Really Scared.

[Anonymousgurl]

deleted

[ptkds]

First of all, take a deep breath and relax.

Second, you need to go to the dentist. It may just be a simple cavity. If you wait too long, you may need to have a root canal done. So you should go NOW. Also, a common side effect of Celiac is bad teeth. The malnutrition causes the enamel to weaken, which puts you more at risk for cavities, even though you are really good at cleaning your teeth. You may even ask about sealants on your molars to help prevent cavities in the future.

So, even though this may be a bad time, having a sore tooth will make it 10 times harder to deal with. Once the cavity (or whatever is wrong) fixed, you will feel lots better. Also, if you have an infection, it can get into your blood stream and cause more problems. I am not trying to scare you, but I just want you to realize that a sore tooth is something you can't ignore.

ptkds

[tarnalberry]

I'm freaking out. I even see a tiny hole. Is that from food or are they possibly trying to break through?

To make matters even worse, I'm moving out tomorrow to go to college. This is coming at the worst time it POSSIBLY could. I'm so worried about the infections that they talk about, and I'm worried about messing up my teeth after spending so much money on braces...and I'm worried about the procedure itself.

Anyone have any info? Any opinions? I'm so scared...I should be packing, but I'm so worried about this!

I take it, from the first statement, that it's possible that they haven't actually come in yet - in which case they could well just be breaking through, which could give you a 'toothache'. Do call the dentist, and see if you can get in ASAP (given the timing). You may need to see if you can hold off on the move until Tuesday, if this needs to happen sooner rather than later.

Getting your wisdom teeth out is *not* the end of the world, and it's better to do it earlier. (I had mine out when I was ... 19 I think. They had mildly broken through, but I had a very small mouth (already had four permanent premolars removed) and we knew they'd have to go. Unfortunately, the root on the bottom two were growing rather close to the main facial nerve. (This isn't all that common and they can tell by checking the x-ray.) Waiting longer would only increase the risks of doing the surgery. I scheduled the removal for Christmas Break.

I did oral surgery - where they entirely knock you out, crack the tooth, and extract it that way - rather than having it pulled. It was partly due to the nerve thing, partly because I had teeth removed that way before, and partly because I preferred the risks of oral surgery over a pulling. (Not saying that one is better than the other, merely that it was a personal preference. Everything in life has risks; we choose the ones we want to take.)

While I was a little sore for a couple days, and eating was annoying (I lived off Ensure for four days, and then lots of soft/blended foods), I was up shopping on Christmas Eve with my friend the day after surgery. (Everyone's results are different of course, but this is a *very* common procedure.)

You're right that the timing isn't great, but the pain could be from them breaking through only, and that may give you time, until Christmas or even next summer, to get them taken out. Your dentist will likely have x-rays already (I'm guessing you took some recently) and be able to tell if there's any reasonable chance of a cavity causing your pain, even without you going in.

As for it messing up the work with your braces. Well... First, it's not the most important thing - avoiding impacted wisdom teeth and significant problems with them in the future that affect the health of your teeth is more important than the cosmetic appearance. (If only we had shark teeth and they kept coming in, over and over - then we wouldn't have to worry about keeping the same set of teeth healthy for 60 or 70 years!)

But removing the wisdom teeth certainly won't suddenly make you have some sloppily-toothed mouth, or change much of what you see now. It can't affect the rotation or placement of the teeth directly. Over time, as your teeth will have a bit more room in your mouth, they may spread a tiny amount - no, you won't have gaps between your teeth, just a healthy amount of space that is better for your gums. And that's something that takes years, and generally happens only if you're overcrowded to begin with. (I have noticed very little change from getting my wisdom teeth out, other than enough space to floss the molars without splitting the floss every time!)

Deep breath! This is a totally normal procedure and things are likely to be just totally fine. Call your dentist, and worth with him/her to figure out what to do on the timing.

[hathor]

What kind of toothache is it? There could be reasons other than a wisdom tooth coming in wrong. It could be a wisdom tooth is coming out just fine (which they can do, without problems, but it can hurt when the skin breaks), a cavity, or soreness because you are grinding your teeth from tension (being told the teeth should come out, coping with sickness & underweight, getting ready to go off to college WITH food sensitivities, etc.). Going out on a limb, I think the last is a strong possibility. I think most people in your situation would have been clinching their jaws and grinding their teeth I have certain teeth that hurt when I'm nervous -- and this is WITH a nightguard to take the brunt of the impact.

Why did the orthodontist say the teeth have to come out? Remember that to a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Dentists in this country have this idea that wisdom teeth need to come out, period. But I've done a lot of research that shows that it is better to leave nonsymptomatic wisdom teeth alone. This, in fact, is deemed best practice in Britain. There is no evidence it messes up your tooth placement. (Links below.)

But here they get paid for doing extractions. It is like the way it used to be with tonsils; doctors removed them because they later on might cause problems. Thing is, the evidence wasn't there to support this approach and it isn't there for wisdom teeth either. There can be problems if they aren't removed, but there can be problems from the extraction too. Looking at the evidence leads to the conclusion that if they aren't causing problems (which the literature defines -- it isn't just being there in the jaw and the dentist doesn't like the looks of them), you are better off leaving them alone.

The dentist recommended extraction for my daughter years ago. But she has been fine and it looks like she has room for them to come in. My husband, my son & I all had our wisdom teeth come in (or not) without incident.

Here are the links I found the last time I researched this:

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

You can find US sites that say the wisdom teeth should come out. But they never provide any evidentiary support for this conclusion. Leastways, I couldn't find anyone who did. The studies I could find all said the contrary.

Keep your mouth clean and try to relax. You can't see a dentist today and you certainly can't have your wisdom teeth out right now. It could well be nothing. If you continue to have pain back there, find a dentist in your college town and see what the problem is.

[Anonymousgurl]

You guys are so sweet...thank you so much for taking the time to sit down and write everything that you all did. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.

I guess I was unclear earlier about the pain that I'm feeling and where it is, and what's really going on. The teeth haven't broken through yet, and the orthodontist didn't think they would until next summer, but yesterday I woke up with pain just on just side in the back...and there's a little mark on my gum, like a little hole. I'm not sure if this is just a piece of gum that may have been scratched out by a piece of food, or if my first molar is breaking through. So it's really not a toothache, I guess it's more of a gum-ache.

Hathor- You are absolutely right...I am stressed. Maybe that's why I've been overly worried about this tooth thing. I think I'm just nervous about moving out and going off to college with all of the other issues that I have. Thank you for suggesting that.

My orthodontist wants all of his patients to get them out, because he thinks that if you leave them in they'll come in crooked, make your other teeth crooked, or spark an infection. Good to hear that your family has had success without extractions!

Tarnalberry- I'm so insanely busy with moving out (which I have no choice but to do Sunday) that I can't get to a dentist now. Thanks for your advice. I should look into seeing a dentist on campus...though I don't know when on earth I'll get a chance to. You're right though, it should be a priority.

Ptkds- Oh gosh, you're scaring me a little...haha...

Perhaps this is all just nerves about moving out and going to college, and I'm probably just worried about having such horrible digestive problems and allergies there...I mean, my wisdom teeth ARE a serious issue, but I'm not sure if I should be this worked up about it...I hope it all just turns out to be something different. That'd make this time in my life just a *little* easier.

[tarnalberry]

I'd agree with what hathor said - not everyone's wisdom teeth need to come out. The fact that this guy likes to do it as a rule actually is *not* a good sign. I'd look into other opinions - and quite frankly, I'd see at least one oral surgeon on the issue; they do this sort of thing more than orthodontists.

*If* it's just that the teeth are starting to break through, the gums will be a bit sore. So, unless you had worry of a cavity (and they generally show up on x-rays at least a month or two before you can feel them if your dentist/orthodontist is reasonably good at reading the x-rays), I would package up the stress for the teeth, and open that box in a few weeks, after you get settled in at college, and start your new classes, and have figured out how you're handling some of the other concerns you have. One thing that college towns have is medical professionals to take care of things that come up at that time - including dental issues. (Not that it's necessarily the best place to go... It can be worth a trip home over Thanksgiving or the like to have someone you trust do it. Your orthodontist however... )

[Anonymousgurl]

Hey everyone,

Yup...it's definitely the wisdom teeth! I've got just one wisdom tooth coming in on the bottom right side. Tarnalberry, I do have a sore gum like you mentioned, right where the tooth is poking through. When do people normally get them pulled? Is waiting until they poke through kind of late? I'm going to call my mom later this morning and ask to make me a dentist appointment. It's kind of uncomfortable back there! Haha. So I have to really look into this. Maybe they can pull just that one during Thanksgiving break, if it's okay to wait that long..? Hmm. Well hopefully it will all be okay. Hopefully my body can handle the procedure. I'm kind of worried since my digestive system even reacts to tylenol sometimes, but hey...I guess you have to do what you have to do. Hopefully my body will be strong and recover fast whenever these things come out so I can get back to school. But anyways...

I'm all moved in, and other than that, college has been fine! Going downstairs to the community kitchen with all of my shtuff three times a day is a little tough, but hey, us celiacs have to do what we have to do! It's not so bad

[skinnyminny]

Hey everyone,

Yup...it's definitely the wisdom teeth! I've got just one wisdom tooth coming in on the bottom right side. Tarnalberry, I do have a sore gum like you mentioned, right where the tooth is poking through. When do people normally get them pulled? Is waiting until they poke through kind of late? I'm going to call my mom later this morning and ask to make me a dentist appointment. It's kind of uncomfortable back there! Haha. So I have to really look into this. Maybe they can pull just that one during Thanksgiving break, if it's okay to wait that long..? Hmm. Well hopefully it will all be okay. Hopefully my body can handle the procedure. I'm kind of worried since my digestive system even reacts to tylenol sometimes, but hey...I guess you have to do what you have to do. Hopefully my body will be strong and recover fast whenever these things come out so I can get back to school. But anyways...

I'm all moved in, and other than that, college has been fine! Going downstairs to the community kitchen with all of my shtuff three times a day is a little tough, but hey, us celiacs have to do what we have to do! It's not so bad

I had mine out last summer I am about your age, and the denist did not put me to sleep they were already coming in a little but they gave me gas. I felt this was better for my situation because it didnt take as long to recover from being put to sleep. I was so scared like you because I am also underweight, and the thought of not eating n losing more scared me. But I was able to eat smoothies that night, scrambled eggs the next day and I drink some Boost to keep my nutrient level up. I did not take much of the medicine they gave me because I dont do well on pain killers either. I hope yours goes well but I just wanted to let you know that it can be done and you will be fine I will pray for you!

[debmidge]

orthodontist will know if you have enough room to handle a wisdom tooth; oral surgeon will extract it. If the tooth breaks through the gum, it's not an impacted tooth. If oral surgeon feels that wisdom tooth will not come thru properly it's impacted tooth.

Some people have enough room for that extra tooth; depends on the size of your gum/jaw. My only advise is if they have to come out, do it before you're 25 - before the tooth gets too "hardened" and lodged in there.

[tarnalberry]

orthodontist will know if you have enough room to handle a wisdom tooth; oral surgeon will extract it. If the tooth breaks through the gum, it's not an impacted tooth. If oral surgeon feels that wisdom tooth will not come thru properly it's impacted tooth.

Eh... I was in the middle situation - they were breaking through, but that doesn't mean that it won't become impacted as they try to grow in all the way, because there wasn't room for it. It's so individualized, based on your mouth.

They'll probably do all the teeth at once, and you can use some orajel in the meantime to reduce the pain.