Getting My Wisdom Teeth Pulled- What's It Like?

[Musicman408]

I get my wisdom teeth (all 4) pulled on the 23rd. I will be completely knocked out for the procedure and I was just wondering what your all's experience with this procedure was. I am not looking forward to it, partially because I am all surguried out for this next decade because of my intense back operation two years ago- but I know this is something that needs to get done.

Is it as bad as I think it'll be???? Hope fully not!!


Much Love,
Ethan

[GODDESS6]

why do you need to be knocked out? do they need to be cut out or something?~ i only grew in 2 of 4 wisdom teeth, both on the top~ the DR gave me that laffing gas stuff & a few shots & it was a breeze~ aspirin was all i needed for a day or so for the pain~

[Musicman408]

Originally Posted by GODDESS6

why do you need to be knocked out? do they need to be cut out or something?~ i only grew in 2 of 4 wisdom teeth, both on the top~ the DR gave me that laffing gas stuff & a few shots & it was a breeze~ aspirin was all i needed for a day or so for the pain~

Yeah, I believe they have to cut them out. They're not all the way out yet- if at all, actually.

[jenniferuk]

Experience can vary--I had all 4 impacted teeth removed at once and I stayed awake for it (my oral surgeons preference as I have asthma and he didn't want to put me under). It was more-or-less fine except that I had a reaction to the pain killers they gave me. I did have a lot of bruising and pain, but I bruise easily and I was 16 or so at the time. I know people who've had the teeth pulled and gone out and partied that night. My advice: they will probably offer you something for pain--make sure it's something you think you can tolerate. I'd plan on a recovery day or two just in case.

There was another thread on this recently with some detailed experiences:
http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showth...t=wisdom+teeth

[OldTimer]

Hi Ethan

Some people have a nearly pain-free experience with it, some not so pain-free. My first suggestion would be, make sure you're not scheduled to work the next day -- it can sap your energy more than you'd expect. When I had three of mine extracted (quite a few years ago!), everything went well and it was't particularly painful, but I was surprised how wrung-out and exhausted I felt the next day. I hadn't scheduled the day off, so I had to call in.

I think it's be better to be completely knocked out, like you're planning. I opted only for local, and it was a bit unnerving to feel the dentist wrenching my jaw back and forth and around. It didn't help when he held the tooth up to show me .

My son (in his twenties) had all four extracted a couple of years ago, and unfortunately it turned out to be one of the more difficult examples. His first problem was, he's a smoker (bad, bad, I know). When those teeth are pulled out, it leaves a sizable hole, and what should happen is a blood clot forms in the socket, quickly filling it and protecting it. But even the slightest amount of suction in your mouth -- and that includes drinking from a straw or, as my son found out, dragging on a ciggie -- can pull away the clot, creating what they call a 'dry socket', which is quite painful. (He had to wait till morning to see the dentist, who gave him some horrible-smelling gooey brown stuff that filled the socket and made things all better.)

So remember, no smokes, no straws, nothing that creates suction in your mouth. Even kissing would probably be a no-no, so even if Stevie herself comes up to you and demands a kiss, remember, say no thank you, I've just had dental surgery. I'm sure she'll understand.

Good luck -- we'll be here for ya. - OT

[nailatixela]

Good luck Ethan. I am actually getting mine out around the same time as yours, but next month. I'm not going to be tottally knocked out. But the Doc tells me I won't really know what is going on, just that I might hear some people talking or see some people in the room if I open my eyes from time to time. But you apparently you don't care/notice too much because you are under.

While in the waiting room for my consoltation visit, a kid and his mom was just coming out from getting it done. His cheeks were both puffy, and he was holding on to his mom by one arm. I assume you are still going to be lightheaded and not all there right after, of course. The doc told me to have someone else home with me 24 hours after the surgery, and should recover fully by 3 days.

Good luck! If you had back surgery you have nothing to worry about. This should be much easier, since it doesn't hurt while it is happening.

[kak125]

I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth pulled out last August and it was super easy. Mine were all fully erupted though. When I went for my consultation my doctor wrote me a prescription for an anti-neasea pill, ativan and for percocet. The night before I took the ativan and then when I woke up that morning I took another ativan and right before the surgery I took the anti-neasea pill.
When I got to the oral surgeons office they put headphones on me and then put an IV in my arm with valium and then gave me the gas. Next thing I remember is sitting there with ice packs on my cheeks. Apparently I was only out for 15 minutes so that guy must work super fast. I walked out of the office fine and only had a little bit of swelling. My hubby took me to wendys and we got a milkshake. I came home and watched tv all day. I wasnt even tired and when the novacaine wore off it didnt hurt bad at all. I took a few percocets but found that iburprofen worked better for me. I got it done on Thursday and went back to work on Tuesday due to a holiday on Monday. The hard part for me was not chewing food where I had the wisdom teeth. I am 32 and have had them for years so I got used to chewing back there. I was healed up pretty good within a few weeks and felt great.
I am sure you will be fine. Its not nearly as bad as you imagine it to be. Being knocked out is the only way to go though. My hubby was awake for his and he said the dentist almost pulled him out of the chair trying to yank out his wisdom teeth. I will pass on that!

[BTFLCHLD]

more info here

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

more info here

I thought the topic of this thread had a familiar ring to it.

[HejiraNYC]

I had 3 of 4 removed 7 years ago. It was pretty unremarkable except that, in the process of removing my upper left tooth, an opening was made between the inside of my mouth and my left nasal cavity. I could literally suck in air through my gums where my wisdom tooth used to be. This necessitated a couple of return visits to try to close up the hole, which closed up after a month or so. However, I had a chronic nasal infection that persisted for a few years thereafter.

[Stew_Matthews]

A couple of years ago I had an abscess under a tooth when I was working in Siberia. The antibiotics didn't sort it out so my colleagues had to pull the tooth out. They had the decency to get me drunk before they got a set of pliers out! That was painful - I suspect you're doing it the easy way!

[LikeAWillow]

I'm getting mine out the first week of September. Good luck, Ethan and Nailatixela.

[Musicman408]

Thanks guys- sounds like it won't be the absolute worst thing in the world. Since I do a lot of lifting in my job, I've already requested a week off of work.

My only worry is that I like food a lot and that I am really thin, and I don't want to NOT be able to eat and lose weight.

[JWS]

Afterwards, I was out cold for a whole day.

[LikeAWillow]

Originally Posted by JWS

Afterwards, I was out cold for a whole day.

Can I have the name of your dentist?