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secretweapon
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« on: December 12, 2008, 07:21:07 AM » |
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I've just been to a new dentist in New City and apparently the pain I have had in my jaw for the past several years is not due to stress and clenching my teeth. It's the wisdom teeth, stupid.
So, I need to have them extracted - as soon as possible after the holidays. My dentist told me that this procedure is really not a big deal, that it takes about 45 minutes per side (he will do one side, then the other side a few weeks later), and that I'll have a bit of pain and bleeding but should be back at work the next day. He told me he would give me good drugs that will make everything okay (yeah!).
I was surprised because I thought that this was a big deal, that I would be mumbling for days and drinking milkshakes and looking like a hamster for a few weeks. Has anyone had a recent experience? Would you have been able to lecture just a few days later? I want to schedule the right time amount of time off work. Anything else I should know?
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bacardiandlime
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« Reply #1 on: December 12, 2008, 07:26:59 AM » |
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Have they actually grown in? (I'm guessing so, since your dentist is suggesting an in-the-chair extraction). I had mine removed aeons ago, but because they hadn't surfaced it was done in hospital. This was not so bad, since I was asleep. But it did also involve cut gums and stitches. It was painful for the first day or two particularly, but after 5 days was ok.
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secretweapon
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« Reply #2 on: December 12, 2008, 07:29:32 AM » |
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Have they actually grown in? (I'm guessing so, since your dentist is suggesting an in-the-chair extraction). I had mine removed aeons ago, but because they hadn't surfaced it was done in hospital. This was not so bad, since I was asleep. But it did also involve cut gums and stitches. It was painful for the first day or two particularly, but after 5 days was ok.
One of them has pierced my gums! It goes without saying that I am a bit disappointed in my dentist in Old City, who did x-rays but decided that they weren't an issue. |
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bacardiandlime
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« Reply #3 on: December 12, 2008, 07:33:59 AM » |
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If that was an NHS dentist, I'm not surprised. They don't do preventive. They would wait to see if and when your wisdom teeth became a problem, then deal with it. Same reason they don't do preventive seals, fluoride treatments, or anything else that is routine dental care at private dentists. I have only seen an NHS dentist once. It was like something out of the USSR in the 1970s.
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secretweapon
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« Reply #4 on: December 12, 2008, 07:57:50 AM » |
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If that was an NHS dentist, I'm not surprised. They don't do preventive. They would wait to see if and when your wisdom teeth became a problem, then deal with it. Same reason they don't do preventive seals, fluoride treatments, or anything else that is routine dental care at private dentists. I have only seen an NHS dentist once. It was like something out of the USSR in the 1970s.
It was a guy who did both NHS and private - I registered as NHS but told him that I would consider private treatment to protect my beautiful American teeth - like the £60 mouth guard he gave me for the teeth grinding/jaw pain. It turns out that my wisdom teeth have been a problem - for years! - but that he misdiagnosed it. Grrr.. |
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cranefly
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« Reply #5 on: December 12, 2008, 08:14:36 AM » |
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I would get a second opinion. I have my wisdom teeth in, full. Not a problem. Getting them out can cause jaw misalignment. I know someone who got theirs taken out, then had to have fake ones put back in because the misaligned jaw caused headaches.
I have seen 3 dentists. One said take them out, two said leave them in... I've left them in.
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secretweapon
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« Reply #6 on: December 12, 2008, 08:44:26 AM » |
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I would get a second opinion. I have my wisdom teeth in, full. Not a problem. Getting them out can cause jaw misalignment. I know someone who got theirs taken out, then had to have fake ones put back in because the misaligned jaw caused headaches.
I have seen 3 dentists. One said take them out, two said leave them in... I've left them in.
Oh no, please don't confuse me... I had lots of expensive orthodontic work and have a permanent brace on my bottom teeth, and this dentist said that he can see that there is pressure on it and the wisdom teeth are pushing my teeth forward. Arggh... |
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bacardiandlime
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« Reply #7 on: December 12, 2008, 08:52:39 AM » |
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If it's already giving you pain, you need to deal with it. Just make sure they give you all the drugs if you're going to be conscious for it. I'm sure you will be fine.
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bone_gal
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« Reply #8 on: December 12, 2008, 12:08:58 PM » |
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I had mine out a while ago, so can't really call this "recent" experience, but wanted to add my two cents. None of my wisdom teeth had erupted and I chose to have general anesthesia rather than whatever the alternative was (you could supposedly still hear, smell, feel tugging, etc. YUCK! I wanted to be out). Recovering that day was a blur. After that wasn't too bad, except I got a dry socket (whatever that is) and it hurt like heck. I can't remember how long it was before I was eating real food, but I think it was a few days. My face didn't swell up, but I have friends who have swollen up like a chipmunks (really! I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it).
So, I say this to remind you that you don't know how you'll feel until you go through with it. If you swell up and can't eat, do you really want to be at work that day? Can you plan on one or two days definite, but then leave things open for another day or two? That way if you feel good you can go back, but if you feel bad you don't have to.
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bibliothecula
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like Bunnicula, only with books
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« Reply #9 on: December 12, 2008, 03:56:34 PM » |
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The only advice I can offer is that you should get all of them out at the same time. I had general anesthesia and was back to teaching, albeit a bit swollen, the second day after the procedure.
Also: don't drink anything using a straw, as sucking can cause dry sockets. No jok.e
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georgiaprof
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« Reply #10 on: December 12, 2008, 03:59:31 PM » |
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My son had them out all at the same time. It didn't take an hour for the entire procedure. He was pretty loopy for about 2 days, but then he was okay. He went back to college a week after the procedure. He did well (or so we hear - we'll see when the grades are posted!)
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systeme_d_
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« Reply #11 on: December 12, 2008, 04:05:11 PM » |
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Why can't the dentist do both sides at once? I had three wisdom teeth removed all at once, by an oral surgeon. This was about five years ago.
I spent the day after the surgery in bed and on pain medicine, and the next day I was fine. No dry socket problems at all.
However, I did fall in love with these little gauze squares that you can put in your mouth and just sort of hold there. They were wonderful. Get some.
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Systeme_D is right. <rah rah RESEARCH!> |
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secretweapon
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« Reply #12 on: December 12, 2008, 04:39:33 PM » |
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I don't know why he doesn't do them all at once; maybe to let me chew on one side? I would rather just get it all over with. I'll ask him at the pre-op meeting next week.
Thanks for this advice, guys. I'm hoping if I have it done on a Friday I'll be teach-ready by a Tuesday.
Oh, and I meant chipmunk, not hamster. Apologies to our resident masseuse...
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scotia
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« Reply #13 on: December 12, 2008, 04:54:52 PM » |
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I would get a second opinion. I have my wisdom teeth in, full. Not a problem. Getting them out can cause jaw misalignment. I know someone who got theirs taken out, then had to have fake ones put back in because the misaligned jaw caused headaches.
I have seen 3 dentists. One said take them out, two said leave them in... I've left them in.
Oh no, please don't confuse me... I had lots of expensive orthodontic work and have a permanent brace on my bottom teeth, and this dentist said that he can see that there is pressure on it and the wisdom teeth are pushing my teeth forward. Arggh... I had a problem with my wisdom teeth pushing my other teeth forward (seemingly stupid dentist when I was young should have spotted I had a small jaw and removed others to make way for the wisdom teeth, but didn't). The pressure resulted in the roots bending forward and I needed major orthodontic work to get things back into place. My dentist thought there would be little point in removing the wisdom teeth as the misalignment was already in place, so he removed all the number 5s to give an anchor for the braces to pull the front teeth back into place. If you can avoid having to go through this, and the preceding months of pain as the teeth roots bent, by getting the teeth removed I would strongly recommend it. I had all four teeth removed in one go and had major difficulties with eating for about 4 days because I did not have any available surface for chewing (mine were not wisdom teeth so all were in the middle of my chewing area). I didn't have a lot of spare weight before the removal and lost 8 lb through not being able to eat following the op. Given a choice I will never have dental treatment on both sides at the same time again. But it did mean only having to steel myself once - thanks to aforesaid stupid dentist when I was young I am very nervous about dentist visits. |
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secretweapon
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« Reply #14 on: December 12, 2008, 05:50:02 PM » |
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Thanks, Scotia. I'm concerned about the weight loss, too, but maybe that will change after Christmas...
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