Originally posted by DakarM
you have to take then out or you'll have problems later on. wisdom teeth keep growing, but above the gum but below, so it will keep growing until it hits your jaw bone, then you are really screwed.
:werd:
I had mine taken out when I was 17, but I was still screwed. When the orthodontist took the prelim x-rays, he asked me, "HOW old are you again??" He said the teeth were the size of those usually found in someone in their mid-late twenties. HUGE.
I had four of them, all impacted. It wasn't until they were already in my mouth until they realized that the roots were wrapping themselves around my jawbone. :eek3: The usual 30-60 minute surgery ended up taking 3 hours, because they had to break the teeth into a million pieces to take them out. Because they didn't know the surgery would take so long, they had only given me nitrous, and I WOKE UP in the middle of the procedure.
They gave me an IV at that point, which made it nearly impossible for me to wake up after they were done, so the ortho had to carry me to my mom's car.
My face was hugely swollen and black and blue. I lived on vicoden, steroids (to reduce the swelling) and melted ice cream for two weeks. I barely got up out of bed for a week.
And there, my friends, is the really ugly side of wisdom tooth removal.
Remember, DO NOT drink from a straw or smoke (if you do) until you are completely healed. You do not want to experience the pain of dry sockets.