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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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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?
I am so glad you wrote about this. I still have my wisdom teeth but my husband had his removed and now I will be very mindful about our children’s teeth. I really enjoy your blog, thank you!
Over-crowding has been a life-long issue for me. Not only did I have all 4 wisdom teeth out, but also 2 upper and 2 lower adult cuspids to create room. I have a recessed lower jaw and a laundry list of dental issues. I’ve worn braces 4 times….(yes, I said 4.) Once as a teen and 3 times as an adult. Even without the 4 removed teeth, the remaining teeth STILL crowded and shifted continually to the point of needing braces again and again.
Now, I have upper and lower permanent retainers and I ALSO wear a removeable upper and lower retainer every other night. I have more fillings and root canals than I can shake a stick at. Without a doubt, I have been cursed with poor dental genetics. I wonder just how much my situation would have been different with a better diet. I have no doubt that I am the 12% and although things might have been different with a better diet, I am convinced the genetics would still have won out over diet in the end.
With palate expanders and braces going on kids at a younger and younger age, they all seem to come out of it with that beautiful wide and white hollywood smile. (the one I can only get via caps, crowns, and cosmetic dentistry).
Mine didn’t get a chance to bother me, the Army forced me to remove them….. I’ll never know! I know a few people who had theirs come in and cause all sorts of problems and pain….
Well, I was one of the 12%. My 3 wisdom teeth were impacted or growing horizontally, and growing towards my other teeth sideways instead of growing up. It was a horrible experience! The doctor came in and said it was time to do the surgery…. in behind him came 3 bouncing, giggling nurses saying “We want to help you put her under!!” AAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGG! Scary!
I still have mine and I am 45. One is sideways and the other two all the way in. I have one that never came to to gum. I take extra care with them and they give me no trouble. If they do, I will go from there.
Thanks for the article!
And I like that my dentist told me that I don’t need the rest out unless I have pain or my jaw locks. He said to leave them alone and there is no point in taking them out right now.
I needed one tooth out because it locked my jaw. The good part was that I lost weight when I couldn’t eat much. LOL
I waited until I couldn’t handle the pain anymore. Mine were taken out in emergency the day after Christmas.
I had my wisdom teeth removed on three differet occastions since I was too poor to get them out all at once. The second time was an emergency extraction while living in Japan. The tooth broke skin, was shredding the back of my mouth and got infected. It was horrible to have this happen while living abroad, but the actual surgery was quick and easy and I was back to my normal life within 48 hours. It also only cost me $100. The other two times brought on misery that words can never explain as well a great deal of financial hardship. I wonder if those bottom teeth would be minding their own business in my jaw bone now instead of getting dug and drilled out.
My husband now has great insurance and if I needed any kind of dental work it would only cost us $10. I wish I would have waited (except for that infected one, that was horrible and I am glad it is gone)