Wisdom teeth removal (35+)

[goldengirlz]

Has anyone had a wisdom tooth removed at an older age?

Keeping mine seemed like a GREAT idea in my 20s … not so much now when one has decided it wants to erupt. It’s coming in straight (which bodes well for removal) but it’s painful.

I need to stop Googling because I’m freaking myself out. I’m not even sure I want answers to this post ha. I have such bad medical anxiety.

[fernweh]

I had one of mine done a couple years ago. I don’t remember exactly how old but I was definitely over 30. My dentist only took 1 out because I’m her words “at your age we don’t recommend taking the rest out preventatively.”

I had mine taken out without being put under anesthesia but I didn’t have any complications and my recovery was no big deal. I went back to work after 2 days and had minimal pain.

[circa1978]

I don't remember exactly when I had mine taken out but I was definitely over 35 and no one acted like it was weird. It was NBD, over super quickly and I felt dumb about putting it off so long. My teeth are very straight but got crowded on the bottom by my wisdom teeth. They are still fine but I could have avoided it by having them out at 20 when my dentist wanted to.

[sent]

We send adults to get wisdom teeth out. Good news, they all return alive and intact!

Step away from the google. Think positive thoughts. This is going to go well for you! The pain will be gone for good! Healing = ice cream!

[bsp36]

I had mine done a few years back, mid 40’s now, and hyped myself up so much. It was way less dramatic than I ever imagined. I had done on a Wednesday thinking I would be bedridden. I was remotely working by Friday. You got this!

[Susie]

I'm 41 and still have all of mine.  They all erupted, came in straight, and I never had a reason to take them out.  Then I got cavities in the upper ones in my mid 30s, because I have a small mouth, a lot of teeth, and they're just hard to brush.  Then one had to be filled a 2nd time.  That was maybe 4 years ago now.  My dentist said if it happens again, it will need to come out.  It feels inevitable, but it hasn't caught up to me yet.  YET.

[pizzaandtulips]

Feb 2, 2023 19:01:21 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Has anyone had a wisdom tooth removed at an older age?

Keeping mine seemed like a GREAT idea in my 20s … not so much now when one has decided it wants to erupt. It’s coming in straight (which bodes well for removal) but it’s painful.

I need to stop Googling because I’m freaking myself out. I’m not even sure I want answers to this post ha. I have such bad medical anxiety.

I have 2, and only one came in, and it came in when I was 35. It became infected almost right away so I had to have it removed. It was very easy and I have terrible medical anxiety.

[redheadbaker]

I had mine out last October, and got really good recommendations here
pandce.proboards.com/thread/634940/tips-post-wisdom-tooth-removal

[Patsy Baloney]

My H did. It was nbd. All 4 came out, 2 were decaying (one was even hiding a little bit of an infection underneath) and the other 2 were holding strong.

It was totally fine and he enjoyed a steady diet of spaghettios for a week.

[devonpow]

I had mine out in my 20s. They weren’t impacted or causing any problems, but I wanted to do invisalign (poor choice for me to stop wearing my retainer in college!) and they suggested it. It was super easy and I was totally fine the next day. It felt weird and I could feel pressure and weird movement type things, but no pain.

[purplepenguin7]

My H had his removed a few months ago at the age of 47. One was loose already and none were impacted. He had almost zero pain. A few days and he was fine. He ate soft foods for a few days and then just avoided really crunchy and hard foods but resumed a mostly normal diet. He was worked up over it pre procedure because he just resumed the dentist after like 10 years but he was absolutely fine. He even drove himself home after the removal.

[erbear]

If you really want stories, I have one for you, but you won't like it. Fortunately, it sounds like his experience was more exception than rule.
Stop reading if you want to hear that it's awesome.















you were warned.

My husband had his out a few months ago (he's 45) and I have never seen anything like it. He was in the most pain I've ever seen an adult in for a good three weeks. He said it felt like his whole mouth was an exposed nerve. He couldn't eat, he couldn't sleep, he took allllllllll the opioids and nothing touched the pain. Then, gradually it went away, but he swears that he would tell anyone who asked not to do it.

[goldengirlz]

Feb 2, 2023 20:14:59 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I had mine out in my 20s. They weren’t impacted or causing any problems, but I wanted to do invisalign (poor choice for me to stop wearing my retainer in college!) and they suggested it. It was super easy and I was totally fine the next day. It felt weird and I could feel pressure and weird movement type things, but no pain.

Yep, getting them out in your 20s (or earlier) is the general advice. I guess I’m just nervous because everything I’ve read says the risks go up significantly the older you get. The oral surgeon they referred me to has a whole page on his website warning people about the risks of waiting till your 30s and beyond. Should not have read that!

[sunshineluv]

I did, mine had come in but didn’t cause me any issues so I didn’t want them removed. But…then I had decay in one since it was hard to brush and that was the moment I wanted them OUT. I had to go under anesthesia and got them out, it was super simple and the recovery was easy. It was NBD and I had put it off for decades for no real reason.

[tacokick]

I thought I was going to. I have all mine, the bottom ones had cavities I had filled maybe 4 years ago and then one just cracked but my dentist felt like I should keep them and get a crown. I also have a small mouth and have some trouble brushing but he was very anti-pulling them because he said the rest were fine.

One of mine came in late-ish and hurt but came in straight so they said to keep it. I used numbing cream on my gum like a baby.


I don’t think pulling is the default like it was when we were kids.

[devonpow]

Feb 2, 2023 20:31:09 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Feb 2, 2023 20:14:59 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I had mine out in my 20s. They weren’t impacted or causing any problems, but I wanted to do invisalign (poor choice for me to stop wearing my retainer in college!) and they suggested it. It was super easy and I was totally fine the next day. It felt weird and I could feel pressure and weird movement type things, but no pain.

Yep, getting them out in your 20s (or earlier) is the general advice. I guess I’m just nervous because everything I’ve read says the risks go up significantly the older you get. The oral surgeon they referred me to has a whole page on his website warning people about the risks of waiting till your 30s and beyond. Should not have read that!

sorry, I didn’t realize there was a difference/it mattered after a certain age! Fingers crossed it’s a smooth abc easy experience!

[janegold]

I was in my 30s…early 30s. I had a lot of anxiety about it but it was easy peasy. Granted, I only had two to begin with.

[tacocat]

My H just did his last weekend at 40. He also has some pretty bad medical anxiety so was really nervous (it was his first real medical thing ever, only time he's had an IV even).

It went really well, his were also coming in straight which I know helped. I set alarms on his phone for every 3 hours and labelled them Tylenol and ibuprofen and he was able to get by with pretty much that. He took one hydrocodone the first night just in case but didn't need it really. I also bought him an ice pack that wrapped around his face so he didn't have to hold ice packs on and set timers so he would keep it on, and his swelling looked really good to me. I'll link one below, I think it was worth it and I get migraines and am going to try and multipurpose it.

I bought soup and mashed potatoes, just lots of soft things that were easy for him to eat plus all the ice cream he could want.



Ice pack:
LotFancy Face Ice Pack Wrap for TMJ, Wisdom Teeth, with 4 Reusable Hot Cold Therapy Gel Packs, Pain Relief for Chin, Head, Oral and Facial Surgery, Dental Implants, Blue a.co/d/aSwAvnV

[goldengirlz]

Feb 2, 2023 21:53:02 GMT -5 tacokick said:

I thought I was going to. I have all mine, the bottom ones had cavities I had filled maybe 4 years ago and then one just cracked but my dentist felt like I should keep them and get a crown. I also have a small mouth and have some trouble brushing but he was very anti-pulling them because he said the rest were fine.

One of mine came in late-ish and hurt but came in straight so they said to keep it. I used numbing cream on my gum like a baby.


I don’t think pulling is the default like it was when we were kids.

It sounds like it was a while ago, but do you remember how long it hurt before it came in?

My gums have been sore since last Thursday, so a full week now. My dentist thinks the tooth might fit and part of me wonders if I should wait to see if it does.

[cleo29]

I had my upper two pulled in my 30s, they came in straight. My lower two are impacted and starting to erupt, so I am going for a consult to get them removed.

The ones pulled went fine. I just have laughing gas and local numbing and did not need major pain meds after.

[goldengirlz]

Yikes erbear I’m sorry that happened to him. Did he have a dry socket? Or a nerve injury, maybe? Were they impacted?

[tacokick]

Feb 2, 2023 23:05:00 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Feb 2, 2023 21:53:02 GMT -5 tacokick said:

I thought I was going to. I have all mine, the bottom ones had cavities I had filled maybe 4 years ago and then one just cracked but my dentist felt like I should keep them and get a crown. I also have a small mouth and have some trouble brushing but he was very anti-pulling them because he said the rest were fine.

One of mine came in late-ish and hurt but came in straight so they said to keep it. I used numbing cream on my gum like a baby.


I don’t think pulling is the default like it was when we were kids.

It sounds like it was a while ago, but do you remember how long it hurt before it came in?

My gums have been sore since last Thursday, so a full week now. My dentist thinks the tooth might fit and part of me wonders if I should wait to see if it does.

It was about 10 days, maybe even close to 2 weeks! I remember because it was right before Thanksgiving and I was worried about eating. It definitely was well over a week because a week in I went to the dentist and they did an X-ray and said to wait it out.

[nicolewi]

DH had his pulled around 40 b/c one had started getting infected. It was difficult, but I think a lot of that was b/c the oral surgeon to which he was referred was NOT GREAT. It was a weird dental experience. I was in the waiting room and really nervous for DH as HE had been really nervous, when the receptionist looked at me and said, "oh no, I hear the drill. It's never good if they get out the drill". I was like WTF??? There was something weird, too...I think the doctor asked whether DH wanted laughing gas or not, gave no advice, and just said it cost more with gas (DH took the gas, if I recall).

DH had very little pain and not much swelling really, no dry sockets, but his jaw got messed up. The guy really fought with DH's teeth and DH was awake/aware enough to know. Maybe dislocated a bit? It's been a little messed up ever since. If we were more thoughtful about choice of provider I think it would have been a much better experience.

[erbear]

Feb 2, 2023 23:25:48 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Yikes erbear I’m sorry that happened to him. Did he have a dry socket? Or a nerve injury, maybe? Were they impacted?

Definitely impacted. I assume a nerve injury — I eventually forced him to go back to the surgeon to ask about dry socket and they were all “yeah, this happens” and didn’t do anything to relieve the pain. He was so miserable.

[abs]

I had mine taken out as an adult. I was around 30 but couldn't tell you the exact age. I have always had a very young mouth (like I am 44 and still have 2 baby teeth that don't have adult teeth under them) and my wisdom teeth didn't even come in until my mid-20's. All 4 were impacted and causing problems so they had to be removed.

It wasn't awful but wasn't pleasant either. The removal part was fine but I was super sore and in pain for awhile. The ice packs were my best friend and I slept on the couch for a few nights with one on at all times. I did get a dry socket but the surgeon was able to help immediately. Mostly what I remember was having to go back to work earlier than I wanted (retail management) and how I absolutely could not talk. That was interesting. Otherwise it's kind of a blur. It could have been a one week recovery? Two weeks? I know I would have been useless to parent for sure.

[cattledogkisses]

I still have all mine, but H had his removed when he was 35 so he could do Invisalign. The procedure and recovery were both quick and easy for him. He didn't even have any noticeable swelling.

[BlondeSpiders]

I got mine out at age 48. They never bothered me before, and only slightly bothered me at the time. The bottom one was starting to poke through and I kept biting the skin.

I only got my left side out. My right side ones were all tucked in just fine; never had any pain and the bottom one was super close to a nerve or something that could possibly have caused a great deal of pain so we skipped it.

I didn't have dry socket, but the pain was really awful. They only gave me 6 painkillers and after the first 2 I started cutting them in half to make them last longer. No, that's not junkie behavior at all, TYVM. 

I seriously misjudged how long it would take me to get back to regular foods. I started back on difficult foods like burgers or chewy/spiky things way too soon, and my jaw would just ache for hours. Plan to stick to soft foods for at least 3 weeks.

[BlondeSpiders]

Feb 2, 2023 20:17:07 GMT -5 purplepenguin7 said:

My H had his removed a few months ago at the age of 47. One was loose already and none were impacted. He had almost zero pain. A few days and he was fine. He ate soft foods for a few days and then just avoided really crunchy and hard foods but resumed a mostly normal diet. He was worked up over it pre procedure because he just resumed the dentist after like 10 years but he was absolutely fine. He even drove himself home after the removal.

I cannot believe this. My office required someone to drive me and stay there the entire time as well as driving me home. My H says I was high as a kite; I was singing along with the Go-Gos at the top of my lungs and do not remember a single thing. This was me the entire ride home.

[cattledogkisses]

Feb 3, 2023 20:04:03 GMT -5 BlondeSpiders said:

Feb 2, 2023 20:17:07 GMT -5 purplepenguin7 said:

My H had his removed a few months ago at the age of 47. One was loose already and none were impacted. He had almost zero pain. A few days and he was fine. He ate soft foods for a few days and then just avoided really crunchy and hard foods but resumed a mostly normal diet. He was worked up over it pre procedure because he just resumed the dentist after like 10 years but he was absolutely fine. He even drove himself home after the removal.

I cannot believe this. My office required someone to drive me and stay there the entire time as well as driving me home. My H says I was high as a kite; I was singing along with the Go-Gos at the top of my lungs and do not remember a single thing. This was me the entire ride home.

I can believe it if you don't have any drugs.  H only had local anesthetic.  I drove him, but he would have been fine to drive himself.

[fivechickens]

My 62 year old coworker just had her last one removed last week.

She had it removed on Wednesday, missed work Thursday but went in Friday. She said she wished she had not worked Friday but other than that she said it an okay recovery.

Disclaimer: we work in Food Services for a school district so there is a lot of lifting of things that can be heavy.