Need opinions about choosing a dentist

FranandZoe · ‎03-09-2010

I'm overedue for a cleaning. And I've been having pain in a molar - I think it's a wisdom tooth. So I made an appt with a local/popular dentist but they told me that if the tooth needs pulled they'll refer me to an oral surgeon. I'm thinking I'd rather go to a dentist who "does it all." What do you guys think?

Nightowlz · ‎03-11-2010

I have had 2 dentists while living here. Neither would pull teeth.

Since you also need a cleaning I would go have that done along with your checkup. They can tell you what the issue is.

IMO if it's a wisdom tooth I would pull it. No sense spending money trying to save a wisdom tooth you don't need.

Your new dentist can refer you to another dentist if it needs to be pulled.

I had to have all 4 of my wisdom teeth cut out as there was no room for them to come in & they were trying to come in from under my back teeth.

DH has all 4 of his wisdom teeth only because his parents did not have the money to have them removed so he had to suffer in pain for weeks plus could not eat.

msgb · ‎08-30-2010

In my area the dentist do not remove teeth. It is the oral surgeon that does that work.

Still Raining · ‎03-30-2014

It must be a magic dentist if you were diagnosed without being seen.

However all the wisdom teeth I know about were extracted by an oral surgeon.

fthunt · ‎12-24-2010

Oral surgeon all the way. I hurt my female dentist (new of 5 years) when I refused to let her pull. Have always gone to this one oral surgeon firm for years - sinus area is delicate - and being surgeons that is all they do.

Peaches McPhee · ‎04-19-2010

I think dentistry is getting as specialized as medicine these days, so maybe only oral surgeons pull teeth now.

-- pro-aging --

Rochester, New York

GNB1965 · ‎06-19-2014

If your wisdom tooth/teeth are impacted, you would need to see an oral surgeon. A general dentist won't be able to do that. It would be like seeing a primary care physician for orthopedic surgery.

Also, when I had mine out at the age of 21, all four wisdom teeth were impacted. I saw an oral surgeon who extracted all 4 teeth at the same time, Often, there is more to extracting a wisdom tooth than "pulling it". They had to cut my gums to remove them, and stitch me up.

The same thing for root canals. Root canal = Endontist