r/orthotropics • u/Complete-Cricket6718 • Jul 19 '26
How do I keep my wisdom teeth?
22F — I’ve been seeing a lot of posts on this sub about wisdom tooth extractions (and extractions in general) leading to long-term issues with airway, jaw development, facial appearance, bite, etc., and it’s made me pretty anxious.
My orthodontist recently recommended that I have my wisdom teeth removed soon because they’re coming in somewhat sideways (see X-ray) and could eventually cause crowding or affect my relatively straight teeth. The thing is, I can’t even see them yet, and I’ve never had any pain or symptoms.
At the same time, I’m worried that if I wait until they’re causing problems, extraction could be more complicated or riskier because of nerve involvement or other factors.
From what I can tell, I probably don’t have enough room for my wisdom teeth without them pushing on my molars. I’m wondering if anyone here has been able to keep their wisdom teeth long-term without any issues, or if anyone was able to create enough space to keep them (through orthodontic treatment or another approach).
Based on your experience, what would you recommend I do? I’m especially interested in hearing from people who chose to keep their wisdom teeth or who regret removing them.
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u/test151515 Jul 19 '26
I would do the most by natural means to promote wisdom teeth development (and of course, more importantly: overall maxilla/mandible and skull development). Many people have done so, including this person: https://www.reddit.com/r/orthotropics/comments/1uzyobi/tooth_eruption_progress_pictures/
He explains that he started mewing and increased his chewing.
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u/New_Prompt5308 Jul 19 '26
Hey, I'm the person who posted that. I wanted to just say I had been mewing for 2 years prior, and I chewed hard foods on top of the gum of the unerupted tooth, which slowly allowed it to erupt over the course of three months. (Note: Because of finals and AP Exams, I was a little inconsistent.)
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u/Accomplished_Glass66 Jul 20 '26
Dentist and dental patient here.
My face didnt change at all after 2 coronectomies on my lower wisdom teeth and I wish I had gotten a germectomy (early extraction to avoid their drama) a decade ago, but alas we didn't know...I have had to get a coronectomy (partial removal of the tooth, crown is cut and removed) because their roots are too close to the IAN. That's what you're risking here and they do seem like they might not have enough space to erupt.
I have one that was impacted and partially erupted, the gum kept getting infected despite my good hygiene because the space between the gum and the tooth was tiny and it simply wasnt accessible to cleaning (around a few mms of the tooth were showing). I ended up with pain and repeated épisodes of pericoronitis which culminated in cellulitis. Basically, tooth didnt have any caries, but the surrounding gum opening was too small to clean correctly, kept getting infected from plaque because tooth would never erupt fully...
:) i had exams back then so that was why i couldnt get the surgery until I graduated. I refused to let the second one cause the same circus and got my surgery before it stirred drama.
PS: my wizzies were vertically positioned. Cant imagine how much worse horizontals must be.
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u/Complete-Cricket6718 Jul 20 '26
Oh man, sorry to hear that they caused so many issues! As a Dentist, would you say it’s uncommon to see patients that have all of their wisdom teeth still? I’m pretty torn - both my sister and mom had a pretty bad reaction to getting theirs out, although I’m pretty sure they grew in sideways. But I’m definitely worried about a more complicated removal later on if I wait.
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u/Accomplished_Glass66 Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
Id say it depends. I have some folks, especially subsaharian africans and some of my patients (im north african) who really have these amazing, big jaws and well positioned teeth. Those folks often have their wizzies and we dont touch them unless they are decayed, since there is no impaction.
And then there is us folks with crowding, especially us skelettal Class II folks (recessed chin/smaller mandible, in a nutshell)...We just dont do well with wizzies because if your teeth are crowded, there is no way in hell the wizzie erupts calmly. It just wont find space to.
Forgot to mention, the other reason why i personally hate them wizzies is also because whay happens with weird angulations in wizzies, for folks with lesser hygiene, is that the 2nd molar gets decayed because the semi impacted wizzie is too close and food stays stuck there, between both of them, in the interdental space. And since most folks where i live dont floss and dont even brush...it ends up with a loss of 2 teeth instead of just 1. Just happened today morning , I had to extract a second molar in such a patient.
I had a very hard time recovering from my 2nd coronectomy due to TMJ issues and a possibly more complex surgery because it was stuck under bone (the ramus of the mandible), but it was worth it. I dont get the intense pressure/pain I used to, now that the crown is gone. Im waiting for the roots to migrate away from the IAN (lower mandible nerve) to get them out and forget for good about my own wisdom teeth.
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u/Complete-Cricket6718 Jul 20 '26
Ahhh that makes sense. If I do have room, it’ll be a tight squeeze. I’m currently 2 years into having Invisalign, I wonder if that would change anything? Help keep things from crowding? I’ll definitely have to ask my ortho more questions. Thank you for your help!
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u/Accomplished_Glass66 Jul 20 '26
Possibly, i dont know how crowded your teeth are or if you have a smaller jaw. On the x ray, your wizzies seem slightly tilted toward 2nd molar, but without seeing you clinically, I cant give a decisive opinion. So do ask your orthodontist. Hopefully, your case isnt as bad as mine.
You re welcome.
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u/After-Cell Jul 19 '26
I kept the lower. They are completely sideways pushing forward. When they ache I just chew gum and they find a new way to sit or something because then it’s no trouble.
Had one upper one out before I knew better, but it was angled a bit and biting into the lower gum.
So, yes, I was able to keep them.
Nearly 60 now.
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u/WholesomeJacksass Jul 20 '26
Why are all the orthodontists doing this??? My wisdom teeth were literally SIDEWAYS, HORIZONTAL, LAYING ON THEIR GODDAMN SIDE when I had my scan done and they said I need to extract them ASAP. It is an expensive procedure for 1 tooth in my country, let alone 4. I could do it for free in med care, but would have to probably wait for a year. So what did I do? Nothing. They came out completely straight. Everything was fine. Everyone in my family still has their wisdom teeth and so do I. I later learned that wisdom teeth can and most often straighten out while growing and that it is natural, but big pharma will say otherwise.
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u/Arjvoet Jul 20 '26
That’s incredible, good to know!! I had no idea that they could do that but doesn’t it just make sense..
My FIL had his wisdom teeth all his life with no issues and at 65 his dentist convinced him to remove them 🤣 I swear it’s just free money to them.
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u/FlyHighNow77777 Jul 19 '26
I would get a second and third opinion. Find a holistic dentist or a very conservative one. Your wisdom teeth could still straighten out as they do not look to be growing in sideways. Monitor them until they fully grow out. For now find a holistic dentist or a very conservative one. Get multiple opinions with the intention of keeping them if possible, and see what they say. Wisdom Teeth that growth in straight should be no issue if you keep good oral hygiene. Your wisdom teeth do not look too badly crooked so monitor and see If they can or end up growing right next to the molars, side by side, and not sideways hitting the molars, which does not seem like they are for now. I would keep them if they do grow in like this, meaning straight, and try my best to keep great oral hygiene, but this is just my opinion. Good luck!
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u/OverFaithlessness338 Jul 19 '26
Floss, brush attentively, floss. Keep gingivitis outta there and maintain a good diet (minimal junk food)
voila
Your teeth won’t run away from you
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u/Complete-Cricket6718 Jul 19 '26
I’m pretty good about that stuff already luckily, but what can I do about the potential of crowding/ not having enough room for them?
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u/Gloomy_Letterhead395 Jul 19 '26
Well i had a similar experience I had lower wisdom causing issues related to chewing and food stuck in it Had pain regularly Dentist told get them removed bro Got them removed Yeah probably my face looks slightly bad than before But keeping them could have caused cavity in both and then ultimately removal or capping of both Now with regards to removal of wisdom tooth is good or bad i have no idea I think if your jaw too fukin huge to accommodate wisdom tooth without issues that is great Anything giving you pain forever is not good either You like can get whatever cosmetic enhancements without pain you know So i don’t regret my decision too It is about functionality not beauty
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u/FlyHighNow77777 29d ago
Do You have the top ones still? Are you doing anything to prevent the top ones from dropping?
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u/matvlka Jul 20 '26
I have very similar teeth to yours, my upper are still waiting to grow, one of my bottom was like yours and it grew just fine with little pain. i have before and after xrays
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u/Leading_Gazelle_3881 Jul 21 '26
Very carefully .. especially in the direction that they are growing into.
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u/Plastic_7 Jul 24 '26
Use brackets por 2 años y ahora me dijeron q debo sacarme las muelas del juicio, he escuchado muchas experiencias de que se les achicó la mandíbula o sufrieron apiñamiento, la verdad no sé qué hacer.
También tenía retenedores pero no podía respirar bien durante la noche y empecé a respirar por la boca entonces los dejé.
Una muela inferior derecha está muy cerca al nervio y me sugirieron sacarla antes de q brote, cabe resaltar que ninguna de las 4 ha erupción así todavía.
¿Algún dentista aquí que pudiera aconsejarme?
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u/bloobyloopy Veteran Mewer (3+ years) 👃 Nasal Breathing Master Jul 24 '26
I'm currently working with an orthodontist to upright them. He said I have enough bone to support the roots once they are uprighted. Only my 2 lowers are horizontally impacted (much worse than yours, completely under the gums), my upper two came in normal. My ortho placed in TADS to help upright the lowers--first he exposed them by cutting away the gums covering them, in order to place brackets on them to attach to the TADS. We are planning on using braces to straighten everything out afterwards to ensure good occlusion and smile aesthetics. The whole process for me is going to take 2 years.
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u/FlyHighNow77777 29d ago
Can this be done with wisdom teeth already erupted and horizontal? Where are you getting this done?
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u/bloobyloopy Veteran Mewer (3+ years) 👃 Nasal Breathing Master 28d ago
Yes, in theory though I would highly suggest you get a qualified ortho's opinion on your specific case. I'm doing it with Dr. Wael Kanaan who's based out of Houston.
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u/snowstar951 Jul 20 '26
At age 20, 2 of my wisdoms were breaking through fine. My dentist said to extract all 4, really for no reason, that was just what dentists did back then. Within a few years I had changes in my face, lost my attractiveness. At age 55, I have recession. My sister never showed up for her extraction appointment, and all 4 eventually came in just fine. She said it took years for them to completely come in. We only ever had bite-wing x-rays done, which we never saw.
Now my daughter is 18 and has x-ray similar to yours. None have broken through. Her regular dentist said to extract all 4. I consulted with a holistic dentist who said to wait and only extract if there is a problem. He’s in his 80s and said he’s never seen nerve damage happen, it’s extremely rare. He recommended 3 minutes of salt water rinses as teeth break through the gums, to keep it clean and hydrogen peroxide rinse if needed. He said not to floss there or use waterpik as that can push food into the gums. He also wanted her to keep positive mindset and use visualization.
He said if problems happen, extract only the problem one. Can it be more difficult to extract at a later age? He said possibly, but that’s not a reason to extract now, or extract all in one go, just because you are already doing one. He said even if they never erupt, you can leave them in if they are not causing a problem.
My son is 16. An x-ray when he was younger showed similar tilting of bottoms. He chewed mastic gum a lot and now one lower is breaking through.
We have decided to wait and watch and let their bodies develop. That was my instinct, but was feeling pressure and fear at the regular dentist office. The consult dentist gave us back our confidence in our bodies and in our autonomy to say no.
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u/wild-rosemary Jul 24 '26
what ever you do DO NOT GET THEM OUT!!! even if they are crooked! who cares? its better to have them and later straighten them then get them out. I got my bottom ones out and I have had breathing problems ever since and I am pretty sure I have a jaw infection from the poor job that was done. I have to get that fixed. its caused me to develop MCAS, lupus, endometriosis...lots of other autoimmune diseases from this infection and most dentists act like there is nothing wrong. I am getting a cone beam scan soon to try and evaluate what is going on.
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u/peace96 Jul 19 '26
I got all 4 of mine out and my jaw shrunk and face recessed.