Oral Surgery

I have to have three teeth pulled (two wisdom and one molar) and I am absolutely PETRIFIED. It's insane. I was less scared about my c-section.

I am THE worst dental patient so I think it would be best if I get put under.. But I'm not sure. I'm seriously so afraid I'll never wake up! SO stupid, I know. But I've never been put completely under before.

I'd like to be completely prepared for what to expect.. so if you could share your stories.. the good the bad and the ugly.

How does it feel when you're being put to sleep? How did you feel when you woke up? Did you puke? I am so scared of puking!

Or did you stay awake for the procedure? I'd like to hear about that too! Thanks

Re: Oral Surgery

Both DH and I were put under for our wisdom teeth. They gave me a shot in my arm to make me calm before putting me under. It made me feel like I had 8 shots of vodka, the room wouldn't stop spinning, I sweating, and felt like puking. The finally put me out. The surgery went great. I had it done at 8 am on a Saturday, came home after and slept the entire day because I was so tired from the drugs. I drove back to Stony Brook (I was still in college) the next day at noon. I had all 4 done at once they healed perfectly fine.

DH had it done 2 years ago. He used Greg Panossian on Merrick Rd in Massapequa. He didn't have any issues being put under like I did. I came to get him an hour later after getting his meds and he was talking like he was drunk, kept telling the Dr. to come to his work so he can hook him up lol. He slept the rest of the day too but had a tough recovery because of the antibiotics they gave him. It made him sick to his stomach for a whole week. I get stomach issues with certain antibiotics too so if this happens to you I would suggest talking to the oral surgeon before hand so he can give you something your stomach can handle. Besides the antibiotic thing, his mouth healed just fine. I heard horror stories about dry sockets and face swelling but neither happened to us.

Good Luck!

Re: Oral Surgery

Thanks Liza! Dr. Panossian is the oral surgeon I'm using actually.

Re: Oral Surgery

I had 3 wisdom teeth pulled at once. I was NOT staying awake for that. When they put me under I felt a little swimmy for a minute (not too unlike how I felt when the earthquake hit actually), I got giggly for a second, and then next thing I know I was waking up. DH had to work, so my mom came with me so she could drive me home/go to the drugstore for me. She said I was totally wacked out on the way home, talking a mile a minute and not making any sense. I slept for about 2 hours when I got home. For the next 3 days I drank milkshakes and ate mashed potatoes (aka heaven for me! ).

Pain-wise it wasn't so bad for me afterwards. I didn't need the vicodin they prescribed me, only the extra strength motrin (I think it was motrin, not 100% sure ). My brother just had oral surgery and he needed the vicodin for about a day and then switched down to a regular pain reliever.

If you DO need the vicodin, only take it as needed. DH had oral surgery years ago and was taking the vicodin exactly as prescribed and ended up going through withdrawals from it when it was over.

I was PETRIFIED about getting the wisdom teeth pulled, but really the anticipation was much worse than the actual experience.

Good luck!! Try (yeah I know) not to stress too much about it!!

Re: Oral Surgery

I used Dr. Panossian 3 months ago! He was GREAT. Really. I was 6 months pregnant and soooo nervous, and so I had to be awake. It was NOTHING. I was actually mad at myself that I had waited so long to do it, and had been in pain for so long.

I needed one wisdom tooth pulled - it was already grown in so they didn't need to cut into my gum or give me stitches or anything. Basically he just pulled it out with pliers... I guess... I didn't look! But that one tooth was out in, no joke, under 15 seconds. I only had novacaine and didn't feel a thing. I was only allowed Tylenol afterwards, but didn't even need that.

I don't know what state your wisdom teeth are in, but if they are grown in, I would say it's kind of a waste to go through general anesthesia and be put out. I'm such a baby about seeing the dentist - I was told I needed this wisdom tooth out when I was 18, and waited literally 14 years to do it. I was TERRIFIED. But Dr. Panossian was great, and it was ridiculously painless and fast. I was glad I didn't get put out for it, because now I know how easy it is to pull a tooth. I need my other top wisdom tooth removed too, and I'm going to go back to him to have it done soon after I give birth. I'll have the option for general anesthesia then, but will just take novacaine again.

Good luck!

Re: Oral Surgery

Posted by mlny

I have to have three teeth pulled (two wisdom and one molar) and I am absolutely PETRIFIED. It's insane. I was less scared about my c-section.

I am THE worst dental patient so I think it would be best if I get put under.. But I'm not sure. I'm seriously so afraid I'll never wake up! SO stupid, I know. But I've never been put completely under before.

I'd like to be completely prepared for what to expect.. so if you could share your stories.. the good the bad and the ugly.

How does it feel when you're being put to sleep? How did you feel when you woke up? Did you puke? I am so scared of puking!

Or did you stay awake for the procedure? I'd like to hear about that too! Thanks

Re: Oral Surgery

I've had 2 out with and 2 out without. With is definitely better (but to be honest, the without one was corkscrew and difficult and a not nice dentist)

you feel like it lasts for a few minutes.

I didn't puke (until later that night with the codeine), but when I woke up, I was hysterically sobbing and i didn't know why. They say that's typical for women.

just have someone video tape you!


After wards get a fribble from friendly's (not a milk shake) but use a spoon to eat it, not the straw. The coolness helps!

Message edited 8/23/2011 11:10:44 PM.

Re: Oral Surgery

Re: Oral Surgery

I have had all of my wisdom teeth and a couple of molars removed without being knocked out. I just got a few shots and had them done. Even the one wisdom tooth that was severely impacted. I don't like the feeling of being knocked out and I suffer from heart palpitations so I don't want to risk anything.. It really isn't bad.. I take my ipod and as soon as they numb me up, I put it on and the next thing I know it is done...

Re: Oral Surgery

I am chicken sh!t when it comes to pain. Poke me in the arm and I almost cry! I had one wisdom tooth removed in '02 and the other 3 in '08. It really really was not too bad! I went under both times and woke up laughing both times!!! The first one was about 10 minutes, the second about 15 minutes. All I remember was laying down on the chair, getting a needle in my arm (that hurt but I hate needles!), and then closing my eyes. Next thing I know I'm in another room and laughing.

Recovery wasn't too bad. I don't really remember the first one but the last one, I didn't eat anything solid for 2 days. Just soup and yogurt. I just needed ice for the first half day after surgery. Pain meds helped too!

Good luck!

Re: Oral Surgery

I had a a molar and a wisdom tooth on the same side pulled on the same day.
I was more afraid of going out then the procedure so I stayed awake for it.
The worst part was the needles- they had to give me quite a few needles to really numb everything. The one that hurt the worst was the one on the underside of my gum- but it only hurt for a second or two and was over.

The procedure itself wasn't as bad as I played it up to be for weeks (I was a basket case for weeks over this!) You feel nothing- just pressure. A lot of pulling and pushing. You hear the tooth cracking too so if you can bring an IPOD I would. I think the THOUGHT of what is going on is the worst of it- if you can keep your mind elsewhere it is not bad at all.

My recovery was a snap- I didn't take the prescription pain killers- just motrin.
I was back at work the next day.

You will be fine- I am a HUGE baby and I made it through and even I said it wasn't so bad !

I don't regret my decision to stay awake- I saw people there who were coming out of the drugs and they could barely walk and stand up on their own.
I was able to drive immediately afterward and go on with my day... no woozy feeling, no dizziness, no sickness etc.
It was much more pleasant for me that way.

Message edited 8/24/2011 8:28:15 AM.

Re: Oral Surgery

I've had all four wisdom teeth taken out (one time just one, the second I had the other 3 taken out). I was put under both times.
I love the feeling of being put under. It actually feels really cool to me The feeling lasts about 5 seconds and I was OUT.

When I woke up the first time I was hysterical crying. My dad was there trying to calm me down. I was trying to get the nurse to give me my tooth back

The second time I woke up I was laughing hysterically.

I would just make sure somewhere is there with you when you wake up since you can sometimes be very disoriented.

Re: Oral Surgery

I had to get three wisdom teeth removed, one was impacted.

I walked in and got an IV in my arm for "twilight." I was asleep and had the MOST AMAZING DREAMS EVER!!!!! If I fought to open my eyes, I could and was somewhat are of what was going on but felt NO anxiety and chose to just drift off to a wonderful land LOL

I woke up with a mouthful of gauze. I had a very emotional reaction to the anasthesia and cried for a little bit but felt better by the time I got home.

I was in pain for 3 days, but not TOO bad - I slept a lot.

You will be fine!!