Earlier today a article appeared in the Huffington Post titled “How To Know If Wisdom Teeth Really Need To Be Removed.”
The author attempts to discuss some of the ongoing debate regarding extracting wisdom teeth.
He talks about how doctors are fair and responsible.
However, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) continues to say on their webpage on wisdom teeth http://www.aaoms.org/wisdom_teeth.php
It isn’t wise to wait until your wisdom teeth start to bother you.
I would think a fair and responsible doctor would agree that the current scientific evidence should be presented to the patient of an elective procedure of teenagers and young adults such as described here http://www.teethremoval.com/controversy.html
The author then refers to a study and says:
“Interestingly, early removal of wisdom teeth (when the teeth have hardly any of the roots formed) has been shown to result in very predictable and successful outcomes, with hardly any gum pockets, dry sockets, nerve injury or infections developing post-operatively.”
In fact when I had my wisdom teeth extracted I was never told of the scientific evidence, that wisdom teeth are not extracted that are healthy in the U.K due to the risk of harm., nor was I told of many of the complications.
I was left with a 24/7 headache as a result of the extractions after just having turned 20. I received no compensation for my injuries. I don’t see any evidence to suggest that oral surgeons and dentists are adequately disclosing to their patients such serious life alternating injuries in the informed consent process.
In fact numerous physicians groups such as AAOMS and the AMA are advocating for a caps on possible non-economic damage caps be to reduced to $250,000 at the national level http://blog.teethremoval.com/the-war-on-healthcare-patients-who-hate-doctors/
Young teenagers and adults who go to have their disease free healthy teeth removed can in on occasions suffer a life alternating complication such as a lasting headache.
If doctors were fair and responsible they would be advocating for fair compensation or some sort of insurance to be provided for those unfortunate people who fall in this category where the current legal system is of no use for them. See http://www.teethremoval.com/legal_system_medical_malpractice.html for more information.
I don’t see how it is reasonable to advocate for a surgical procedure that can cause major harm in a small number of instances to a young and healthy individual when they had no symptoms and problems present prior to the surgery and then not be able to receive any compensation for some of those injuries that may occur. See this page http://www.teethremoval.com/wisdomteeth.html for some of the guidelines on wisdom teeth and reasons for their removal.
The article in the Huffington Post concludes
“While all patients do not need to have their wisdom teeth extracted, there are clear indications that warrant removal of wisdom teeth. The age of the patient, the presence of gum disease, the potential for dental crowding and the long-term health of the second molars are all factors that must be considered when deciding if the wisdom teeth need to be extracted. “
Food for thought, especially after your post about how the 17 year old died from that extraction.