Really worried about nerve damage if I remove wisdom teeth

[JayDerenda]

Hi all! Nice to find a forum with people as anxious about dentistry-related problems as I am.

Usually I can handle dental advice OK once I know what's going on, but my problem this time is one that I honestly don't know how to handle.

Close to two months ago, I started having pressure/pain at the back of my upper teeth. X-rays confirmed it was probably my wisdom teeth, so I went ahead and had them removed (I'm 31). At the time, the dentist said to wait and watch the lower ones, as they are pretty impacted and weren't showing any symptoms I knew of.

Since my surgery, the holes healed fine and the pain/pressure is gone, but the rest of my mouth/face hasn't been as good. Had continued pain in my sinus area (the teeth were pretty high up). An ENT guy found inflammation in my lower sinus and said he'd seen this before with wisdom teeth and it could take months to get better. Prescribed Doxepin. Meanwhile, my teeth have remained sensitive on the top and bottom of the left side. I had eight cavities filled at the same time I had the wisdom teeth extracted, so I chalked that up to lingering senstivity. Now the bottom teeth feel a little compressed and are sensitive on and off. I had one oral surgeon look at it and he didn't suggest taking the bottom wisdom teeth out. Saw a new dentist today and he said I should have them out. I have pain/tingling on and off up to my ears, in my cheeks, and down to my chin.

My problem is that they're both close to the nerve (the left one especially) and I'm terrified I'll have lasting damage if I proceed.

I've been trying to attach my xray, but the site doesn't seem to be cooperating with me.

Anyway, I guess I'm wondering how common this is. Sites seem to differ a lot. Also, since the top wisdom teeth started causing issues on top, does that mean it's more likely my bottom ones are following suit? I'm wondering if, since they're fully impacted, if there's a chance if left alone they'll stop "trying" to come in, or whatever they're doing. Or can oral surgeons get in there and only take part of the tooth if the rest is too close to the nerve.

Help!

 

[soscared1]

Hi!
I'm about to have my top and bottom wisdom teeth out on my right hand side. Only the bottom one is causing me probs but the oral surgeon said it's best to take out both top and bottom as there can be issues if only one of them is taken out ( I think because there will be a tooth left on the top that will rub against the bottom gum?) anyway the roots of my bottom tooth are apparently really deep and VERY close to that nerve too- I, like you was/am terrified of loosing sensation in my jaw. Apparently about 4/1000 people get this. ( according to my oral surgeon) but something like 80% of those 4% recover completely after 6 months. The remaining 20% of the 4% have long term damage. So really the risk is pretty low. The risk does increase slightly with age ( I'm 34) so apparently I'm at a slightly higher risk but not much. I was due to have the procedure next wed 18th Jan but because there is a chance I could be pregnant, they won't do the op. I've rebooked for 30 Jan if I'm not pregnant, but if I am I think I'll have to have it done by local which I can't even think about at this point because it scares me so much...
I'd get another opinion about whether or not you should get your bottom ones out.. What have you got to lose?
Good luck!

 

[comfortdentist]

Top teeth no real nerve problem
Bottom teeth is really close to nerve ask for( and pay) CBCT then your surgeon WILL know much better what the situation is.

 

[JayDerenda]

Thanks for the replies.

I feel for you, soscared1. I'm bad about looking horror stories before procedures and the ones associated with lower wisdom teeth have got me pretty spooked. I read statistics similar to the ones you mentioned somewhere on the net (can't remember where). Wish you the best of luck! I'm getting two more opinions - one from an oral surgeon in town and one with a specialist who worked on my grandmother. Hoping they have something to tell me. My suite of symptoms just doesn't seem to fit anything. No infection, filling material was fine, tried to adjust my bite several times after the fillings, etc. The only other possibility is that I've suddenly started clenching and grinding at night.

I'll send good thoughts your way.

And thanks, comfortdentist. I was wondering if there was a way for them to get a good handle on the closeness of the nerve before they do anything.

 

[RP]

I was wondering if there was a way for them to get a good handle on the closeness of the nerve before they do anything.

I think comfortdentist's suggestion was to get a cone beam ct scan do get a handle on the closeness of the nerve. I had one for implants - see attached that shows the outline of the nerve the surgeon did in purple. You can tell exactly how far away it is.

View attachment 568

 

[JayDerenda]

Remove these wisdom teeth?

I know my bottom wisdom teeth are in a bad position, so I'm rather terrified of having them out.

Symptoms: aching jaw, sore teeth, headaches, sore throat, sore lymph nodes/neck, ear aches.