debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Jun 22, 2016 18:47:12 GMT -5
I very recently found out that DS3 needs all 4 wisdom teeth out. I'm not thrilled because although thank Gd it's rare, sometimes there are problems. All things being equal, would you prefer to do 2 teeth under local, twice, at the oral surgeon's office, or all 4 at the same time under general at a clinic? Some comments: - I'm not crazy, I'm going to listen to the oral surgeon, we have an appt next week. But I know it's generally either 2 X 2 under local or all 4 under general, like most oral surgeons here. - My DS1 didn't need his out, until he did ... when he was 28, and living and working in the Stans. Haha! - My DD got hers out (under local, 2 X 2.) I HATED the Oral Surgeon our ortho recommended. I would have refused to go back to him but thankfully our ortho doesn't work w him anymore. I wondered why but didn't ask. - I didn't much love her new one either ... she won't see patients until the day she pulls their wisdom teeth out. Her assistant does the preliminary appts. No thanks. - So I'm going to my dentist friend's oral surgeon instead. I totally trust my dentist friend, and both he and his assistant of 25 years have total faith in their oral surgeon. (It's a dental practice with 4 or 5 dentists with different specialities.) - DS3 has some health issues. He is physically more "fragile" than most people. But he has has surgery in the past. It's just more worrisome with him than with another kid, and Lord knows any kid having surgery is worrisome enough. - If you're wondering, I did not take DS3 (or any of my other kids) to the ortho in my friend's practice because it is much further than the local ortho, who I like immensely (although I'm not thrilled w her referrals). And I've been going to the orthodontist for 18 years LOL. Last week was the last time! Thoughts? Like I said, I will obviously not make any medical decisions based on your comments, but I'm curious to see how people manage the 2X2 under local / all 4 under general question. ETA: Going to the not-local orthodontist every month (at least) for 18 years would have been an issue. Going to the not-local oral surgeon for this is obviously not an issue.
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andi9899
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Post by andi9899 on Jun 22, 2016 18:51:40 GMT -5
All 4 under general. All day long. I couldn't put mine through that twice. Nor could I make them hear all the grinding and crunching of them breaking the teeth up. That would be horrible.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Jun 22, 2016 18:54:43 GMT -5
Nor could I make them hear all the grinding and crunching of them breaking the teeth up.
There was none of that for DD. But it's true, it was still really hard to take her back for the second 2. Why all the grinding and crunching?! DS3 is 18 so he will probably make the final decision but I'm hoping to persuade him to do the safest option. Thanks!
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Jun 22, 2016 18:59:20 GMT -5
All 4 under general. Get it done.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Jun 22, 2016 19:00:26 GMT -5
I didn't need mine out until I was an adult and I did 2 at a time. I don't remember grinding and crunching, but maybe that was the drugs?
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Jun 22, 2016 19:00:44 GMT -5
I sense sensed a consensus here ... the general scares me witless. But he has had general in the past.
My "gut feeling" is 2 X 2 but I know that's because I want to avoid the general, in part because of his health issues.
I had my 4 taken out 1 X 1, under local. Once in an emergency situation (former, CRAPPY dentist), and then 3 with this one, who said it was one at a time at my age (late 50s) because of risk of infection.
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Jun 22, 2016 19:03:38 GMT -5
Something to note, I just saw a story on how frequently opiates prescribed to teens after wisdom tooth extraction leads to addiction.
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Sharon
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Post by Sharon on Jun 22, 2016 19:04:12 GMT -5
For DD we did all 4 at once. We were working to fit it in around school vacations, summer jobs etc. She also requested a one and done type of deal. We were there a couple of hours, then home where she pretty much slept the rest of the day. A couple days of soft food and back at the end of the week for a checkup. It was a very smooth process. The worst part of the whole deal was getting a receipt that was acceptable to the FSA people so I could be reimbursed for the cost.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Jun 22, 2016 19:05:10 GMT -5
Wow, that's interesting Billson! I doubt it would happen here though, it's too controlled.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Jun 22, 2016 19:05:40 GMT -5
Sharon how old was your DD when she had it done?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 19:09:33 GMT -5
I did 2X1, extracting them as needed. There is still one lodged up there. I waited too long, though, on the bottom teeth, which are 2X2. All of mine were removed as adults in the 30-something range. The 1 abscessed, and I actually did it as a local with me fully conscious because I had no one to drive me home. It hurt so bad that it was a relief. Lol.
My daughter did all four at one time during high school. It was fine. I don't remember my son ever having his done although he may have as an adult like me.
I would do them all at once personally. I am very sorry no one thought to look more closely. I wore braces for YEARS and have a bottom tooth almost completely behind the rest of my teeth. It is very embarrassing. Like I said, it was too late. I could have gotten braces (I checked into it), but I would have had to wear headgear in my 30s. Really?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 19:09:44 GMT -5
All 4 general. It was so fast.
We didn't use anything but over the counter after. Glad that's all he needed.
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Happy prose
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Post by Happy prose on Jun 22, 2016 19:12:21 GMT -5
My daughter had hers done before she left for college. All four at the oral surgeon, with local and the gas. She said it wasn't bad at all. She came home with vicodin, slept that day. The following day she stayed home and only took tylenol, third day back to school. She did the ice packs as instructed, and had no swelling by day two.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 19:13:37 GMT -5
Yes I think ice packs as instructed was important.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Jun 22, 2016 19:15:00 GMT -5
SS, the same thing happened to me, I had an abscess. My former crappy dentist pulled one.
It's a long story but DD was in Cali for an internship. She had a toothache, a friend took her to his Dad who was a dentist. He fixed her tooth at no charge, and told her, I'll ask you just one thing in exchange ... you need to tell your mom to change dentists, yesterday.
I took / sent the kids to another friend who is less close but more local, but I went to the closer friend further away.
I see that the vast majority are suggesting all 4 under general. I'm definitely more open to that now than I was when I started this thread.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jun 22, 2016 19:15:35 GMT -5
I only had my two upper grow in and be pulled. But I would recommend all 4 be pulled at the same time.
But if you do decide with two at a time, have the uppers pulled first. Pulling the lowers first will result not only in tempory pain in the area of the teeth being pulled area but a very sore jaw from all the yanking of the teeth. Less jerking around with the uppers..
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Jun 22, 2016 19:16:56 GMT -5
My son is "debatable" on whether or not he needs his done (he wants to wait to know for sure). I still have mine with extra room, so if he can keep his, cool.
I would want to do all four and be done with it, even with general, but that's me not having to deal with the extra issues.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Jun 22, 2016 19:20:34 GMT -5
Happy prose wow that would be perfect LOL!
Apparently this man does that too, but only if all 4 are very easily accessible, and we know from the Xray that unfortunately one is not. That would be perfect!
There are time constraints here too (sort of, no life or death situations). He is leaving for vacation with a friend's family in mid July, DS1 is getting married early Sept, he is going to college in late Sept, and NOTHING happens here in France in Aug. So after hesitating, we decided it was best to deal with it in earlyish July. Apparently the oral surgeon can do it in that time frame, either under local in his practice or under general in the clinic.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Jun 22, 2016 19:22:37 GMT -5
My son is "debatable" on whether or not he needs his done (he wants to wait to know for sure).
That was us until a few weeks ago. I have always said I refuse to get them extracted "just in case", but now we know for a fact they need extracting.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jun 22, 2016 19:24:10 GMT -5
I did all four at once with local. I don't recall grinding and crunching. The top two came out in less than a minute. Bottom two took a bit longer because they came in sideways.
I was fine. I am far more terrified of having an adverse reaction to anathesia than I am of having my teeth pulled. Lowered the bill by almost a grand too.
DH had twilight sleep and thinks I am insane.
I had a sore jaw but that was it. My advice is follow post care instructions religiously it helps.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Jun 22, 2016 19:29:09 GMT -5
Drama this is really my hope, that he can do all 4 under local. But it's unlikely, because the xray shows that one is not very accessible.
I not only had mine pulled one at a time, I drove myself home! But it was definitely unpleasant.
I totally agree about following the post-care instructions religiously. But I'll be off when he does it, so I'm not worried about that (or about feeding him).
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plugginaway22
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Post by plugginaway22 on Jun 22, 2016 19:29:10 GMT -5
All 3 of our kiddos got them all out at one time (4 pulled under general anesthesia). All before they were about 18 years old. Only one had issues the next week with a painful 'dry socket' and had to go back for I think re-packing of the 'hole' that was left. Fun times...I remember making milk shakes in our blender.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Jun 22, 2016 19:36:28 GMT -5
Thanks everybody! I guess I'm less reluctant about the general than I was.
I need to go to bed now but I'll respond to any more comments tomorrow.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Jun 22, 2016 19:37:33 GMT -5
I second DQ on following post removal instructions. My college roommate got dry sockets. I was super paranoid about rinsing after that.
All four of mine came out under general. That was the sixth time I went under. My dentist refused to touch them. My mouth is very small and crowded. My jaw will also lock up badly.
When I had some veneers done later on he had to be very careful and massage my jaw frequently.
I might have got a prescription for narcotics. I don't remember. I do remember using the 600mg ibuprofen. I slept the rest of the day and ate soft stuff for a week or so.
I know there's a risk with general but I've always tolerated it well. I would think the five times I was put under by the time I was four would have been riskier than any of the three as an adult.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Jun 22, 2016 20:14:24 GMT -5
Wow I'm amazed at some of theses stories! WVUgirl, wow, so many ops, so young!
I also just sent an email to DS3's specialist to ask her for her opinion. The last time DS3 needed general, she arranged for him to have day surgery rather than having him stay overnight, because she said he'd be better off back home with us, as long as one of us slept in the same room that night. (I did.)
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travelnut11
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Post by travelnut11 on Jun 22, 2016 20:30:48 GMT -5
How is your son with dental work in general? Is he a nervous type or generally cool with it? That could make a difference. I only had two (both impacted) and had them taken out under local when I was 20. The worst thing that happened is that at first he didn't get enough anesthesia on one tooth but he figured that out quickly and all was well. It was really no big deal but I had had braces for 5 years so was accustomed to people digging around in my mouth. The surgeon told me I was the calmest patient he had ever had. I had heard to avoid general if at all possible in case you have a bad reaction so that's what I did. I personally think having 4 done at once would've been fine but again I have no issues with dental work so I think it depends on the person.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Jun 22, 2016 20:41:10 GMT -5
He's pretty good with dental work and health issues in general but like you, I have heard to avoid general if possible, and that was how I was leaning.
I really need to go to bed now, thanks so much everyone! I'll be back tomorrow, I really appreciate all your posts!
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Jun 22, 2016 20:44:22 GMT -5
I was planning on starting a similar thread titled "Wisdom Teeth Extraction: the New C-Section?". Both kids have been told to have their wisdom teeth removed. Neither has any pain. Both have some medical issues that make general anesthesia more risky than typical, and both have requested to not go under IF they have them removed. I will NOT use the oral surgeon the dentist recommended. YDS had 2 extra teeth that needed to be removed before he got braces put on. The oral surgeon screwed up and only saw and only pulled one, and, he lied to an anxious 8-year-old YDS about when he was going to pull it. So, now I have a kid who "needs" 5 teeth pulled but doesn't want any of them even touched by this guy. I was thinking of having it done at Boston Children's Hospital. I figure they can handle the underlying medical conditions far better than any suburban oral surgeon. But, I am still on the fence...
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Jun 22, 2016 20:56:57 GMT -5
All four under general, no question. I was in, I was out, no big deal. I had some soreness after but I never needed my pain killers. I was eating soft foods with no problem shortly after getting them out.
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taz157
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Post by taz157 on Jun 22, 2016 21:04:33 GMT -5
All four under general, no question. I was in, I was out, no big deal. I had some soreness after but I never needed my pain killers. I was eating soft foods with no problem shortly after getting them out. Yeah that! I was 19 when I had it done during spring break. My mom and BF (now DH) laughed themselves silly when I was starting to talk more on the way home (I was seeing double which went away for a bit and I wouldn't stop taking once I did start to talk). With my DD when the time happens in many years (she's currently almost 5), I would have all 4 done at the same time. FWIW, I would talk to your DS's Doctor about being under due to hah health issues. If he says its okay, then do all 4. Your DS would get it done and over with all at 1 time.
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