Merry Christmas all! I've been wondering if there were any responses on this post, but haven't had access to computer (at the in-laws house in IN for a few days).
Man, very interesting stuff - I feel much better about my rather benign problem of a couple lower wisdom teeth. I'd like to respond to some of the responses on teeth - please read if interested: *David wrote: Is there any reason why pulling them now would be better than doing it later?* (snip) David, I've been told that the roots can continue to grow longer, and thus closer to problem areas like the nerve that runs around the jawline. Or in the case of uppers, get closer to the sinuses. (I'm just dealing with two lower). *David wrote*: *I don't remember anything from the time they put the IV in until I was getting out my credit card to pay for the procedure* (snip) Same here. I was not told that I'd be drugged in that manner. I thought I'd be perfectly aware, just numb. I woke up sort of knowing the procedure was done (probably because they told me so) and it took numerous minutes and hours before it began to set in that some time had passed. *Curt wrote: Why are the lower ones more risky? The upper ones can allow a hole into your sinuses which is no fun. A friend of mine had that and was laid up for a week or two over it. I had 4 pulled when I was 21, no impaction to speak of. I could have driven home except we had to stop so I could throw up. They gave me all 4 teeth in a little baggie. * Curt, I know the upper ones can get into the sinuses, but I thought that the risk of the lower roots getting onto or around the lower jaw area risked permanent numbness, and I wonder, maybe worse (like paralysis, i.e. drooping lip, etc.). My dentists says that the latter stuff doesn't happen. I've also heard horror stories of broken jaws. My surgeon at the said he had not broken a jaw in several years. And yes, I wish I'd gotten my teeth returned to me when I had the uppers taken out, but they just disposed of them without asking me. *Waylon wrote: A wisdom tooth without an opposing tooth WILL become erupted. Just had upper roots and lower wisdom CUT out. Upper broke, lower would not stop growing. I turn 38 in January. NEVER had a problem until recently.* ** Yes, I've heard this - that if an upper is taken out, the lower should too because and vice versa, because the remaining tooth will have nothing to grind against when jaw closed. But I don't understand why, if the upper and lower tooth were not touching eachother upon jaw closure, it matters that one was removed and the other remains. And what do you mean you never had a problem until recently? Do you mean you are having trouble after surgery? Or do you mean you had trouble recently, and this is why you had surgery? Thanks, Brian