I have a cavity? Ouch!

I had the wisdom teeth on the right side extracted when I was 43.
One got infected and both have to go. The pull both to keep your bite correct. If you just have one tooth top or bottom it will start to migrate around and cause problems, so said the dentist.

My dentist is after me to have the other wisdom teeth extracted.
He said they make it hard to keep the third molar clean and that can lead to cavities in that tooth. I have not jumped to do that yet (been 5 years).
That probably answers your questions about how much fun it is.

The oral surgeon wanted to pull all four at once but my dentist said only the right side needed to go.

When he finished the procedure he said, Don't chew any solid food on the right side for about a week, just use the left side. I asked "What would I do if you pulled all four?" Answer: eat through a straw for a week.

I needed pain meds for the first day and after that it was tender for about a week.

 

I tend to agree with your oral surgeon on this one, personally.

 

I am 39, and just had both wisdom teeth on the left side pulled, and it all started with a cavity as well.

I got a cavity filled on my lower left wisdom tooth. Shortly thereafter, I started to experience severe pain when eating on that left hand side. I could not pinpoint where the pain was coming from, since I had some other cavities filled on that left hand side, including a crown. I lived with this pain trying one remedy after another, until we had run out of things to try. The dentist said that he really believed the wisdom tooth had to come out, and since it was the one on the bottom, the top one would have to come out too.

The removal was very quick, both wisdom teeth were gone within 2 minutes after getting frozen (I elected to get a local). I had absolutely no swelling, and really no pain either. I was back at work the next day. Now, I am waiting for these craters to fill in completely!

The absolute worst part of the experience was the SOUND of the teeth breaking off.............I guess you can avoid that by getting put to sleep, however your recovery will probably be a lot more dramatic if you are put to sleep.

Good luck................I hope your recovery goes as smoothly as mine did.

 

+1!!! I did this, and God what a relief. I never realized how your teeth can make your life so miserable, until experiencing life without my wisdom teeth.

 

And just imagine having to go back again. Get them all out the first time. In 16 years I may have seen 2 patients who have wisdom teeth that they can keep clean enough to prevent pocket formation - which will drag the 2nd molars down with it.

Just get rid of them and do it in one visit. Over and done with.

 

I had all four of mine out in one visit when I was 16 felt like **** the day after, but after that it wasn't any problem. Unfortunately I have terrible teeth and the worst time was having 7 cavities filled at once (yes I was brushing regularly) and now I have some other dentist trying to convince me to get braces again.

 

I had them removed in my late teens. As you have been advised, do them all so you only have to do this once.

 

And it takes as much time trying to keep the wisdom teeth clean as it does the rest of your teeth combined...