To the teeth ...

In this first third of my life, I have always been very lucky with my teeth.

I have no cavities and only had to have a minor gum scraping last year for not flossing enough.

But I think my cards are about to fail me. I have 4 impacted wisdom teeth (one is partially erupted). When they were x-rayed a few years ago the dentist said to not worry about them unless they gave me problems. I would once every few months get a slight tingling - but it always went away.

But in the last year - my upper left wisdom tooth has partially erupted. It hadn't been causing me any pain - but in the last week it has caused me a mild earache and an irritated throat on one side.I believe and it might have gotten slightly infected. I have to make an appointment with a dentist in Boston next week to get it checked out.

But I feel that I will have to have 1 or 2 of the top ones out. If I do I will definetely opt for the oral surgeon route because I can feel that the roots are in deep deep deep. It almost feels like the 2 upper wisdom teeth almost connect at the back of the roof of my mouth.

So I definetely want to be put under. After surviving the much worried about tonsillectomy last summer I am not that scared - but I defienetly want to get it done in my 33rd year before I get any older. They say the best age to remove them is by 24 - so I am a tad overdue. But if it helps keep me well and keeps my mouth in beter order I am all for it. I have learned that recovery pain can be put up with.

Here is a Flickr slideshow of wisdom teeth images. The roots are amazingly long. And the plier marks on the edges are disturbing.