Sometime in the near future, I won’t be nearly as perfect as I profess to be. On a related note, it turns out that I won’t be getting the dresser that I so desperately wanted for my birthday.
I went to see my dentist yesterday–my new dentist, who I like much more than my old dentist. I’m glad he bought the other’s practice out. The dentist’s office is very technology-friendly these days. I had to get x-rays done, and instead of waiting for the film to develop, they pop up automatically on the computer monior that the patient sees.
I was slightly impressed. And secretly wanted to ask the hygienist if he’d email me the x-rays, though I held back.
Anyway, after we get through all the normal dentist stuff, the hygienist did a periodontal check. For all my healthy strong teeth, I’m at a high risk for developing a periodontal disease, gingivitis being the most likely. Because of my wisdom teeth.
Unlike many adults my age, not only do I have all four wisdom teeth, but all four are unerrupted–meaning that they’re still beneath the gumline. But they’re there. Four full sized adult teeth, pushing into my already crowded mouth. On the x-rays, they are visably pushing into the other teeth, to the point that you can see the one next door being pushed sideways because the wisdom teeth want in.
While they don’t hurt, they do ache occasionally. And if I don’t get them removed, they’ll crowd the other already crowded teeth (I do need braces too), making it even harder to keep them clean an healthy. Leading to… gross mouth diseases.
My dentist said I don’t have to get them pulled right away, but I should do it before I turn 30–before my body is too old to heal the kind of damage that can occur. And unfortunately, I only have insurance until September, slightly pushing up my timeline.
So, I have a few calls to make this afternoon. I need to find an oral surgeon. I need to find out how much my insurance will covers getting my teeth pulled.
Since I most likely will not be able to afford to cover the difference between what it costs and what my insurance covers, for my birthday, my parent’s will probably gift me with the gift of less teeth.
And I really wanted a new dresser.
– “Crooked Teeth,” Plans: Deathcab for Cutie
A few years back my wisdom teeth were coming in a little crooked. My dentist tried to tell me that there was a 50% chance of impaction and that I should get them removed right away. I sat there for a moment and weighed my options. 50% chance that they hurt a little before I get them ripped out of my jaw - or 100% chance that they hurt when they’re ripped out of my jaw. Hmm… Suffice it to say, I took the 50% and turned out A-OK.
Yeah, my old dentist told me that when I was 18. She’d wanted me to get them pulled out the next month.
But from looking at the x-rays, if I wait, eventually it’s going to hurt even more. My wisdom teeth are nearly sideways, with their crowns pushing at the side of the teeth next to it. And I’ll have to get them pulled out when I get braces, which is first thing on the list when I get a job after college. Might as well get them pulled now when I can still convince my parents to pay for it.
I’ve watched my dad go through all of this too… I don’t know if he ever got his wisdom teeth pulled, but I’ve watched as his teeth have slowly started decaying because he never bothered with anything preventitive. If it’s going to hurt either way, I don’t see how putting off the pain is going to help me in the future.
I wonder what the tooth-fairy’s going rate for wisdom teeth is these days.
you should go to the same guy I went to.. it was quick, my mouth never hurt, it healed quickly, and i only paid 183$.. I think your insurance is better than mine, so you might pay even less.. his office is at madison n fair oaks.. right off of.. almaden?? I think.. Dr. Hailey I believe.. I can find his number somewhere maybe if ya want.. let me know.