[iforgetti]

Personal anecdote about this:

My wisdom teeth grew in about 15 years ago and have sat comfortably behind my molars since.

I saw a new dentist for a routine cleaning “intro package” where she suggested that I have the wisdom teeth removed. I asked her why should I have a surgery for this since I never had problems with them. She said it was a good idea because they were “more likely to develop a cavity” because they are farther back and harder to brush.

So basically she was pushing me pay thousands of dollars to have a serious surgery to avoid the risk of developing a cavity because I might not know how to brush teeth that I have had for 15 years and never had a cavity on.

I wonder how many people just decide “guess I need this surgery”

[the_only_law]

> So basically she was pushing me pay thousands of dollars to have a serious surgery to avoid the risk of developing a cavity because I might not know how to brush teeth that I have had for 15 years and never had a cavity on

I went to the doctors once for a mild injury, one side of my palm was somewhat numb.

Despite informing me it wasn't very worrisome, they decided a I needed to be referred to a physical therapist, who then tried to put my hand in a cast and set up a dozen extra appointments for an injury that healed the week after the first. Since them I just haven't bothered seeing a doctor unless I feel like I'm immediate or near immediate danger.

[laserlight]

> Since them I just haven't bothered seeing a doctor unless I feel like I'm immediate or near immediate danger.

This is the strategy Taleb advocates.

[wiseowise]

> surgery to avoid the risk of developing a cavity because I might not know how to brush teeth that I have had for 15 years and never had a cavity on

That's not because you don't know how to brush teeth, it's because it is physically hard to reach them. Sometimes even impossible, because part of tooth is hidden beneath gum.

[judge2020]

Is the risk that food/sugar/etc would get in between the gums and hidden part of the tooth, developing an unseen cavity?

[alistairSH]

Even still, the OP wouldn’t be any worse off waiting for a cavity and getting the tooth pulled then. Pushing surgery now is sketchy AF.

[borski]

Not quite true; sometimes, if an infection develops (even without a cavity, just because food got caught in the gums) it can be significantly more painful to deal with than getting it taken care of when they're healthy.

[Fire-Dragon-DoL]

Of my 4 wisdom teeth, I got 2 removed for that reason. They got infected at least once per year un my twenties and it was really painful. Doctor never recommended to do it, but did tell me "if you feel like it's too annoying, we can remove them". I was the one asking after a holiday completely ruined (and no pharmacy available). So 2 it is.

Now, all good with the other 2,however the new dentist suggested removing them because those are a little bit extruded (they have been this way for a long time). Looks like I need a new dentist

[bombcar]

Isn't this more of an argument for getting a toothache handled quickly than waiting until the pain's almost unbearable before going in?

In either case if you're using an oral surgeon they're gonna numb the area first anyway, and you're gonna have to deal with the hole afterwards.

[borski]

Sure - it depends on the case, and that’s entirely my point. If it hasn’t erupted but still is, it may move teeth. If it has partially erupted it may be harder to clean, etc. My point is blanket “don’t worry until it’s infected” isn’t quite right either.

[wiseowise]

If there’s pain it is too late already.

[cardiffspaceman]

I went to a corporate dental practice in my early 20's and they showed me via an x-ray that my wisdom teeth were practically horizontal and growing forward rather than upward. But the prognosis was that they would inevitably get infected at some super inconvenient moment. By whose definition of inconvenient though? There was, 10 years later, an infection that I chose not to ignore (it was clearly an infection), and I had the teeth extracted at that time. It was a hassle, it had to be dealt with promptly, but it was dealt with.

[bombcar]

I'm in a similar situation with 1/3 (the fourth never showed up and will no doubt be fired for tardiness if it does), and I'm 20 years in.

Should have taken the money I would have spent on it 20 years ago and invested it in APPL, tho, because an APPL a day would keep the dentist away.

[diob]

I often wonder about this, because they made me remove mine due to "risk of infection". But afterwards I now get infections there if I get food stuck in the pocket left behind and can't get to a water pik soon enough.

[jaywalk]

Those pockets should have healed and closed up within a few days after surgery. It sounds like you had dry sockets that weren't properly dealt with.

[diob]

Interesting, I did have to do two separate surgeries because my first got botched (I was a ten out of ten in terms of hardness according to them). Had some residual nerve damage...

[Fire-Dragon-DoL]

Is it actually possible? I had dry sockets infected and it was equivalent to going through surgery again, except for the whole day. Had it fixed the next day.

[siva7]

This is actually the standard principle in german dental practices. Every practice i visited for the last 15 years recommended to remove all wisdom teeth asap because they will soon develop a cavity. Nothing happened in all those 15 years. I only get angry every time i visit a dentist and hear the same bullshit again and again.