Interesting to hear how much losing a regular molar changed things for you. I get the bone loss concern, but I kind of see it the other way around, especially after what my kid went through. Wisdom teeth removal was way more disruptive in the short term. The swelling was insane, and she couldn’t eat real food for almost a week—missed school, couldn’t sleep well. With her regular extraction (baby tooth that wouldn’t budge), she bounced back in two days and barely complained.
Partial dentures never felt quite right in my mouth either. Always fiddling with them, worried they’d pop out at the wrong moment... just not for me.
I wonder if that’s more of an adult thing? Kids seem to adapt quicker, or maybe it’s because their mouths are still changing. Also, not everyone gets bone loss after losing a tooth—my dentist said it depends on age and which tooth. Not saying implants aren’t worth it, but sometimes the recovery from wisdom teeth can be way rougher, even if the long-term stuff isn’t as obvious right away. Just my two cents.
Losing a molar as an adult was honestly way harder for me, even compared to my wisdom teeth coming out. The gap messed up how I chew, and I started worrying about the cost of fixing it—implants are so expensive. Wisdom teeth hurt, but at least I didn’t have to think about paying for a replacement. Maybe I’m just more anxious about the long-term stuff...
- Totally get where you're coming from about the molar.
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“The gap messed up how I chew, and I started worrying about the cost of fixing it—implants are so expensive.”
- Losing a regular tooth changes your bite and can cause shifting, which wisdom teeth usually don’t.
- Implants or bridges are pricey, and insurance rarely covers much.
- Pain with wisdom teeth is rough, but the long-term hassle of a missing molar is a bigger deal for most folks.
- I had to relearn how to chew after losing a back tooth—super annoying.
- Anxiety about future dental work is totally normal.
I totally relate to the stress about cost—implants are just out of reach for a lot of us, and bridges aren’t cheap either. I lost a lower molar a couple years back and figured, “Eh, it’s way in the back.” But then my bite went weird, and food kept getting stuck. Ended up needing more dental work later, which just added to the bills. Has anyone tried those partial dentures or other cheaper fixes? Wondering if they’re even worth it, or if you just end up paying more down the line.
Partial dentures have been my go-to for a few years now, mostly because the price tag on implants just isn’t realistic for me either. They’re not perfect, but honestly, I’d take them over leaving that space empty. Like you mentioned, I started with the “it’s just a back tooth” mindset too, but after a while my bite shifted and the teeth nearby started moving. The partial at least keeps things in place, even if it’s a bit annoying to take out and clean.
One thing I noticed is that the fit matters a lot—if it’s even a little off, you’ll get sore spots or food will sneak under there. I’ve had to go back for adjustments more than once. Still, compared to the extra dental work from shifting teeth, it feels like a better trade-off. Curious if anyone has run into issues with wisdom teeth removal versus regular extractions? I found the wisdom teeth recovery way rougher than when I had a molar pulled, but maybe that’s just me...
