Wisdom tooth

Daniel S

Hi everyone,
I'm a 18 year old university student with health insurance. My lower right wisdom tooth is coming up and my jaw is aching and it hurts when I open my jaw wide. I've had my lower right first molar removed (under general anesthetic when I was about 10/11) and the second molar is taking up most of the space that it occupied. Is it possible that the wisdom tooth will just slot in behind it and the pain will go away? Seems to be coming up straight enough.

I have to mention though, I've never met anyone who was more afraid of the dentist than I am. I went in 5 times for that extraction until I they finally put me asleep for it in the hospital. I've a pretty high pain tolerance, I'm just terrified of people being in my mouth. The sound of the drill is what usually makes me want to just run.

Advice would be appreciated.

Oral Surgeon

Daniel S wrote: »

Hi everyone,
I'm a 18 year old university student with health insurance. My lower right wisdom tooth is coming up and my jaw is aching and it hurts when I open my jaw wide. I've had my lower right first molar removed (under general anesthetic when I was about 10/11) and the second molar is taking up most of the space that it occupied. Is it possible that the wisdom tooth will just slot in behind it and the pain will go away? Seems to be coming up straight enough.

I have to mention though, I've never met anyone who was more afraid of the dentist than I am. I went in 5 times for that extraction until I they finally put me asleep for it in the hospital. I've a pretty high pain tolerance, I'm just terrified of people being in my mouth. The sound of the drill is what usually makes me want to just run.

Advice would be appreciated.

Hi op,
In general wisdom teeth erupt at 18-21 years old. Yours may come up fully (given there is some additional space from a missing molar) or it may not depending on the angle of the tooth or shape of your jaw bone.
After an xray and a clinical examination we may be able to say with certainty if the tooth will definitly come up or definitly stay stuck in most cases but there is always that bit in the middle where we can't predict you growth & development....
If told that it'll never come up fully- get it out
If told that it'll likely come into full function and not remain impacted- leave for now
if in the grey area- make a judgement call after some discussion...

If nervous, general anaesthesia is an option but IV sedation is a safer, quicker and better alternative.

Good luck,
OS

Daniel S

Oral Surgeon wrote: »

Hi op,
In general wisdom teeth erupt at 18-21 years old. Yours may come up fully (given there is some additional space from a missing molar) or it may not depending on the angle of the tooth or shape of your jaw bone.
After an xray and a clinical examination we may be able to say with certainty if the tooth will definitly come up or definitly stay stuck in most cases but there is always that bit in the middle where we can't predict you growth & development....
If told that it'll never come up fully- get it out
If told that it'll likely come into full function and not remain impacted- leave for now
if in the grey area- make a judgement call after some discussion...

If nervous, general anaesthesia is an option but IV sedation is a safer, quicker and better alternative.

Good luck,
OS

Thanks a million, I'll try and squeeze in an x-ray as soon as possible.