UPDATE: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

So I am having my 2 top wisdom teeth pulled next week (I have none on the bottom). They are 100% in and not impacted. They cause some discomfort occasionally and the dentist said they could cause some problems down the line as food can get stuck, etc. So, I"m getting them out. Oral surgeon said it will feel more like pressure than pain. He gave me the choice of anesthesia or just some gas (maybe novocaine, I don't know). WWYD? Has anyone had non-impacted WT removed and how bad was it? How was recovery?

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Update: Thanks everyone. I stuck with novocaine and gas and it was just fine. The actual extraction took probably 2 min...it took longer to get the novocaine shots. It didn't hurt at all and I've hardly had any pain after either, just a little soreness.

Message edited 9/3/2009 6:22:33 PM.

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

i have had all my wisdom teeth out. (two out one day..and the other 2 diff days.) At first i was all set on being put to sleep but im glad i didnt. You def feel pressure but mine were out sooo fast. The pain can be bad once you get home but they will give you something for it. I would def do it now cause i waited and then had to get them out b/c i was in so much pain..They also say the top teeth are much easier then the bottom ones so thats a good thing for you

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

i had mine taken out with i guess it was anesthia (it was injected) and it was soooo worth it. i was out, it took him about 15 minutes to remove my wisdom teeth then i woke up in another room laying down. I had no idea how i got there, but my dad was trying to wake me up. after i had no pain at all (but i think it is because i only had my top removed, and from what people tell me top are easier). im totally terrified of the dentist and drills so for me it was worth being put out.

eta: also I ate about 1 hour later, tried to lay down for about 20 min but didnt feel like it and was doing all my normal stuff at least 2 hours later.

Message edited 8/25/2009 7:35:18 PM.

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

I would get a second opinion on having the teeth removed. If you are not in pain now and they are not impacted I don't understand why you need them removed. Removing them can cause your other teeth to shift causing more problems....

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

I've had 4 removed on 2 separate occasions. they all were impacted to some degree. the first set being the most impacted on the bottom. my dentist was concerned by the way it was leaning on the back tooth it would make my teeth shift. i spent $6g's and 3 yrs in braces..i was not hearing of having my teeth shift. and they would irritate my gums off and on anyway. so i figured what the hell.

so off i went. I was given anesthesia (i had never been put under before) and let me tell you..that was the best sleep i ever had. I was done in 30 minutes, woke up feeling groggy but not sick or anything. They give you the needle and i swear within 5 seconds i was out cold.

afterwards, as long as you put the ice on like they tell you..15 min on, 15 min off for a few hours..the swelling was fine the next day. didnt even look like i had teeth pulled.

the 2nd set i had done was fine too, except i was home alone and didn't have DH to help make sure i had the ice on like i should have. I swelled a lot nore and bled a lot more. So its very important to keep the ice on like they tell you.

i highly recommend the anesthesia

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

I had two out while being put to sleep and I had two removed with only novicane. It really wan't a big deal only having the novicane. It was over in less than 5 minutes and I wasn't all groggy and out of it afterwards! Good luck!

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

my DH had all 4 taken out last year. his dentist did them 2 at a time in 2 different visits. they gave him a local anesthetic injection, not put to sleep. he said he didnt feel any pain. basically he just felt some tugging going on his mouth. afterwards, he was sore, but it will be sore no matter how you have them pulled out. once the numbness wore off and it started to hurt a bit he just downed about 2 highballs of Jack Daniel's on the rocks and he was fine.

Good luck!

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

I had my 2 top wisdom teeth out with just novacaine and felt a little pushing a pressure but nothing that was that bad.. I listened to my Ipod the whole time and didn't feel a thing.. it was over in no time.. and I had no pain afterwards.. nothing a little Advil couldn't take care of.. You will be fine!!!

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

I had all 4 of mine removed and none of them was impacted. I had them done 2 at a time. They were crowding my other teeth and they were so far back that I could I not even get a toothbrush to fit where they were. The surgery was not bad at all, even with an area that was so hard to reach. I had novocaine and would do it that way again if I need a tooth pulled. For one of the procedures I did not have dissolving stitches and I had bad pain when I got food caught in the stitches. That was worse than the rest of the process but then the Dr. said I could use a syringe with water to clean it out. He should have told me sooner. Good luck!!!!!!

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

I had all four removed at the same time. One was slightly impacted, the others were not. All I had was Novocaine. I felt a little pressure but that was it, and it took all of about 5-10 minutes to get them all out.

ETA: recovery was slightly painful. I had a script for vicodin, but didn't take it, advil worked just fine.
I was at the bronx zoo the next day!

Message edited 8/25/2009 8:56:12 PM.

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

I had 3 removed at the same time a year and a half ago (2 were impacted).

Honestly I have to say I thought the WORST part of it was the anesthesia. It was the part I was most afraid of, actually! BUT.... it was my very first (and thankfully so far, my last) surgery, and I was terrified by the thought of being put to sleep! I woke up so dizzy and nauseous and spent the rest of the day groggy and feeling like I had a "buzz" ......

Honestly I don't know if everyone else has that experience... and I hate dental work so I would probably have wished I had the anesthesia if I had it done any other way

As for recovery....... took a week to feel a lot better but 2 weeks to be pain free...... I didn't take vicoden, but I took another strong pain relieve prescribed to me. I found pudding that you cook over the stove helped the most!

Honestly, not trying to scare you, I'm just being honest! But, everyone has a different experience and I am SURE yours will be better than mine since they are not impacted!!! I have a friend who had non-impacted wisdom teeth removed and ate carrot sticks the next day!! I am sure your experience will be much more like his than mine......

Anyway, I would say do the least invasive "anesthetic" possible...... OR, see if you could start with something like novicaine and add on something a little stronger if it becomes intolerable. Good luck!!!

ETA: My swelling wasn't too bad.... I iced my cheeks like they told me to and I did swell a little... you could def tell I had something done, or was punched in the face but honestly the swelling wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be! And, it went down like 2 or 3 days later!!

Message edited 8/26/2009 12:37:40 AM.

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

If they are not impacted and they are on the top it will be a breeze.
Trust me
I am the biggest baby and I could not believe how much easier it was than I anticiatped.
If I were you I'd stay awake.
There is NO pain. Some pressure and tugging and pushing- that's it.
I walked out of there, DROVE home, went shopping, went to work the next day.
People who were drugged were barely able to walk out of the office.
One girl almost fell over when her mom let her go for a second to sign some forms.
Your recovery will be much faster and easier if you stay in your right mind a-nd trust me- for such a simple extraction you will be glad you did. You won't believe how quickly those suckers will pop out.
I had no pain at all later- a little soreness maybe- like I would be careful eating- but that was it. Didn't even take advil. And no stitches either. No swelling nothing. The tops are breeze.

ETA- I wouldn't even take the sweet air or gas. I would just have them numb you up with novacaine... this way you won't have any after effects

Message edited 8/26/2009 8:53:25 AM.

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

I had 2 out with twilight anesthesia.
Basically, you are not out completely, but you don't know or care what is going on. It was great. There is no way I could do that awake, I just am so nervous before stuff like this, I always take whatever they offer.

The pain afterwards was not so bad, I was up and around by the next afternoon.

They weren't impacted and I had no pain but they were starting to get cavities and it's hard to reach them.

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

I have all four removed without being put out. They were all done separately.

The bottom two were soft tissue impacted. I wasn't in pain at all while they were being pulled. Afterward they hurt, but it wasn't bad. I just needed that day off. The bottoms are always worse because more pain can be felt in your throat and jaw.

My top two were a piece of cake. I don't mind the dentist. In fact I look forward to the gas . The top two were sore after, but I was fine that night.

Being put out costs more. I am so afraid of needles in veins that I was fine with not being put out. Once that mask is on my face with gas, I am fine with just Novocaine. I actually prefer being awake so I can ask the dentist what is happening while it is happening. He tells me everything right before it is happening. I like that.

Honestly, I have had worse pain with a root canal.

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

I've had two taken out, once with anesthesia and once without. The first time was with anesthesia and I had the WORST experience. I was vomiting for a week straight, couldn't get out of bed, and was in excruciating pain. So the second time I refused the anesthesia. I think they just shot some novicaine in there, but I could be wrong. They were out before I knew it and I barely had any pain afterwards. I say avoid the anesthesia if you can.

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

I had mine taken out under twilight. I often joke that being on that twlight IV was the best experience of my life LOL it was awesome. HOWEVER, when I came out of it I felt terrible - I was hysterically crying and could barely walk and for the rest of the day I was basically "coming down" from it.

I do know that they thought it would be a simple procedure and it ended up taking an hour so I am glad that I did that. But if its straight forward, I suggest just getting the novacaine.

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

I'm a big fat baby esp. when it comes to the dentist. Get knocked out!

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

I'm a certified dental assistant, my opinion is just "novacaine" is fine. Upper wisdom teeth that are erupted meaning 100% in your mouth not impacted almost always have conical roots that are not big. This makes them very easy to remove and the size of the sockets or "hole" is small, easy to care for.
Gas is fine too, you will know everything that is happening but you won't feel like complaining if something bothers you.
Good luck, it is going to be easier than you think!!!!

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

Thanks everyone! I think I will skip the anesthesia. I wasn't sure if the oral surgeon was downplaying the pain, but based on everyone's experience with wisdom teeth that aren't impacted, it sounds consistent. It also makes my life easier since I won't have to arrange to be dropped off and picked up. Wish me luck!

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

I think that's a very good decision!

Good luck!!!!! Stock up on some soft foods!

Re: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

If your wisdom teeth are 100% in and not impacted or have curvy roots or any other anomoly, i would just go with the anesthesia. If they were impacted or below bone level, i would say go with the gas.
Im a dental assistant and in my experience, both professional and personal, erupted wisdom teeth aren't a problem with just anesthesia, they will give you the strong stuff.

Re: UPDATE: WWYD? Wisdom teeth related

bump for update