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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
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10 Signs Your Dentist is Truly Holistic
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I was pushed into removing my wisdom teeth in my mid twenties. They were already fully grown and did not bother me at all. The dentist threatened me that if i did no revive them i might develop abscess or other horrible things…I really regret doing it, it was really traumatic on my body and my mind (i felt like i was in a torture movie with someone literally breaking my teeth with a hammer and removing the bits with pliers, the nurse was wiping off tones of blood splattering everywhere …) also the course of antibiotics afterwards did not help my health…..
My wisdom teeth hurt with all 5 of my pregnancies while pregnant in my 20’s…..now at 29 and my youngest nearly three, they don’t bother me, only while i was pregnant.
Don’t take advice from people who have no expertise in the area of discussion. Just sayin’.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig's_angina
Yep I had to have mine out too for the same reason but not everyone does and there are still more than necessary being removed because it’s kinda a standard procedure thing. My son has a Diastema or space between his front teeth and his 3rd’s are coming in and my dr who I love wants me to take them out but I am opting to wait and see. All I’m saying is instead of pull now and ask questions later in all cases apply some common sense. You don’t need a dental degree for that.
Mine didn’t fit in my mouth….they were causing severe pain and issues with my other teeth…had to get them out when I was 18.
I’m an old dental hygienist and frankly I have seen many 3rd’s removed that did not need to be. No one has a crystal ball and can predict what will happen. Most often they will do fine if the person has half a brain and takes care of their teeth. But sometimes removal can be necessary. I graduated d hygiene school in the 80’s and have seen a lot of stupid dentistry but much less really good dentistry where common sense is applied and that has always bothered me!!! Remember big $$$$ is involved and when you are in an office setting student the bottom line is in play big time. That doctor paying you wants and need to pay the bills and earn a nice living and sometimes good dentistry is lost in the fray! Sorry to inform you but give it a few years you may see it differently. I used to recite all the stuff they taught me really well too. Just some food for thought on the opposite bank… Do with it what you will
Sorry to burst everyone’s bubble, but Wisdom tooth removal is recommended and ” necessary” for many legitimate reasons. The large majority of people do not have enough room in their jaws to allow for these large third molars, and when they attempt to grow in, many come in impacted, or slanted so that they are unable to fully erupt. This can cause a host of painful issues such as pressure on the nerves in your mandible, pushing against its neighboring 2nd molar causing it to move and become malaligned, and if it partially erupts, this is a disaster waiting to happen. When a tooth remains only partially erupted, tons of harmful, pathogenic bacteria get stuck under the flap of tissue covering the crown of the tooth that I guarantee 99% will not be able to clean properly on a twice-daily basis. This can, and often will, cause these molars to rot out and form severe cavities, which if left untreated or extracted, can reach the pulp and cause a serious and painful infection. Have fun with a swollen face and an emergency trip to your oral surgeon. And if this happens in a maxillary third molar (the upper ones) it can be extremely dangerous having a bad infection that close to your sinuses and brain.
Let’s also touch upon the risk of Dentigerous Cysts developing in unerupted teeth that are not removed. These cysts are dangerous to say the least. They can displace teeth, cause fracture and pain, and resorb the roots of the surrounding teeth. Meaning your teeth now have no anchor to stay in their alveolar socket. These cysts can also become so large and destructive to the surrounding bone of your jaw that it can destroy entire sections of your ramus. That’s your jaw.
I don’t mean to bash anyone, or take away from this very sad and unfortunate experience, and I hope that this poor woman can make a full recovery and be able to return home to her family.
I read the article posted here and I don’t agree with most of it. IF a person HAS ENOUGH room for their wisdom teeth to FULLY and CORRECTLY erupt with no tissue or neighboring tooth constraints, yes, leaving these teeth in shouldn’t be an issue. This is pretty rare, however. But if you have unerupted or partially erupted or impacted wisdom teeth that “aren’t giving you problems” then You need to get them out.
Just the opinion of a dental hygiene student and someone who had her fair share of wisdom tooth woes
Easiest procedure ever! I got mine out before they broke through the skin. I had my jaw expanded twice and braces twice (i have a veryyyy small jaw). They wisdom teeth would have messed up my teeth and I had no room for them.
Roger, one of my many reasons I do not want this
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one. I’m 38 and I still have all mine.