Expert: Tony Appleton BDS DPDS - 2/24/2009

Question
Hello.  I am a 26 year old, and in a month I am going to have an operation to remove my wisdom teeth, including 2 which are impacted.  The teeth have grown into or around a major nerve, and the oral surgeon told me that there is a strong possibility that I will lose the feeling in my bottom lip as well as the taste on one side of my tongue.  The two impacted teeth, apparently, have already begun to decay beneath the gum.  I am fearful of loosing the feeling in my lip, as well as the ability to taste.  My question is, how high is the possibility that I will lose feeling?  If the nerve is damaged, can it recover? I have gone to two oral surgeons; the first was rather vague.  He said there was a risk, but nothing definite.  The second warned me to the extreme that there would be damage.  I do not know what to do.  I've had regular dentist appointments for my entire life, so I don't understand how this could have gone unnoticed for so long. The situation is only worsened as both surgeons imply that had these teeth been extracted when I was a teen, they would not have reached the nerve in the first place.  Would it be advisable for these teeth to be removed under such risks?

Answer
Hi Dee

When a lower wisdom tooth is removed there is always a risk of damage to the adjacent nerves, and all patients are warned of this.  Obviously some patients have a higher chance of nerve damage than others due to their specific anatomy.

This damage occurs pretty rarely - but it does occur, and patients are left with either altered sensation/tingling or numbness.  Often this returns to normal with time, although in some people it is permanent.

You have to weigh up whether you feel this risk is worth it.  You are right to question what will happen if you leave the wisdom teeth in - could the teeth be filled instead?

Once you understand the pros and cons of both options only then can you decide what to do.

If you feel the risk is unacceptable then don't have the teeth out - but you need to know what could happen to those teeth in the future, and how would they be sorted out then?

Hope this helps

Regards

Tony Appleton