Please raise your hand if you've had your wisdom teeth removed.

[dazzamre]

Okay, I went to the dentist today, and he wants me to go to an oral surgeon and have my wisdom teeth and the tooth that's been giving me trouble removed (5 total). He suggested I have them all done at one time, but that it was up to me. So here's my question, if you've had your wisdom teeth out, what do I need to know? Should I have them all done at one time? What's the heal time on this? Anything you think I should know, short of "run screaming from the dentist and never, ever go back." ;)

*whimpers* I don't deal well with pain, and I'm not looking forward to this.

Comments

[rocketbalm.livejournal.com]

I did all four in one day and then played soccer -- but I live with chronic pain so it didn't seem so bad. If they are not impacted I'd say go for it, it should be a small amout of pain, but you only do it once. Otherwise, I know lot's of people that do one side and then the other. It took a few days of being tender but I was eating solids and chewing 2 days later, -- then again, not much keeps me from food *grins*... Everyone's different and everyone's pain tolerance is different. It's a good question, I hope lots of people reply so you get the full spectrum. I would definitely tell your dentist that your aprehensive and see what he says.

*Hugs* hope you feel better soon and it goes well, which ever way you decide to go.

rb

[dazzamre.livejournal.com]

I did all four in one day and then played soccer
Wow, I'm impressed.

Thanks so much for your take on it. I really appreciate it. :) I'm still nervous, but I feel a little better after reading the replies I've gotten. And not much could keep me away from food, either. ;)

*hugs* Thanks again!

[katewithak.livejournal.com]

*raises hand*

I had all of mine out at one time. They were flopped over and rising upwards, so there was a definite problem. But I'll tell you, I was fine in 3 days, mainly because that's when I could stop taking such massive amounts of pain pills. They do prescribe you some *awesome* stuff afterwards, so that's a perk, right? And, if you do have them out, I suggest getting a pair of hose and tying them around your head with ice in either side. You'll look really stupid, but it was the best way to not swell.

Good luck!!

[dazzamre.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'll keep the hose in mind cause that's a great tip.

They do prescribe you some *awesome* stuff afterwards, so that's a perk, right?
Definite perk. *g*

Thanks again! *hugs*

[whitewizzy.livejournal.com]

*raises hand*

[dazzamre.livejournal.com]

Should I be worried you didn't comment on the lovely experience? ;)

[(Anonymous)]

*giggles*
Not at all. To tell you the truth I thought I had. Don't know what happened.
I got all of mine out when they were 'fresh' and the roots were not so...deep? It was something with the roots anyway. There were nothing wrong with them, but my dentist wanted to give some room formy other teeth. So he said. I had no problems and I did it two at the time.

[dazzamre.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing. :) It's really making me feel better that nobody's had a really horrible experience to tell me yet.

[madame-d.livejournal.com]

*raises hand* Had them done TWO WEEKS before I left for Australia; that was daring.

I'd get them removed all at once just to deal with the pain all at once, though I wouldn't plan on working the next day. Mine had all grown out and I had them removed all together. I was totally out of it the day of surgery, completely fine the day after, and on Vicodin the next 3 days, so go figure.

Things to know: get the max amount of anesthesia short of general (which isn't good for you): I had Valium, laughing gas and local. Drugs are of the good. If you get it done in the morning, don't even *think* of working/doing anything that day. Get home, take drugs (they'll probably give you drugs) and go to sleep. You *will* live on baby food, apple sauce and oatmeal for the next few days - it's not that bad.

The surgery itself was a blur - the pain afterwards was kind of... eh, somewhere between 'mommy!' and 'please please kill me now' - removing the gauze is the ickiest thing ever, though.

Have someone go with you to the surgery - you won't be in any condition to drive in either direction.

Most importantly: don't fret; it's over quickly. Frankly, a week after the surgery I couldn't even remember that I *had* it and was wondering why it'd taken me so long to get it done (my wisdom teeth took their sweet time to grow in and *that* was quite a bit of pain througout the years; I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, it was awful).

*hugs*

}:)

[dazzamre.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all the wonderful advice. :)

I think I'm going to try to get it done over the Christmas break. I considered Thanksgiving, but that's all about eating, and I have a huge assignment due the next week (and while I've done assignments on pain medicine before, it's not my preferred way to work ;)).

Why is general so bad? Just curious in case he suggests that.

And no worries about going alone. I'll need Mom to comfort me, and she'll need Dad and probably my grandmother to keep her sane. She's more worried about it than I am. ;)

My wisdom teeth have been a pain (literally and figuratively) since they started coming in, and I guess I knew it was just a matter of time before they had to come out.

*hugs* Thanks again!

[madame-d.livejournal.com]

Why is general so bad? Just curious in case he suggests that.

For a whole variety of health reasons, not the least of which are long-term effects on short-term memory.

I don't remember all the details but I remember reading an article that said that the less you get put under, the better.

}:)