Medical question: wisdom teeth Update post 47

[zibazinski]

I actually don't know. Mine never hurt and
Neither did DSs but me and my kids are wisdom free now. I really enjoyed typing that.

[souldoubt]

Impacted wisdom teeth are teeth that don't have enough room to come out naturally and in the case of some don't come through because they don't get through the bone.  My lower wisdom teeth were from what I was told by the oral surgeon some of the worst impacted teeth he had seen while my upper wisdom teeth weren't impacted.  I got the lower ones removed maybe 10 years ago and the uppers last month because every time I got my teeth cleaned and they took an x-ray the tech said she could see my teeth moving because the upper wisdom teeth were pushing on them.  

[TheOtherMe]

Jul 28, 2014 10:32:43 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

Jul 27, 2014 19:15:11 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I had my wisdom teeth pulled years ago.  All four at once because I am a chicken.  

I think I had the laughing gas type of anesthetic.  I was told to have a driver.  We stopped on the way home and to fill a prescription for percocet, which I took for 3 days.  

Ditto.  Except I don't remember what my scrip was for beyond a painkiller.  I had mine done on a Friday and spent the weekend sleeping on my Mom's couch.    I'd wake up, go to the bathroom, eat and say hello to everyone.  Take the next round of pills and go back to sleep for another 4-8 hours. 

I did have cavities in a couple of wisdom teeth - my dentist did temporary fillings on them until I got them removed a few years later.  I don't remember pain before or after the removal but my dentist didn't want to deal with them so he sent me off to someone else.  I'm a wimp so I paid to go under (insurance covered local only)

ETA - I knew damn well I wasn't going to go back later to have the rest dealt with so we did all 4 at once. 

Pretty much my memory and I knew I'd never go back.  No insurance back then either, so I was paying for it myself.  

I had something for the procedure because I had to have a driver.  Since I lived alone, next door neighbor checked on me and was even kind enough to fix some food because she found the stove left on when she came to check.  She decided I wasn't capable of fixing my own soup or pudding.  She made up a bunch of pudding so I didn't have to cook.  

Sweet neighbors and a good friend took care of me.  

[Deleted]

I thought an impacted tooth was one that never broke the gum but I could be wrong. 

Somebody (Drama) mentioned the dentist getting their wisdom tooth out in less than 5 min? Mine took about 90 seconds (although it seemed like forever LOL.)

My next dental appt was scheduled for Wed morning. DS3 just got an important last-minute medical appt for Wed morning so I postponed my dentist appt. It's now scheduled for Wed afternoon.

ETA: I've just realized that both DS3 and I need my "health insurance card" for our Wed appts. Not sure how feasible that is, since they are 1.5h drive apart. If it's not feasible, I wlll cancel my appt (not his), and you'll all have to wait until Sept. You may be frustrated, but frankly, I will be relieved LOL.

ETA: DS3 turned 16 in May so legally, he should now have his own health insurance card, but I haven't done the paperwork for it yet. I've been too busy doing his French nationality papers. It's freaking endless!!!

[Tennesseer]

Jul 28, 2014 19:49:55 GMT -5 @debthaven2 said:

I thought an impacted tooth was one that never broke the gum but I could be wrong. 

Somebody (Drama) mentioned the dentist getting their wisdom tooth out in less than 5 min? Mine took about 90 seconds (although it seemed like forever LOL.)

When my dad pulled my two uppers, ìt probably took three minutes total.  He was pulling and yanking pretty hard.

[Deleted]

Tennesseer, OUCH! I wish he'd have yanked less hard LOL.

I was petrified. My dentist (rightly) said it won't hurt (after the local), but it will sound AWFUL, because you will "hear" it from both inside and outside at the same time as I'm prying it out. THANK GD he did not need to yank it, he just pried it out!

As I've mentioned before, he is a very close friend of a very close friend, and also DH's dentist. I had to drive DH to and from his many dental appts after his accident (DH lost a few teeth in the accident) so I got to know him better. Now we are close so he does this "I'm so so sorry Debthaven" thing while patting me on my shoulder and drilling / trimming / pulling out my teeth LOL. 

[Tennesseer]

@debthaven2-I am not sure if you ever said your two wisdom teeth were uppers, lowers, or one of each.  My two were uppers, therefore, easier to extract.

Extracting lowers are harder because they are part of your jaw.  And your jaw gets a real, hard workout when having them pulled.  Your uppers are secured in your head and you neck muscles can help keep your head still and from moving all around.  It's easier for the patient to work with the dentist when it is your upper teeth.

I was 29 when my dad pulled my wisdom teeth.  My dad gave me multiple shots of novocaine.  After each set of shots, he would use his pick and ask me if I could feel it.  When I said yes, he gave me another set of novocaine shots.  I had asked him to tell me when he was going to start pulling.  He said he would tell me.

So he comes back in a few minutes later with his pick and asked me if I could feel it.  With a mouth now numbed by novocaine, I garbled out, no I could not feel it.  All of a sudden he was yanking the two teeth out.  It was over very quickly.

I asked him why he did not tell me he was going to begin pulling and that he lied to me.  He told me he lied to all the little kids.

[Deleted]

Jul 27, 2014 14:40:31 GMT -5 Peace77 said:

No, I only had local anesthetic.  The dentist usually prescribes enough pain medication for 3-7 days, not a month.  I've never had general anesthesia or laughing gas for dental work.

.

You guys don 't have very generous dentists! I had surgery under general anaesthetic (dig out a decaying molar that had been root-canalled, which sometimes means it fuses to the jawbone, insert implants and bone grafts into that space and the adjacent one). I got a prescription for. 25 Hydrocodones - refillable! I needed only a couple of ibuprofen. I threw out the prescription.

[Deleted]

Tenn sorry your dad was wrong but I'm sure you understand that it was just easier for him to do that. 

Two uppers for me. In France they will take out two at a time but only if they are on the same side. So, no luck for me LOL.

ETA: I did say so where's the laughing gas?! He said I'm not certified for it, it's too much of a PITA. 

[Tennesseer]

Jul 28, 2014 21:33:58 GMT -5 @debthaven2 said:

Tenn sorry your dad was wrong but I'm sure you understand that it was just easier for him to do that. 

Two uppers for me. In France they will take out two at a time but only if they are on the same side. So, no luck for me LOL.

ETA: I did say so where's the laughing gas?! He said I'm not certified for it, it's too much of a PITA. 

I laughed at his comment.  I wasn't mad at all.  And dad was smiling when he said it.  He said it affectionally.  

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

Jul 28, 2014 20:54:01 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

@debthaven2-I am not sure if you ever said your two wisdom teeth were uppers, lowers, or one of each.  My two were uppers, therefore, easier to extract.

Extracting lowers are harder because they are part of your jaw.  And your jaw gets a real, hard workout when having them pulled.  Your uppers are secured in your head and you neck muscles can help keep your head still and from moving all around.  It's easier for the patient to work with the dentist when it is your upper teeth.

I was 29 when my dad pulled my wisdom teeth.  My dad gave me multiple shots of novocaine.  After each set of shots, he would use his pick and ask me if I could feel it.  When I said yes, he gave me another set of novocaine shots.  I had asked him to tell me when he was going to start pulling.  He said he would tell me.

So he comes back in a few minutes later with his pick and asked me if I could feel it.  With a mouth now numbed by novocaine, I garbled out, no I could not feel it.  All of a sudden he was yanking the two teeth out.  It was over very quickly.

I asked him why he did not tell me he was going to begin pulling and that he lied to me.  He told me he lied to all the little kids.

Your dad rocks, Tenn!  I wish he would have been my dentist during my extractions.  I haven't had my wisdom teeth out (Should have... they ruined 12 years of orthodontia work) but I had 5 other teeth extracted as a kid (3 procedures-1 baby tooth and 4 adult teeth).  

The first 2 procedures were fine but the last one went south quickly. The dentist didn't believe me when I said it hurt when he started to pull (not enough novocaine).  He kept trying to pull and I ended up screaming (I was ~10 at the time).  His response to me screaming and flailing about was to cut off my air supply by putting his hand tightly over my mouth and nose at the same time.   

When he finally let go, I threatened to sue him for malpractice.  He gave me more novocaine after that and the teeth got removed.  

Since then, I've had the pleasure of using nitrous oxide during oral surgeries to reduce the anxiety.  It has helped a lot and made my gum grafts enjoyable (The dentist for those had music playing in the background so I got to relax and "see the music" through the surgery.... ) 

[CarolinaKat]

Jul 28, 2014 19:55:32 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

Jul 28, 2014 19:49:55 GMT -5 @debthaven2 said:

I thought an impacted tooth was one that never broke the skin / gum but I could be wrong. 

Somebody mentioned the dentist getting their wisdom tooth out in less than 5 min? Mine took about 90 seconds (although it seemed like forever LOL.)

That sounds right. They can be growing straight and get stuck or grow at an angle and start pushing other teeth. 

Thanks for the answers. I guess mine's not impacted since it's not connected to anything. It's just hanging out in my gum tissue.

[Tennesseer]

Jul 29, 2014 1:34:12 GMT -5 Mardi Gras Audrey said:

Jul 28, 2014 20:54:01 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Your dad rocks, Tenn!  I wish he would have been my dentist during my extractions.  I haven't had my wisdom teeth out (Should have... they ruined 12 years of orthodontia work) but I had 5 other teeth extracted as a kid (3 procedures-1 baby tooth and 4 adult teeth).  

The first 2 procedures were fine but the last one went south quickly. The dentist didn't believe me when I said it hurt when he started to pull (not enough novocaine).  He kept trying to pull and I ended up screaming (I was ~10 at the time).  His response to me screaming and flailing about was to cut off my air supply by putting his hand tightly over my mouth and nose at the same time.   

When he finally let go, I threatened to sue him for malpractice.  He gave me more novocaine after that and the teeth got removed.  

Since then, I've had the pleasure of using nitrous oxide during oral surgeries to reduce the anxiety.  It has helped a lot and made my gum grafts enjoyable (The dentist for those had music playing in the background so I got to relax and "see the music" through the surgery.... ) 

Prior to getting braces, my dad had to pull two upper First Premolars to make room for the rest of the teeth movement.  With a bit of novocaine, they came out pretty painlessly.

Funny thing about having a dad for a dentist-it does not bother me for trips to the dentist today.  It is a non-event to have work done.  

Now going to the doctor is another story.  I dread those visits.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Somebody (Drama) mentioned the dentist getting their wisdom tooth out in less than 5 min?

The top two came out in probably less than a minute. They came in properly though so he was able to cleanly remove them.

The bottom two came in sideways and were a lot harder to get out. He had to break them in half and remove them in pieces. Then on my right side he ended up needing to take some jaw fragments as well since there was decay. So those two took longer.

[Deleted]

I had the other wisdom tooth out today. I arrived and announced that I think it's probably better not to do it today, and the dentist announced that he definitely thought it WAS better to do it today LOL. 

It did NOT go as smoothly as the first one. The dentist had trouble getting it out. It took about 3-4 minutes, and I needed a stitch, and I'm under antibiotics.

I've been taking large doses of Tylenol but I wish I had asked for something stronger. I'm feeling better now (it was done about 9h ago) but I was very miserable for hours afterwards, and this one bled much more than the first one. 

He said the other side is healing very nicely. I have to go back on Monday (his last day at work for 3 weeks) to see how the this side is healing and to get the stitch out. He assured me that if there was a problem, we'd know by Monday, but that he's around until Thursday and he would definitely be available for me if there was a problem. 

I asked him about rinsing ... he said absolutely to rinse two or three times a day with a prescription mouthwash, but not for the first 24h, so not till tomorrow evening. 

ETA: I have August off from the dental work, thank goodness! I've had a weekly appt since mid-April, every single week except for one when he was away. 

[sapphire12]

Take care debt. Agree, if you need a stronger script, get it. It's the 21st century.

[Deleted]

Sroo, Sapphire, to be honest, I tried, but he had already left for the day. His kids / grandkids are in from New Zealand so he's been leaving earlier than usual. His admin asked me if she should call him at home and I said no. I also have his cell but we aren't that close and I didn't want to take advantage. 

DH has strong pain meds left over from his accident and he put one out for me. If it gets worse again I'll take one tonight and / or tomorrow night, I'm sure I'll be much better by Friday.   

[souldoubt]

From my experience the day of wasn't the worst it's the day after that I felt like someone hit my face with a baseball bat.  Thank god for norco and ibuprofen.  

[busymom]

Debt, I'm glad for you that the extractions are done! Sleep well tonight, & feel better soon.

[Deleted]

Ouch Soul LOL. I'll take DH's meds, I'm not going to suffer. I would have taken them earlier but they have Tylenol and I'd already taken 2 Tylenols.

I've "cleared the decks" so I have no commitments until Fri night. 

I will still need another 8-10 appts but we've done the lion's share, and the hardest parts, BY FAR. But it's been almost like a PT job (except I don't get paid for it LOL). I'm not sure I can handle weekly appts during the school year.

The dentist suggested either scheduling the appts every other week, or doing one month on and one month off, so I'm thinking about it. I am also tempted to just bite the bullet and continue with weekly appts.

I have until Monday to decide (at least for Sept).

[Deleted]

Also, Zib, he said the same thing ... no swishing, just rinse and spit. 

[sapphire12]

Glad you are feeling better.  Hope you continue to mend.

I must admit, I've had flashbacks to the pain of my wisdom trying to come in after reading this thread and they couldn't because there wasn't enough room. I'm surprised I'm not addicted to Anbesol. Ironically, I still had baby teeth at 12, but all my wisdom teeth thought they should make an appearance right after hs graduation. Sheesh. Spring break of my freshman year, I went to the dentist. I had x-rays. The dentist said, my jaw is too small. This really should not have been a surprise as I had to have permanent teeth removed before I had braces. Four more gone and I've been good ever since. Whew.

Good luck moving forward.

[Sunnyday]

 I always thought that you got your wisdom teeth out when you were in your late teens. That was what everyone I knew growing up did. I didn't know that people got them out so late in life.

Mine got infected. they were a really bad case of impacted teeth on my lower jaw. The sockets were so deep that food collected in there for months. I had to take a syringe and flush the sockets out with water until all the food particles (and it was a lot of food, like enough for a mouse) got out.

You should get a syringe to flush it out after it heals a bit. You don't want bits of decaying food in your pockets, because no amount of swishing will get it out. YMMV

[TheOtherMe]

Most of my friends got their wisdom teeth out when we were in high school.  My dentist never suggested it, so it didn't happen until I was an adult and got to pay for it myself.

[TheOtherMe]

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