Wisdom teeth

[JackReacher]

I'm guessing a lot of you have had your wisdom teeth pulled. Was it a good experience? Did it suck?

Did you get knocked out for the procedure? Or did you just go with the nitrous oxide? Would you choose differently if you could do it again?

How long did it take you to recover?

Anyway....just hoping to get a feel of what I should expect May 7. Fortunately, my surgery should be pretty simple. None of the teeth are in bad shape or under the gums or whatever, so they should be easy pulls. Doc said it'll take no more than 15 minutes. My biggest decision is the IV vs. N20. Not sure I want to go through the process of knocked out for something that'll take 15 minutes, but I'm also not sure if I want to be awake while they yank three teeth. Ugh. Hate it.

 

[93Devil]

I was born without wisdon teeth, but without question I would get knocked out for it.

Check your Aflac policy if you have one. That might change your decision about getting knocked out or not. $$$

 

[JackReacher]

I was born without wisdon teeth, but without question I would get knocked out for it.

Check your Aflac policy if you have one. That might change your decision about getting knocked out or not. $$$

That's the weird thing. When I talked with the dentist and he was giving me the options, he said that I should be prepared to pay a lot more to get knocked out. But when I was given the final prices, it was actually about $20 cheaper to get knocked out. My insurance pays for that, but doesn't pay for the N20.

I'm leaning toward N20. Not sure it's worth being knocked out for a 15-minute procedure. Plus, I'll be able to drive myself home afterward.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Get knocked out, and then give your wife a day off from work to drive your ass. Drink lots of milkshakes.

I had all four pulled and I was down for the count for about a day and a half.

 

[JackReacher]

Do NOT get knocked out if they're not impacted. It's as routine as can be. I was up and out that night. DO get knocked out if the sound of grinding and crunching coming from inside your skull will freak you out much.

That's the thing. They're not impacted.

 

[93Devil]

Listening to grinding, crunching and tasting blood vs. a sweet little nap.

I'll take the nap.

If you have Aflac, you might get paid to take that nap.

 

[bagelchick]

It's been 20 years since I had my wisdom teeth out---2 of them if I recall.
From what I remember, I was knocked out. I also recall that I was out for dinner that night eating spaghetti.

Good luck!

 

[playthrough]

Take the nap. Fun part is when they hook you up and you first think "hey this stuff doesn't work! I'm immune! A freak of natu zzzzzzzzzzzzzz"

 

[kingcreole]

Had mine taken out last summer. Took three valium prior to surgery and they gave me a ton of laughing gas. I recall listening to my mp3 player and toward the end of the surgery, my legs were bobbin' and weavin' to the music. I could sense when the teeth were being extracted, but I didn't feel a thing during the op.

When the gas/drugs wore off during a nap, the pain was excruciating. About as bad as my appendicitis. Luckily, the pain meds were about as powerful as anything I've ever experienced.

I hate dentists and pain. I was a wreck before the operation. But overall, it wasn't bad and I'm glad I went through it. Too be honest, the worst part of the entire experience was picking food out of the craters for the next six weeks.

I had the op on a Monday. I was back to work on Wednesday and could have gone back Tuesday.

 

[JackReacher]

Take the nap. Fun part is when they hook you up and you first think "hey this stuff doesn't work! I'm immune! A freak of natu zzzzzzzzzzzzzz"

Oh man. See, that doesn't sound fun at all to me. That freaks me out, but then again, so does being aware enough to hear all the grinding, etc. that'll be going on. I might just flip a freaking coin. Ugh.

Edit: Ohhhhhh. I could listen to my iPod during the surgery? Not a terrible idea at all. Hmmmm.... Also, the pain meds they'll give me before surgery lasts six hours, giving me plenty of time to hit up the pharmacy after so that I won't have to go without for a single second.

 

[mustangj17]

Get knocked out, and then give your wife a day off from work to drive your ass. Drink lots of milkshakes.

I had all four pulled and I was down for the count for about a day and a half.

**** yeah GET KNOCKED OUT. Why stay awake for something so unpleasant. The drugs are wonderful. Take 'em all and eat some good pudding!!!!

I had my wisdom teeth out a few years ago. It was 1/10th as painful as having my tonsils taken out.

 

[imjustagirl]

I got knocked out, but three of mine were impacted. I've posted the story elsewhere, but apparently I was crying in the waiting room, wandering aimlessly, and being ... well, the crazy girl on the knockout juice.

What I remember: Waking up after the procedure, thanking the girl at the front desk and saying "My friend's out there, does he have to come in or can you just trust me? I have no keys" and then walking out.

That knockout juice is the real ****.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I had them taken out at 8 a.m. and played in a baseball game at 4 p.m.

 

[Small Town Guy]

I didn't get knocked out or take gas but that was just my own thing; I'd rather be awake and know what's going on, because I grew up with a kook dentist. I had all four of mine yanked at once. Drove myself home. Played in my 3-on-3 intramural league at school that night. Mine went about as well as possible. No lingering pain, no dry sockets. I did have gauze in my mouth while playing hoops and it was filled with blood, which was a little gross.

 

[93Devil]

I got knocked out, but three of mine were impacted. I've posted the story elsewhere, but apparently I was crying in the waiting room, wandering aimlessly, and being ... well, the crazy girl on the knockout juice.

What I remember: Waking up after the procedure, thanking the girl at the front desk and saying "My friend's out there, does he have to come in or can you just trust me? I have no keys" and then walking out.

That knockout juice is the real ****.

 

[proudpittsburgher]

I would take the gas, that way you don't have to worry whether it will be painful or worrisome or not during the proceedure. And I don't remember pain being all that much of an issue after the surgery. I do, however, remember not being able to stop the bleeding. I read something somewhere that said you should put a teabag int he back corners of your mouth and the acid from th eteambag should stop the bleeding. If you remember nothing about what is being told to you, remember this. DO. NOT. TRY. THIS.

 

[JackReacher]

Yeah. I was told that, in my case, I should have little to no swelling, and that I shouldn't experience too much pain; some the first day, maybe a tad the second, but that's it.

60-40 for the N20.

 

[Iron_chet]

I did neither the gas or knocked out when I got one of mine out 3 years ago.

My tooth was not impacted so my dentist said that they could do it in the office in the chair with regular freezing, hey sounds good!

They froze me up and then started to have issues getting the damn thing out. It turns out the root was really long. They had to crack the tooth in 2 and wriggle the pieces out. Basically using plkiers to work it free. I felt no pain but it was discomforting.

After they were done he offerred to show it to me which I declined as I am a squeamish ***** with that sort of thing. The dentist said that they won't do any more of mine that way, will need to be knocked out.

No pain after, went to work later in the afternoon with a mouth of gauze to soak up the blood.

FWIW I have heard that they tend to be more gentle when the patient is awake, don't know if this is true or not.

 

[amraeder]

Got my wisdom teeth out. They were in fine condition, but I only had ones on the top. It was annoying to have because I'd chew food down into my gums on the bottom and cut them. Anyway, it was as easy as could be. Just have Novocaine. There was no reason for anything else. As pleasant and experience as it probably could have been.

 

[JackReacher]

Interesting. My dentist did, in fact, mention the roots of the teeth that will be coming out. Pretty sure he said they weren't very long at all, which is why he thinks it'll be an easy procedure.

65-35 N20.