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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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Toddler’s Severe Tooth Decay Halted in 5 Days
Resolving Periodontal Problems with Bone Broth
Coconut Oil Stops Strep Bacteria from Damaging Tooth Enamel
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?
Artgirl
I’m 56 years old and never had any major problems other than some swelling on one side years ago. I’m a tongue thruster and grind my teeth at night–mouth guard helped there, and doing tongue exercises to stop the other issue. Consulted with my dentist, he will make a mold of my mouth to see if removing my wisdom teeth–all four–will improve the final results of my Invisalign braces. So I’m going along with this step my dentist suggests–he’s really great and will not charge me for the mold–but I’m not sold on oral surgery for such a small gain–especially after reading these stories. This is the rub, my orthodontist expects to gain only an additional 1 millimeter toward closing my open bite. The only reason he suggested seeing my dentist probably has something to do with his professional standards–I’m so lucky to have two great offices servicing my dental needs! The braces have rounded and widened my mouth so the two front teeth are again parallel and one side is almost straight like they were in my twenties.
Artgirl
I would love to send a pic, but not sure how…
Artgirl
Had a mold of my teeth today by my dentist. As much as I like the orthodontist and dentist, still not sold on surgery for 1 millimeter gain. Other than my orthodontist adjusting the teeth so that I will have a proper bite at the end of this process–when eating, too–is there anything else I could ask them?
Chopped Liver via Facebook
most maybe but ifyou skip and shouldnt have its really ugly..i had a broken jaw to prove it
Jacqueline Pelletier via Facebook
I have all four of mine at 43. No problems, no issues whatsoever. If someone had told me that I “had to have them removed,” when there’s no pain, decay, or infection, I would have run and found another dentist.
Melinda Nelson via Facebook
I agree!! One think I did right as a hygienist mom.
Desiree Heckaman Odenbrett via Facebook
Dasha Cochran, I remember reading somewhere that t-cells have been discovered in tonsils. Very interesting!
Sonja Hric Grabel via Facebook
I’m really not surprised. . . Why would something that humans are born with require routine removal? Similar to the issue with foreskins and tonsils being removed willy-nilly. I had my wisdom teeth out as a teen and even way back then I thought it was ridiculous, but I had no say. The dentist said they would cause trouble down the line, so my mom had them removed. I remember being on the oral surgeon’s table telling him I’d rather keep the teeth. I said, “If you have to take out teeth, why don’t you take out the ones in front of the wisdom teeth. . . they are older! I’d like to keep the brand new ones!” On a similar note, I saw an orthodontist for teeth straightening and he ruined my jaw! Forced me to pull my lower jaw forward, which created undue stress on the muscles and displaced the little cushiony thing in the joint. Now, I struggle with jaw pain, clicking, popping, and locking. I’ve spent tons of money on appliances, physical therapy, massage, and acupuncture. I can get some relief with lots of effort, but it is damaged beyond repair. Another FAIL for allopathic medicine.
Sara Mobrei via Facebook
I waited til too late to get mine out and lost another tooth as a result of the impacted tooth pushing on the one next to it. However I only did one side, my other two wisdom teeth are still intact and look perfect. However my dentist said I have to take them out before she will give me braces. Is this true? Has anyone had a retainer or braces with wisdom teeth?
Rebecca K. Agner via Facebook
When a wisdom tooth REALLY needs to come out it should be because of the following: 1- PAIN 2- a cyst 3- the tooth is half way erupted, and bacteria is growing as an alarming rate causing sever tooth decay and BAD BREATH… yuck! Plus this chronic infection is REALLY BAD for you IMMUNE SYSTEM. 4- when the wisdom tooth is in a position to threaten the tooth in front of it, thus causing the patient to loose both teeth. Yes it is always good to seek a second opinion when facing a surgery, we always advise our patients to do so if they have any questions regarding any of their dental needs. There are times when people put off the inevitable and create larger problem. If removed before the roots are fully developed, the risks go down considerably. At Age 15 is a good time to check. Furthermore, if they need to be extracted do it with in Your Time Table, not the tooth’s. Don’t wait until you have a life threatening infection, or ruin a really great vacation with an un wanted tooth ache. I have had patients threaten a pregnancy with the infection… In closing many of my patients HAVE ROOM for their wisdom teeth, so we DON’T pull them.
Kathryn Roux Dickerson via Facebook
I’ve had mine a long time, and yes, they are impacted.
KT
I hope you don’t mind me throwing in a little humor to the comments. I thought of this as I was reading some of the comments above.
http://kfor.com/2013/04/04/girl-explains-regret-after-removing-wisdom-teeth/
This poor girl needed to read you post Sarah. hehe!!!
Thanks for the post. I have teenagers now and I am sure we’re going to face it eventually.