Wisdom tooth removal necessity and anxiety.

I am a 24 year old male with all my wisdom teeth. I never had them taken out because they never caused me any problems, and the oral surgeon I saw suggested one of my facial nerves was very close to my bottom wisdom teeth, and that there was a good chance removal would numb a portion of my face permanently. The top two are now fully out of my gums, but have only descended about partway (there is a significant step between them and my other molars).

Last week I had some minor pain, which quickly evolved into horrible pain and the formation of an abscess on my gum above one of the top wisdom teeth. I got a dental appointment, they took x-rays and drained the abscess. The dentist said there was nothing wrong with the tooth itself, and that she couldn't find any source of the infection. She still wants to pull the tooth however, so we scheduled an appointment a couple of weeks later. I left with some painkillers and some antibiotics, and now my mouth is 100% back to normal.

I have two problems. One, I don't really like or trust this office. The dentist had very very little time to speak with me and didn't seem to put much thought into things. She insisted that she should remove the tooth herself rather than an oral surgeon doing it. I find myself wondering though if the tooth needs to come out at all, or if it does if I should have an oral surgeon take care of it. I have never had much dental work of any kind and am both uncertain and afraid. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi WELCOME to the forum

Firstly if your bottom teeth are near to the nerve that runs along your bottom jaw and she thinks that you may be left numb then under no circumstances should she take this tooth out, either one on the bottom in fact. It is a job for a specialist. If a specialist is doing the bottom wisdoms then they should do the rest while they are in there.

Secondly if you have had an abscess the tooth that this was under will need extracting or a rct, in a wisdom it is usually extraction as they have no point and as it is giving you problems it is better out. We don't need them. A second opinion is a must. Wisdoms are often taken out with just numbing but I wouldn't want to let your dentist do it if it was me.

If there is infection anywhere in the mouth then the cause of the problem needs to be identified and sorted out. If you don't have any faith or trust in this dentist then do not let then work in your mouth.

If it were me I would NOT allow this dentist to do the wisdom teeth. General dentists can and often do a very good job of taking the wisdoms out as to them they are just like any other tooth to extract. But if the bottom ones are near the nerve as yours are then please see a specialist or another dentist that had experience of doing this. Chances are that they would refer you onto a specialist anyway.

The decision must be yours to make but your dentist doesn't sound very confident about it, and they should investigate the root of the infection to discovery what is causing it.

I am sure if I am wrong in anything I have said that one of the dentists on here will correct me, but I think anyone would say to at least get a second opinion.

Always remember you need to be able to feel comfortable with your dentist and trust in what they are saying, you have to consent to any and all treatment they do. YOU ARE IN CHARGE