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Wisdom Teeth
Anyone have experience with wisdom teeth?
Well, my appointment for getting my wisdom teeth surgically removed is on August 2nd. No, my wisdom teeth have not sprouted, they're still hidden inside of my gums. I'd kind of like to know what to expect. I don't want to be too freaked out but then again I don't want to be unprepared. If you or someone you know has gotten their wisdom teeth out, could you please tell me the procedures before, during, and after? I'm not too worried about the after, I know it will be painful, but I can deal with it...just not the before and during. Don't give me a website, I've already done my share of researching, I just want to hear from real people that have experienced it. Here are some questions buzzing around in my head and I would be VERY GRATEFUL if these are answered:
- Will I get a shot for anesthesia? Knowing my dentist...I don't think I will get sleeping gas. Many people say they just got sleeping gas. My last bad experience at the dentist was when I had my four permanent teeth removed. And for that they gave me shots. Boy did it hurt. I still remember my eyes watering from the pain and the blood squirting...I am really scared of shots.
- How do they keep your mouth open? My brother said they stuck a big block into his mouth. Eek. I'm not to comfortable with that either. I have pretty bad gag reflexes.
- How can I keep the empty sockets that will be there after it's all done clean? I heard about salt and water?
- Any foods you would recommend? I know I'm going to miss eating "real" food.
Thank you VERY much for your help. It really does ease my nerves a little.
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I got my wisdom teeth out last summer...exactly a year ago on aug. 2nd too! I had them surgically removed at an office. I didn't have sleeping gas or anything like that but the put a needle in my arm & shot some sort of anesthetic in it to put me to sleep. Which I felt really dizzy at first & then I was out. I have no idea how they kept my mouth open...if you're asleep, you won't even know it. Because then I woke up an hour later and went to a really dark room and slept some more.
I couldn't eat or drink anything for the rest of the night because my entire mouth & tongue were numb. Dry sockets won't be a problem as long as you keep rinsing your mouth. They give you a syringe to put water in to rinse out the back of your mouth. After that first day, you will probably swell up like a chipmunk...I also had bruises on the sides of my cheeks but thats because I'm so fair-skinned.
As for other foods, I don't think you'll have a problem...as long as you rinse after you eat so the food isn't caught. Don't be nervous! Its not the greatest thing to experience but I'm sure it could be worse.
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The anesthetic you get usually depends on the severity of the tooth problem and preexisting medical conditions, as well as personal choice. If your wisdom teeth are VERY messed up, you will be forced to take a general anesthetic (that renders you unconscious). That's what I had, and my recount will reflect that.
If you have to do general anesthetic, you won't be able to eat anything after a certain time of night. You'll go in, have your vitals taken, etc. They make you or your parent sign a waiver about the anesthesia risks. You will also get an IV with a saline drip, or something similar. Don't worry, that's just so the IV is ready when you need it. After everything's taken care of, and you're ready for treatment, they'll do last preparations. Asthmatics get breathing treatments (I did), and then the anesthetsiologist will give you some form of sedative, for me it was Versed. This relaxes you so it's easier to put you out and intubate you. Versed feels really crappy, but you'll only feel it for a few minutes.
You'll be wheeled into the OR (you can take plushies usually! they put them by your feet!), and given the general. Then you're out like a light. Once you're out, they put a tube down your throat so you can breath. This is intubation.
I don't know any details from that until after you wake up.
When you wake up, expect to be very groggy, and very sore. Your mouth will probably hurt, and your throat will feel as if its' on fire due to the intubation. It will be hard to open your eyes, and harder to talk or write. You'll be fairly aware, but your mouth and hands won't cooperate with you. Ask for ice chips. They'll help your throat.
After that, they'll let you wake up a bit, make you eat some food (I got sherbert), and then ship you home. Sleep in the car. Then go home and sleep. Don't try to read until you've been home for at least three hours and slept for at least two of 'em.
If you suddenly feel like you're panicking, like you're going to die or can't breathe, don't worry; panic attacks are a rare but normal side effeect of anesthetic. You can go to the doctor and get a mild sedative of this, or you can pray it away. Seriously. Focusing on a repetitive prayer, mantra, or verse will keep you under control until the attack subsides. Memorize a poem, a bible verse, or something, and recite it over and over if you start to panic until you come down.
That probably won't happen to you though. It's very rare and I have a neurotic disposition to begin with.
As for keeping your mouth clean, they should give you a syringe to use. First you use peroxide in it, then water. Just squirt it gently into the holes.
Don't use straws. They cause PAINFUL dry sockets.
For food, you will live on ice cream, yogurt, whipped cream, cheez wiz, and mashed potatoes. And soup. Don't suck on anything, AND DON'T EAT DAIRY FOR BREAKFAST. For the love of CHAOS, DON'T EAT DAIRY FOR BREAKFAST. If you're even slightly lactose intolerant, it will be miserable.
Also, soda is your friend. Sure, it may rot your other teeth, but it'll help keep your blood sugar up and keep you from losing too much weight. I lost ten pounds in eight days when I had my surgery, and nearly fainted when I went back to school.
And take it slow. It may take a long time, but you WILL feel better.
If my warnings seem a little bleak, I must warn you that I had a particularly severe scenario--my bottom teeth were dangerously close to nerves and my top wisdom teeth had broken into my sinus cavity. Your case probably won't be as bad. Consider my warnings a "worst case scenario."
Just do what the doctor tells you, take your medication, and don't push yourself too hard. You'll be fine.
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I just got my wisdom teeth out in March, so I'll be able to help you out on this one. My teeth were hidden inside of my gums too. First, they'll probably take some pictures of your teeth, just so they know how to pull your teeth out and such. Then you'll have a choice if you want to be put asleep or have your mouth frozen. I took the frozen one and I didn't feel one thing. The needle really isn't all that bad. It really doesn't hurt at all. It's just like a little pick and then it's over. Then all they do is cut open your gums and take your teeth out with some tool that I didn't get to see. Next, they just stitch you back up or glue your gums that they have cut. My dentist glued my teeth, since this is the new type of "stitch" out. I don't know if he/she will do that to you or not, depends on the dentist I guess. After you are all ready and they fix you all up, they'll give you some pills that you have to take. These pills will keep your face from getting huge and will help keep the pain down. Here are some of the answers to the questions that you asked; They keep your mouth open by this little type of mental thing. It just slides in your mouth and it allows it to open and stay open so the dentist can see inside. Believe me, I've had gagging experience's too, but I didn't gag for this one. I'm sure you'll be fine. Once they stitch you up, they'll tell you what you have to do. You have to wash your mouth out everytime you eat. It's important so you don't get any kind of infections. Foods that I recommend would be a lot of milk shakes; I lived off of them, since I wasn't able to eat "real" food for a good mouth. Also noodles and Kraft dinner is good. Anything that is soft and you really don't have to chew. Good luck on everything hun!
♥ Krissy
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You will most likely be put under with anesthesia during the procedure. Since it's a surgical procedure, they may put an IV in and administer the meds that way. Talk to your oral surgeon before the procedure about anesthesia and tell him/her about your previous bad experience. If they know ahead of time, they can make adjustments for your comfort.
Sometimes they do stick things in your mouth to keep it open. If you have a sensitive gag reflex, discuss it with the oral surgeon before-hand so he can take that into consideration.
A salt water gargle will keep the area clean. Gently brushing can also help. The oral surgeon will give you a list of things after the procedure that you should and shouldn't do as well as how to care for the area.
Soft items such as mashed potatoes, soft vegetables, rice, very tender cuts of meat, and soups are all options for food. Try to avoid foods with seeds or kernels since they're more likely to get stuck in the hole. If you have no complications, you'll be back to "real food" within the week.
I hope this helps settle your anxiety.
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I personally didn't get it done so I'm not sure how much I can help with. But my sister got them removed while they were still in her gums (Same as you I suppose) And she was put to sleep. You don't get it done at your actual dentists office. At least my sister Emily didn't. She went to a "dental hospital" thats just what I call it, I don't know if there's a real name for it, but it's where any dental surgeory like things are done. Such as moving a jaw, removing wisdom teeth, and so on.
Anyway, her dental surgeon (sp?)put her to sleep, she missed a few days of school too. I know right after she woke up she threw up. But that's normal. Your mouth will definitly be sore afterwords, so I reccommend finding some good pain reliever medicines that your dentist says you can use (just in case there are certain ones you shouldn't use)
But I'll answer your questions, at least I'll try, remember I didn't personally get them done, only my sister so this is the best I have...
1.) Since you say you don't think you'll be put to sleep then YES you will get a shot of something to make it numb or anything like that. Like I said I didn't get the exact surgeory, but a few months ago I had to get gum removed from my mouth because my teeth were too small so I got some of my gums cut, and I was expecting it to be something I'd maybe get put to sleep for, I was even told I should miss a few days of school for it (by the dental surgeon guy) but he numbed me very well, and I ended up wanting to go to school the next day. But I was numbed when I had gum removed from my mouth (and you will too since your teeth are under your gums)
Also if there was ANY pain last time you should've told your dentist, if I feel that I'm not numbed enough my dentist tells me to say something, and as scared as I am of shots (you should here some of the hilarious stories of what I've done) but I'd rather get the shots of numbnest than the pain, but I've had teeth pulled before (never permanent, my teeth just weren't coming out fast enough) anywho, I was numbed at it didn't hurt, but yours will be painful, I won't lie....Thats about all I can give for question number one
2) Well all I know about keeping mouths open is when I got my braces on they put something in my mouth that kept my tongue away from my teeth, and that whole gag thing, sounds just like me, I have aweful gag reflexes, I can't even stand getting strep tests when they swab your throat I feel like barfing (sorry about the too much info factor haha) Anyway, they usually do put something in your mouth, but as for the thing they put in my mouth with braces, well if I tried I could close my mouth, but anyway, after a few minutes I got used to it. Since I never got the actual wisdom teeth pulled I'm not sure but thats all I have for that one
3) If you rinse with salt water, they should stay clean (though it'll probably hurt), but it's just disinfecting them and stuff. The dentist or whoever should tell you (or give you a list) on dos and donts, if not, ask.
4) I would reccomend popcicles, but the coldness might not feel too good. I guess soups, but only like complete liquids, like instead of chicken noodle, eat tomato soup (I don't like it, but it was the only example I had) Your dentist person should also give you a list or paper on this too.
Sorry, if my sister was home I would've just had her answer the question for you, but she's not so I did. And this info is NOT 100% accurate, it's just what I think/know from when my sister had hers done (YEARS AGO) so I might not remember correctly either. But good luck, everything should go fine!!
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It is different for every person. I was normal within a week, my sister took a month to fully recover.
Before, they usually give you an IV, oxygen, and a blanky. It gets cold, lol.
During, you'll probably be asleep.
After, you'll probably feel groggy, and your mouth will be numb. Just get lots of rest and fluids. Apply ice packs often for the first 48 hours, then heat packs after. You'll have swelling (peaks on day 2 or 3) and bruising. But nothing too horrible.
I had an IV that made me sleep. That's probably what they'll give you.
They will keep it open. I don't quite remember how...
Salt water rinses are good. They should be stitched up though, so not too many worries. Also, get a small squirt syringe thing, to help clean it.
Try yogurts, drinkable soups, anything you can manage, really. Soft pastas and rice may be good.
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i got mine pulled 3 weeks ago, it went fine. the pulled 3 . .. . i looked like a chipmink 4 a few days but it went ayaw. ADVICE: bring ice packs, rite when they finish pulling put it on your cheecks so the swelling goes down that instant. if u apply ice 2 days or so later, it dosent really make a difference so ice IMEDIATELY
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