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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?
Since when I was a kid I did not take care of my teeth like I do now and had my molars removed when I was in my teens and now use my wisdom teeth to chew with.
I know an 80 yr old that has all his. I had mine out years ago because food was getting trapped under the gums in the area, the skin was growing over the teeth and making the area swell. Im sure if they dont bother people,though they should be left alone.
Hi Sarah!
I am the conference coordinator for Indianapolis Chapter of Weston Price. We are having a conference on September 15, 2012. Our first conference was in 2007 and we sold out at over 200 people which is the max that the facility could handle. We have a max of 450 for this years one day conference. Are you interested in participating as a speaker?
The conference will be held in downtown Indy at a trendy urban art center called the Harrison Center. The Harrison shares space with a Presbyterian church that was built in 1902. Both the church and the Harrison work to revitalize and re-inhabit the downtown area. There is a significant following of “foodies” who would attend a conference such as this. We are having our next planning meeting on February 15. I can send you a roster of other speakers we are investigating but our basic theme for this year is Food Heals. I was wondering if you might give demonstration on sourdough, keifer and yogurt, and soaking grains? We have others demonstrating fermented vegetables. Just wondered if you had interest. You are a clear speaker and organized teacher and you would be an asset to our Indianapolis following. This year is an important year as we might begin a campaign to legalize raw milk in Indiana.
Our Chapter leader is Leslie Gray
Thank you!
My name is Karen Horn , 317-846-3521 home phone
I had mine pulled at my own instigation. I have never met anyone who had the same problem I have, so I’d love to hear if anyone else here did! Every month with my cycle one of my wisdom teeth would get inflamed and swollen and very painful. Just one, but one each month, sometimes so painful I couldn’t chew food! Of course I wonder now if I had tried a WAPF style diet that would have gone away. Still I’m not particularly sorry I had it done, but then I had no complications and got rid of a very painful condition! Anyone else ever heard of anyone with this odd problem?
Yes, I get that problem every now and then with the bottom right one. Only that one though. The rest don’t bother me.
palate widening can make room for all the teeth, right?
I am 34, and I think when I was about 18 my dentist wanted to take my wisdom teeth out. There was nothing wrong with them (they never even came in), they just told me that later in life the root could grow around my nerve and cause numbness. I went home and told my Dad and he said worry about it when it happens if there is nothing wrong now leave them in. So I did just that. I had a tooth that had to be pulled (second one in from the back) and I thought I would have to pay thousands of dollars to have a false too put there. I was pregnant at the time so there was nothing I could do for about a year, but in that year my last tooth in the back moved to the missing tooth spot and that wisdom tooth on that side has started to come in. Once the wisdom tooth is all the way in it will be like I never lost a tooth! I couldn’t believe I am 34 with a tooth coming in, but I will take it! My Dad saved me from suffering a lot of pain not to have my wisdom teeth taken out, which then led to me saving $$$ on not having to buy a fake tooth b/c that tooth was there when I needed it! Great article I am living proof save your wisdom teeth!!
Jamie, that is great news. Am 45 and never had my wisdom teeth out. They never came in. They are up in my jaw. I have had 2 root canals over the years. When I had them done, I asked if I could just pull those teeth and move the other molars forward and see if my wisdom tooth would come down. The dentists just looked at me dumbfounded and said probably not.
I do think they’re not all necessary but I think this is where asking good questions and doing research is essential. Mine were all sideways. I had to have 5 baby teeth and 8 permanent teeth removed (includes wisdom teeth) for my teeth to all fit in my mouth. Either that or break my jaw and stretch. We opted for the wisdom teeth extraction.
great – thanks for this! i was to have mine removed (apparently all 4 are impacted) so i went, signed up and all. then, when he was going over the Side Effects he mentioned what you did above, the numbness for life and yadda yadda. Left the office and never looked back. And never a shred of pain from it either. Dr.’s, wadda they know ! 🙂
good for you!
Mine are fine, though the dentist freaks out when he sees me. I guess it’s really rare to see a full set of teeth anymore? lol
I never had them. Not even the nubs that turn into them. JD still has his. They don’t bother him at all.