took a week to heal over but after that week I was pretty good. And I was extremely happy when I could finally eat solid foods again.
1 person likes this
@ylj1266 (39)
• China
14 Jun 08
I got my first wisdom teeth when I was 24. It groew in the wrong direction and got an inflammtiong of my gum and of course it was of much pain! It was pulled out! not in a while,the second one came up. On the contrary, it grew peacefully.I just got problem when I brush it! And now It is still there! The last two haven't emerged yet,I'll be waiting for them!
1 person likes this
@eyesofmarch (8)
• United States
14 Jun 08
I started getting mine when I was 15teen, and now at 23 the top ones have just cut the gum. It was not too bad, just like a tooth ace. My bottom ones haven't come in yet.
