Wisdom tooth extraction, dentist left 1 root in, is that normal?

Larry_ · 07-02-2010 12:05AM #1

Hi. I just got a lower wisdom tooth extracted today. He said it would be best if I got 1 taken out at a time.

It took about an hour, and the tooth broke half way through. He said he would have to do a surgical extraction. Then he went drilling at the roots. When he was finished he showed me the roots, they where kind of twisted at the end, so I could see how it might be difficult to get them out. Then he said there was still one root in the bone, that he didn't take out because it would have required drilling too much bone. He said that it would come loose itself in about 4 weeks, and he can pull it out much easier then for no charge.

It didn't hurt much, and it's fine now. Have you ever heard of leaving 1 root in? I might go to a surgeon for the next one.

Bicycle · 07-02-2010 01:04AM

I had a wisdom tooth break during extraction as well, many years ago. Eventually the second part came out but there was still a root tip left.

I was told that it wouldn't do any harm and that it would make its own way out.

This was a long time ago and I've never had any problems since. I don't remember the root tip coming out, I'm not sure if its still there or not but it hasn't bothered me.

ballsymchugh · 07-02-2010 04:12AM

it's not an unusual thing to happen. the tips of the root of the wisdom teeth lie very close to the nerve that goes to your lip, so if he did keep trying to remove it, there's a chance that nerve would have been damaged.
with tricky extractions some surgeons now just remove the top of the tooth and let the roots erupt a little more, moving away from the nerve so then they can extract them without doing any damage to it.

Wisdom tooth extraction, dentist left 1 root in, is that normal?

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