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Wisdom tooth extraction is a multibillion-dollar industry driven by myths that continue to be spread by the conventional dental profession for immense profit.
Over Spring Break during my senior year in college, I endured wisdom tooth extraction like just about everyone else I knew my age. To top it off, the dentist knocked me out for the procedure instead of using a simple local anesthetic plus laughing gas.
Needless to say, I spent most of my vacation on the living room couch with my mouth loaded with gauze! Recovery from the anesthesia caused even more complications.
Prior to surgery, were my wisdom teeth infected or painful in any way?
No.
Were they causing any sort of problems for me whatsoever?
No.
Then why in the world did I have them out you might ask?
Good question!
As it turns out, over two-thirds of cases of wisdom tooth extraction are completely unnecessary says Dr. Jay Friedman DDS in a study published in the American Journal of Public Health.
Of the approximately 5 million people who endure wisdom tooth extraction each year, 11,000 suffer what’s called “permanent paresthesia” which is a fancy name for numbness of the lip, tongue, and cheek resulting from nerve damage during the surgery.
The problem is, wisdom tooth extraction is quite the little oil well of profit for dentists with the costs of such surgeries topping 3 billion US$ each and every year.
Sounds like the standard practice of wisdom tooth extraction is a bit like “finding and filling” cavities that don’t exist, doesn’t it?
Ah, yes. There’s the rub.
According to Dr. Friedman:
Third-molar surgery is a multibillion-dollar industry that generates significant income for the dental profession, particularly oral and maxillofacial surgeons. It is driven by misinformation and myths that have been exposed before but that continue to be promulgated by the profession.
Dr. Friedman goes on to dismantle in very compelling fashion the 5 myths of wisdom tooth extraction.
Myth #1: Most Wisdom Teeth Cause Problems
The truth is that only 12% of wisdom teeth actually cause an acute issue somewhere down the road that requires the attention of a dentist to resolve.
This is about the same rate as appendicitis, but people do not routinely and preventively have their appendix removed like what happens with wisdom teeth!
Myth #2: Early Wisdom Tooth Extraction is Less Traumatic
The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons recommends the extraction of all 4 wisdom teeth by early adulthood before the roots are fully formed to minimize any chance of infection and pain.
The truth is that this early removal of wisdom teeth is actually much more traumatic than a wait and see approach which leaves asymptomatic wisdom teeth in place and only removes them if pathology develops in the future.
Further, complications from wisdom tooth extraction which include dry socket, secondary infection, and paresthesia (numbness of the lip, tongue, and cheek) are less likely to occur in an older patient than an adolescent.
Myth #3: Erupting Wisdom Teeth Crowd Anterior Teeth
Dr. Friedman writes that it is simply not possible for wisdom teeth to crowd 14 other teeth with firm vertical roots.
There is simply not enough force to do so and multiple studies support this fact.
Myth #4: Risk of Problems Increases With Age
A study of 1756 people who kept their wisdom teeth for an average of 27 years found that less than 1% experienced any cyst formation.
There is zero evidence to support the unsubstantiated claim by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons which states that problems with impacted wisdom teeth increase with age.
Myth #5: Risk of Harm is Small
The list of potential complications from wisdom tooth extraction is long.
- Pain
- Swelling
- Trismus (lockjaw)
- Hemorrhage
- Alveolar osteitis (dry socket)
- Periodontal damage
- Soft-tissue infection
- Injury to temporomandibular joint
- Malaise
- Temporary paresthesia (numbness of the lips, tongue, and cheek)
- Permanent paresthesia
- Fracture of adjacent teeth
- Fracture of the mandible
- Fracture of the maxilla
- Sinus exposure or infection
- Anesthetic complications
Even in cases where there are absolutely no complications whatsoever, wisdom tooth extraction requires 3 days of discomfort and disability while the patient recovers from surgery.
Given that no more than 12% of wisdom teeth ever cause any problems whatsoever at any point down the road, the risk of removal seems great in comparison.
Skip The Surgery!
So, if your dentist tells you or your child that it’s time for those wisdom teeth to come out when they aren’t causing any trouble at all, just politely smile, say “uh, no thanks”, and go home.
You just saved yourself a rather large chunk of change my friend.
Even in cases where you must remove the wisdom teeth, there is no need for antibiotics in most cases. A biological dentist has natural approaches to protect a patient from infection without destruction of the gut with meds.
Which Dentists Won’t Pressure You To Remove Wisdom Teeth?
If you are getting pressured to remove your child’s wisdom teeth, know that a biological dentist does not do this!
I get many requests about who I recommend as a truly holistic, biological dentist who understands the value to long-term health of the wisdom teeth and WON’T take them out unless absolutely necessary.
I recommend Dr. Carlo Litano of Natural-Smiles.com – (727) 300-0044.
He sees young children as well as adults and does phone consultations to help guide those who don’t live near his office. Be sure to tell Dr. Litano that Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist sent you and get 10% off your first visit!
Reference
American Journal of Public Health, Prophylactic Extraction of Third Molars: A Public Health Hazard, Jay Friedman DDS
More Information
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What is the True Cause of Crooked Teeth?
10 Signs Your Dentist is Truly Holistic
Avoiding Root Canals with Diet Alone
Could the Cause of Your Illness Be Right Under Your Nose?
Jennifer
I’m almost done with braces and my orthodontist keeps telling me to remove my wisdom teeth. They haven’t emerged from the gums yet. I am not feeling any pain but the orthodontists says that my teeth might be impacted and the wisdom teeth will make my other teeth crooked. I really don’t want to take them out, what should I do?
luispihormiguero
If they aren’t painful, keep them.
jim
get em out .. i had my braces removed and my lower wisdoms made my lower teeth crookd again and i had to get them out.
Marc
Had x-rays when I was 15. Dentist said I had no sign of wizzys along the bottom but the top ones had to come out. Decided against the surgery but only because I hate going to the dentist. Just turned 30 a week ago and in that 15 years I’ve had no problems. My top two wisdom teeth are now fully emerged. They came with a little soreness in the gums but nothing I couldn’t tolerate. I had my braces off at 17, wore a retainer at night and had a few cavities filled. Other than that, I go in for a cleaning once a year and listen to the same dentist tell me all the reasons why I should have my wisdom teeth removed. Why can’t dentists do more to assist with the process of wisdom teeth coming in rather then jumping to the conclusion to rip them out? If I go to the doctor with a sore wrist, they don’t immediately say “you’re now at the age to have that hand removed.”
Rachael
I’m 19 and a wisdom tooth started erupting earlier this summer. Caused some discomfort for a couple months, but it’s absolutely fine now, untreated. Interesting article + comments.
GC
I had 6 wisdom teeth. I had an extra set on the top. All had to come out because of pain and impaction. After having a total of 13 teeth removed, I still had a full mouth with no gaps.
I’ve wondered that if my mom had been on WAPF (or other healthy WOE), would my mouth have formed to be large enough to hold the 30-some teeth I had? There’s no way of knowing for sure, but it couldn’t have hurt. I’ll be eating the best I can (going back to healthy eating starting today) so hopefully any kids that might appear might not have the same issues.
Jacki
I just had my wisdom teeth removed yesterday, and not a moment too soon. I’ve been having migraines and jaw pain caused by the pressure from my top two teeth erupting out toward my shoulders and my bottom two growing directly into the bottom of the molars in front of them. This article is absolutely no replacement for advice from a good dentist. I have a really hard time believing only 12% of people experience problems with their wisdom teeth. My dentist advised that I get my wisdom teeth out in my senior year of high school, but for financial reasons, I was unable to. Considering everything I went through, I wish I could have had my teeth pulled/removed sooner; my mouth is small, and my already-crooked teeth got worse. It’s now even harder to brush some of my teeth than it was in January. Some people just do have space in their jaws for the extra teeth, but you can see in an x-ray which ones will be problematic. And I can understand getting them out before they interfere with the alignment of teeth already straightened by braces.
Amir
Hi Sarah at the Healthy Home Econonmist,
I’m almost 32 and now experiencing pain and discomfort in the lower right wisdom tooth. Saw the x ray and can clearly see the wisdom tooth just under the gum. It is totally straight and not touching any other tooth. It has been sore on and off for years, but never come out. In the past few days it has been more uncomfortable than before. What would happen if I left the tooth in? Could I use it as another molar? Is the fact that it looks perfectly straight in the xray a reason not to pull it out? I agree with you on the money grab aspect of dentists and “standard” procedures. Thanks.
PMK
I’m always one that questions things that everyone seems “inevitable”, but I actually was ecstatic about being able to remove my wisdom teeth. My top two grew in straight, but moved and angled my teeth because there was not enough room. My bottom two grew in completely horizontal. The bottom right one finally began to come up, and it seemed to take turns with the bottom left. One month it’d be the right side that hurt, the next, the left. It made it terribly painful to eat. Eventually, my right one would be the one that caused the constant issues. It seemed like there was a flap of gum that was lifted and swollen because the tooth was in limbo on what it wanted to do. I had food stuck in it, it became inflamed and cleaning my impacted teeth and the affected gum was impossible. The dentist told me I could either pay 200+ for a periodontal cleaning for just my two bottom wisdom teeth, or pay 300 to get all four removed. At this point, my teeth had made it hard for me to eat, talk, smile for two years! I spoke with my other coworkers about it, and all of them currently have issues similar, if not identical to mine or have had them taken out because of the same reason. So, the 12% seems unlikely for me. Even my neighbors and my husband have all had issues with their wisdom teeth. If anything, it’s more of a rarity for me to find someone who hasn’t had issues with their wisdom teeth. If my future kids don’t complain about their wisdom teeth, then great. If they take after me, the anxiety will get to them before the dentist even comes in the room. I wouldn’t want to put them through anything like that. But, if it does cause problems, sucking it up for half an hour to remove the teeth is better than the pain that can be caused by it.
GComper
Umm.. I don’t think people should trust you. Show me your degree and which dental school you came from.
anon
Mine hurt like hell before they were pulled(at 19) and were getting cavities and infecting tissue because they could only get halfway out of the gum. Additionally, having the teeth push my others at a 45 degree angle did affect my alignment, before my molars were more or less straight and now my 12 yr molar is wedged partly under my 6 year molar and rotated. I’m not saying to pull out wisdom teeth that aren’t causing problems, but neither should you have to delay pulling ones that are.
Rebecca Bartlett
Ugh, I envy those of you who get to keep your wisdom teeth. My grandmother, my mother, and I have all had to get our wisdom teeth removed. We all have incredibly small jaws and the wisdom teeth were causing my jaw to click and even lock in place once while growing in and they were all growing towards my jaw (away from the teeth) and causing me extreme amounts of pain and only two had broke the gums. I went to the dentist and saw the X Rays and was shocked when my upper wisdom teeth were almost growing out sideways! I was feeling the side of my tooth breaking the gums! I got them removed last tuesday with no problems although I turned into a sobbing baby after I was woke up (emotional issues after the knock out drugs) Anything anyone said had me in tears or cursing at them X) Oops. But its not too bad, I got to spend a week sleeping on the couch and eating icecream untill I was thouroughly sick of it. I think if you have a family history of bad dental health and the past couple generations have had the problem you probably will too. I waited untill I was 18 to get them removed even though they started getting incredibly painful around 17. I wish I hadnt waited. I could have lived without choking on a sandwhich in highschool when it brushed against my wisdoms (through the gums) and caused me to gasp from the pain thereby inhaling in that dang PB&J bite, most embarassing moment of my life. Half the cafeteria crowded around me, not to help but watch me cough and gag up the inhaled bits… Tons of fun..