Cavity Treatment

[ThisElfRocksHard]

If you are certain it is a wisdom tooth, I would have it removed. I believe that there are some denture specialists (should be called, like, McFakeTeeth they operate so quickly) that can give you a pretty good rate on an extraction (less than $50). Trust me, I have had my share of cavities (I used to be a big soda drinker) and when they would abcess...let's just say if I had a loaded gun at the time, we would not be having this conversation. This is coming from a man who broke his kneecap and waited a week before going to the doctor. Once a cavity hits that nerve, you will be DESPERATE for pain relief. But anyway, the wisdom teeth aren't needed unless you have lost a tooth on that side of the mouth, and I have had tooth extractions in the morning and gone to work later that afternoon--it isn't terrible, they can give you a local anaesthetic (Novacaine), and if you have a good dentist, the tooth will be gone before you realize the doctor has started.

Good luck on this, Tony. I really have empathy for you, tooth pain is something I wouldn't wish on anyone, so the sooner this gets taken care of, the better.

[Rand{CLR}]

Yeah, there's really not any room left in the jaw for wisdom teeth, and there's quite a few people born without them any more. To get a wisdom tooth extracted though, it requires a visit to the oral surgeon and either being placed under strong sedation or even being put under for the process.

As long as wisdom teeth aren't affecting the jaw structure by pushing other teeth out of place, there's no issue with leaving them in there, and it's probably cheaper, especially without insurance.

You don't need an oral surgeon and strong sedation in most cases. I had 3 of my 4 pulled at separate occassions by separate regular dentists. They just load you up on the novocaine and dig in. One of them was left in place, but crowned when it eroded too much, because of my jaw shape.

The bloody crown cost far more than the extractions did. More than the 3 extractions combined, even with insurance. One of the ones that was pulled was because of a gigantic cavity that looked impressive in the mirror. I'm actually surprised that tooth didn't break in half when it was pulled. You'll feel a dull ache for a few days, have to deal with packing the opening with gauze for a little while, and things will just feel strange for months as the gum grow in, but it's not really all that bad.

My dad used dental school "services" in the past, and didn't have any bad experiences. Much cheaper than anything else, and I don't think you need insurance there.

-Rand

[mapes]

Yep Rand is right on the money. I've had the last three of my wisdom teeth pulled at same time and only under local. It really depends how impacted they are if you need an oral surgeon. I'd suggest just pulling the bastich.

[Evil Tony]

*UPdate*

I actually made an appt with a dentists that you find in the newspaper...dont know if that makes them "shady" or not, those are the ones that sometimes put coupons for cleaning or crowns in the paper.

Doesn't know if that make them "non-elite" or not trooper, but I made an appt with the doc

like 25 bucks for exrays, 35 for the consult...and we'll see where I go from there.

If I get my crap pulled before Christmas...I guess no holiday ham and Christmas cookies for me.

[ThisElfRocksHard]

Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. I have had four extractions, and I was 100% in two days. You aren't supposed to smoke or use a straw for 48 hours, but beyond that, if you eat out of one side of your mouth, no problem.

[Evil Tony]

Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. I have had four extractions, and I was 100% in two days. You aren't supposed to smoke or use a straw for 48 hours, but beyond that, if you eat out of one side of your mouth, no problem.

But if you had all 4 extracted, you can't eat on any sides of your mouth, right? lol

[Trooper110]

I had all four wisdom teeth removed when I was 17 at the same time. Since there was going to be cutting as none had started to come in yet, I opted to be put under for the entire thing. Woke up like 45 minutes after I went under, teeth were out and they actually sewed my gums, maybe because of the cutting.

The thing with straws is due to suction pulling the blood clot in the socket out, when you get something called dry socket which can take months to heal and can be painful. I kept away from straws for two weeks or so, but that was just cause I was worried to death about it, lol. And yeah, two days after I had it done, I was eating regular food, just a bit awkward for when I got harder type foods back at my molars and I'd feel it brush against the gums where they were sewed up.

And yes, a regular dentist can remove a wisdom tooth once it's through the gums and coming in. I was thinking back on my own experience I guess where they weren't even coming in yet.

If I were you, when you go in, if you notice instruments, or just overall, things aren't clean, you may want to go somewhere else. I'm not sure how other states work, but in PA you have to have like 40 some hours of continuing education every 2 years for a dentist and 20 hours every 2 years for a dental hygienist. So they'd be up on things at least a little. I guess there's always the chance of hitting a bad dentist, but imo better to get things taken care of.

[{CLR} ObiTroy]

Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. I have had four extractions, and I was 100% in two days. You aren't supposed to smoke or use a straw for 48 hours, but beyond that, if you eat out of one side of your mouth, no problem.

But if you had all 4 extracted, you can't eat on any sides of your mouth, right? lol

Right... had all four of mine done at once when I was in the military, so Uncle Sam picked up the bill. Thank you, my kind tax payers .

[Rand{CLR}]

Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. I have had four extractions, and I was 100% in two days. You aren't supposed to smoke or use a straw for 48 hours, but beyond that, if you eat out of one side of your mouth, no problem.

But if you had all 4 extracted, you can't eat on any sides of your mouth, right? lol

Right... had all four of mine done at once when I was in the military, so Uncle Sam picked up the bill. Thank you, my kind tax payers .

Did you have your breasts done too like apparently many female soldiers are getting on our dime?

-Rand

[mapes]

Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. I have had four extractions, and I was 100% in two days. You aren't supposed to smoke or use a straw for 48 hours, but beyond that, if you eat out of one side of your mouth, no problem.

But if you had all 4 extracted, you can't eat on any sides of your mouth, right? lol

Right... had all four of mine done at once when I was in the military, so Uncle Sam picked up the bill. Thank you, my kind tax payers .

Did you have your breasts done too like apparently many female soldiers are getting on our dime?

-Rand

Dude thats the best use of my tax dollars. And they say that government doesn't work.

[Trooper110]

Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. I have had four extractions, and I was 100% in two days. You aren't supposed to smoke or use a straw for 48 hours, but beyond that, if you eat out of one side of your mouth, no problem.

But if you had all 4 extracted, you can't eat on any sides of your mouth, right? lol

Right... had all four of mine done at once when I was in the military, so Uncle Sam picked up the bill. Thank you, my kind tax payers .

Did you have your breasts done too like apparently many female soldiers are getting on our dime?

-Rand

Dude thats the best use of my tax dollars. And they say that government doesn't work.

+1 ... much better than those 300 dollar toilet seats

[ThisElfRocksHard]

Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. I have had four extractions, and I was 100% in two days. You aren't supposed to smoke or use a straw for 48 hours, but beyond that, if you eat out of one side of your mouth, no problem.

But if you had all 4 extracted, you can't eat on any sides of your mouth, right? lol

But of course! Then again, if only one is bothering you, why get any more extracted?

[Trooper110]

It depends, for Tony, it probably doesn't make sense, since they haven't bothered him up to this point.

If your insurance will cover it though, it's best to have children's removed at like 15-17 or so. You heal better when you're younger, you don't risk having them impacted or infected later with the pain that comes from it. My mom had both my brother's and mine removed when we were about 17, they weren't coming in yet, and possibly never would, but I guess if they're there it's just easiest to do then.

[Evil Tony]

It depends, for Tony, it probably doesn't make sense, since they haven't bothered him up to this point.

If your insurance will cover it though, it's best to have children's removed at like 15-17 or so. You heal better when you're younger, you don't risk having them impacted or infected later with the pain that comes from it. My mom had both my brother's and mine removed when we were about 17, they weren't coming in yet, and possibly never would, but I guess if they're there it's just easiest to do then.

I have no insurance. As far as I know, my Wisdome teeth came in rather decently, so thus never really had the NEED to remove them.

I'm 35 now.

[Trooper110]

Yeah, if you don't have pain and they're not pushing your other teeth off in weird directions there's no sense in removing them once they're already in.