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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 tend to believe that also braces are often unnecessary. 6 years ago my dentist suggested I should visit an orthodontist for health reasons (mainly for the future possibility of gingivitis due to my teeth placement).
I also had 2 of my wisdom teeth following his suggestion.
I believe that maybe I could have avoided both (braces lasted for about 2 years and costed significantly)
Hey, quick question… my post-braces 16 year old daughter is having some wisdom tooth pain and of course, her dentist wants to pull them. I want to wait and see, but in the mean time, does anyone have any natural/homeopathic pain relieving suggestions that worked for you? I would appreciate it. She is not miserable, just uncomfortable. So timely Sarah! Thanks!
Are they still bothering her? If they are, I’d say pull them. Also make sure she’s wearing her retainer or you might as well flush the money you spent on braces down the toilet.
Just me, but mild inflammation on occasion that resolves itself does not warrant surgery to have them out.
So true….from an X dental assistant !!! and Grandmother of 8. Been telling people this for years.
Hi Sarah
I spotted an article about pink eye on your site, but never got a chance to read it. Now that I am looking for it, I can not find it. Let me know which category it is listed under.
thanks
After 3 years of braces, they X-rayed me and found that my wisdom teeth were impacted and I was sent to the surgeon to have all 4 removed. I was a teenager and the decision was made for me. I was left with permanent paresthesia (right half of tongue is numb) and a feeling of constant inflammation in the sockets where the teeth were.
When I asked them (out of curiosity) to show me my teeth afterward, they said I couldn’t see them because they were crushed into little bits. Apparently, they crush the teeth while they’re still inside and remove the pieces. Is it any wonder that so many patients suffer permanent damage?
It’s been 20 years. This makes me so angry. 🙁 Fortunately (?), I am so used to my numb tongue that I don’t think about it much any more, but I do wonder if I should do something about the feeling of inflammation, and if so, what would I do?
my sister and my dad both have wisdom teeth that never came out and never bothered them.. unfortunately, I had mine come out and they hurt and they made my teeth really crooked. My dad and sister where lucky I think… They also h ave naturally straight teeth. Oh well.
WOW! I can’t believe that 99% of you had their wisdom teeth pulled out. Why? I’ve never understood that and I still don’t. I was born and raised in Israel, and I’ve never heard of people pulling their wisdom teeth until I came to the USA …Also growing up in Israel as a child I’ve never seen anyone with braces until I moved to the USA(I remember asking someone “what’s that metal thing on ppls teeth) everyone had perfectly straight teeth.
Thank you Sarah! I had two of mine taken out when I was 18 as they were comin in. Recently I was surprised when my dentist suggested that I have the other 2 removed. These teeth aren’t bothering me at all and I haven’t had any inclination to remove them, especially when I am the primary caregiver to two very young children!
I have all 4 of my wisdom teeth that came in when I was 16. I never had any problems, even when they came in. All the dentists and hygienists are SOOO impressed that I have them and no one has told me to take them out.
However, when my husband joined the army, he had to have his taken out. Apparently they do this no matter what. He didn’t have any problems and went swimming that afternoon.
My brother was sick forever after having to have his pulled out under anesthesia.
My daughters wisdom teeth are ready to pop and the orthodontist keeps telling us to take them out or it will ruin her teeth. That ain’t happening.
My son has crowded teeth and probably should have braces, but we can’t afford it. Any ideas?
Have you all read Rami Nagel’s bookCure Tooth Decay: Heal and Prevent Cavities with Nutrition, 2nd Edition?