I'm getting my wisdom teeth pulled today...

[Xanthious]

The plus side to all this is you're likely going to get vicodin (don't let them pawn off 800mg Ibuprophen on ya make them give you actual pain killers as well) and I can personally tell you after wrecking on my motorcycle that there is nothing quite like a couple days of gaming in a vicodin induced haze. The blinding agony between the drugs wearing off and kicking back in again was kind of a downer though.

 

[Not-here-anymore]

Are your wisdom teeth completely visible or are they still somewhat entrenched in your gums? 'Cause if they are it'll result in some cuttin'.

When the time comes for me wisdom teeth to go, they'll probably have to cut half my mouth open.

Oh, likewise. Well, one of them, anyway. Just a teensy-tiny corner poking out. Which means I can't brush, floss, or otherwise maintain it, which meant it kinda decayed nicely. My perfect lack of fillings, ruined by one mischievous little bastard of a tooth...

 

[ikey]

For me at least, the surgery was great. I felt normal, but I was totally out of it and don't even really remember what happened, other than there being no pain. Once the numbness wears off, you'll want to have already taken some pain meds. It's worst the first few days, but it gets better quickly as long as you keep your teeth clean. I just got them removed about a week or two ago, there's no more pain at all, but it's still a nuisance in some ways.

 

[Siege_TF]

I had all 4 taken out at once, the bottom two were entrenched and 90 degrees sideways (so they were facing foreward instead of upward), so the dentist had to fillet my gumms, drill a hole in the teeth, and yank them out. After that; stitches.
I got localized freezing instead of being put to sleep regardless, because I'm a hardcore ************, ************.

Then with a face full of blood, mouth full of gauze, and the only drugs in my system some rapidly wearing off novocaine (novacaine? whatever that freezing stuff is) I went down the street to the video store and rented a dozen classic anime to pass the next couple of days, then drove myself home. The manager was the only one on duty, and he let me rent them for free.

A good meal replacement is an Ensure, some milk, a banana, and some ice cream blended together.

 

[ryo02]

Ive had 2 pulled not at the same time though no trouble what so ever in either case.

my girlfriend has one of the teeth I didnt get to keep the seconed they crushed it and pulled the pieces out instead of just pulling it which was actually less comfortable than pulling it and I swear it took longer to heal.

 

[Girl With One Eye]

I've had 2 teeth pulled, you won't really feel any pain. I was only half under so I could feel him poking around but I only got scared because I kind of forgot where I was. Anyway you'll be sore for a while after but a good sleep will do you good. I didn't feel any more pain after a few days, painkillers will help so make sure you have some at home.

 

[KarmicToast]

I had four impacted wisdom teeth pulled out when I was twenty. The first thing that sucks was that (as a smoker at the time) you can't have any cigarettes. You also have to eat soft foods and leave cotton in your mouth for awhile. You'll be on pain pills for a bit, and things won't feel right in your mouth for a few days, at least. Then, your girlfriend of three years breaks up with you ten minutes before her new boyfriend (a guy she slept with while you were at the dentist) shows up to move in. See, he doesn't have anywhere else to stay, and so he has to move in, and since she pays half the rent, this is somehow acceptable. Then they steal your last condom from your desk while you are crying on the porch, unsure of what just happened, and you go back inside and listen to them have sex through the thin wall separating you from the second bedroom. That night she comes into your room and wakes you up to tell you that you're still her best friend. As soon as you grasp at the sliver of hope, she starts talking about how this new guy makes her orgasm, something she was never able to achieve with you. When you tell her that you don't want to talk about that with her, she cries and says, "well who else am I supposed to talk to about it? You're my best friend!" The next day you threaten to call the cops in some vain attempt at sorting out this bizarre and awful situation. She moves out with him, but only a few apartments away, so of course, and against your better judgement, you start sleeping with her again. Two days later the new boyfriend catches you and gets in a fistfight with you. He punches you right in the teeth, and the pain pills the dentist gave you just aren't enough to relieve the pain of your newly swollen jaw or your broken heart. You go outside and have a cigarette, even though you weren't supposed to, and it causes your wounds to open and your gums to bleed. But at that point, who cares. What's the point of anything, anyway.

Yeah, don't get your wisdom teeth removed. It can sort of suck.

 

[Shadu]

I just got mine out last week. All four. I was like you, only a year older. I was super worried and nervous and feared everything going into it, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

Don't worry, you won't remember a thing. Do what the doctor says afterwards, and your recovery should be easy.

I'm already eating pretty much what I want. I'm sure you'll be the same.

Oh, and take it easy the first day, right after you get them out. I thought I could do a lot more, and nearly made myself sick. Just stay home, take your meds, and sleep, and you'll be feeling much better the next day.

 

[Macgyvercas]

When I got mine pulled, I was slightly nervous, but not too scared. All I know is that I fell asleep in a brown chair and woke up in a red one (and no it wasn't from blood. I checked). As for afterwards, well...I like ice cream.

Didn't even bother to get the pain medication perscription filled, since I don't use them.

 

[Araksardet]

And watch crumby food - you DO NOT want an abscess. My uncle had one of those - ouch.

I'm guessing that is another term for a dry socket? Sorry, I'm not up to speed on dental conditions...

Not quite; it's when you get crumbs caught in the mushy pulp where the tooth used to be. The wound sometimes heals around the crumbs and they can turn into an abscess (like a pus bag) and get infected, which is apparently very painful. I'm not 100% clear on the details myself, I just know a bit about the time my uncle had this problem after a wisdom tooth operation, when a piece of hamburger got sealed into the wound. In any case, rinse a lot after eating.

 

[Jayjay21]

Had my 4 wisdom teeth removed last week as my bottom two were coming in sideways.

The actual removal I was knocked out for, so that part was fine. I only had the gauze in my mouth for about an hour after I left, and by then the bleeding had stopped.

Just make sure you keep taking the meds for a few days at least, and it isn't that bad, your mouth will be sore, but a few days of relaxation makes it bearable.

Don't worry about food, I didn't have an appetite for the first 2 days, and after that I just had yoghurt and some pasta.

All in all, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

 

[evenest]

I would recommend that you make sure they knock you out. I had my wisdom teeth removed about 15 years ago. All I remember was sitting in the chair watching them put a needle in my arm. I woke up with no wisdom teeth and no pain. Didn't even swell up. Didn't even use any of the pain meds he gave me.

It may be that there were no complications (though I seem to remember him telling me that one of the teeth broke), but I think going to the right oral surgeon is key. My brother went to someone and his cheeks swelled up like he had two kiwi's in them.

Have a good absorbent towel nearby. I do remember drooling a bucket-load that first night.

 

[intheweeds]

Oh you poor little monkey! *completely serious, no sarcasm*

I am terrified of the dentist too. Getting your wisdom teeth out seem like the worst thing ever, but remember it's more like surgery so you will be on lots of meds. I was so scared I brought my teddy bear (i'm not kidding, I was 22) and was nearly in tears on the way over. I didn't really even know when it was happening though, all i felt was pressure on my gums when in reality my gums were so much ground beef. It seemed to last only a few minutes too, when my friend said in reality it had been almost two hours. It wasn't even remotely as bad as i thought it would be is what i'm saying. Bring a friend, (you will need one anyway, they won't let you walk out on your own all doped up) for emotional support.

What everyone is saying is pretty much true. Ignore the people who just came here to say horrific things about their own experiences and scare you.

1) Wake up.
2) Put on ice pack sling (or whatever is used now, it's been 10 years since I got mine out).
3) Pop pills.
4) Eat something soft and smooth (this is one of the few times in your life you can get away with eating pudding at all hours of the day, milk it!).
5) <insert low-impact activity here> until the T3s get you back to sleep.
6) Repeat 1-5. Late evening and early morning, throw in a gargle with a salt-water slurry.

This is pretty much exactly what you have to look forward too. You are gonna have an awesome excuse for a while to be doped up on meds playing video games in your underwear. Recognize it, use it, love it!

 

[Siege_TF]

Wow, I'd say I wasn't aware that I was in the company of such girly people, but that would imply that girls have a lower pain threshold than guys.

Take it like a champ and get localized freezing.

 

[Nautical Honors Society]

...and I am absolutely terrified. I'm 20 years old and this is the first time I have been legitimately afraid of the dentist. These wisdom teeth coming in are really messing up all of the work three years of braces accomplished. I suppose the pain will be alleviated to a great deal once this is all over, as I am in a fair amount of pain, but I am no less worried.

Would there be any advice my fellow Escapists could provide to ease a troubled mind? I've never had to go through anesthesia or surgery like this yet in my rational life. I'm scared, is all.

Had all four of mine taken out at once last year. Didn't need any pain medication and felt fine after 3 days. Ice your face and eat soft food. You'll be fine. Also anestesia Is nothing to worry about kinda cool an funny actually haha

 

[TheGreatFedora]

I actually just got mine removed last week, I'm 20 as well. The actual surgery isn't bad at all; you'll be numb afterwards, but that'll go away in a few hours. Also, you may not remember most of the day; I'm not entirely sure what they gave me to knock me out, it was some kind of warm blue liquid (sounds like sci-fi, right?), but I didn't remember a thing the day after the surgery, other than that I'm pretty sure I watched the Foo Fighters documentary when I got home. Pretty sure.

The food thing gets annoying, but it's alright. Baby food is surprisingly tasty, and get a variety of soups and you'll be fine. Also, T3s make you constipated, which blows, but you can get some re-fried beans, salsa, and cheese, cook it into a nice bean-y mush, and that'll help. Pretty tasty too.

 

[Wharrgarble]

You're gonna be fine, I promise.

I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed when I was eighteen because they were impacted and in danger of messing up the rest of my mouth. I, like you, was terrified. I hated the idea of being put under, and my heart was racing like crazy. I had never had surgery before and didn't have a clue what to expect. However, at the end of it all? It wasn't all that bad.

When they stuck me with the anesthesia, it was very quick. I got a bit dizzy, then some tunnel vision and I was out like a light for the whole procedure. Seriously, that was it. Someone is monitoring you the entire time, adjusting as necessary so you won't wake up in the middle it. When I came out of the anesthesia I was crying, but not because I was in pain. The doctor explained it's just a weird side effect that happens to some people after going under the first time. So if it happens to you, no worries, it's normal.

I had cotton swabs in my mouth for the rest of the day and partly into the next. The blood is a bit disgusting, but it's not gushing or anything. If it starts up, just use a swab for a bit. The stitches feel weird but they're usually dissolvable, so most likely you won't have to get them removed. They slowly fall out on their own. Try not to poke them too often with your tongue, but it can be hard to resist, haha.

Take the pain pills as prescribed. They help, a lot. Some people need them more than others, but just take them. Your mouth will thank you. Frozen peas work miracles, as someone else said. Have them in the car to put on immediately after the surgery, that's when you're most likely to get swollen cheeks. Don't over ice, though. Twenty minutes at a time should be fine. You want some blood in the area to help your healing process.

As far as dry socket goes, talk to your doctor about something called Clove Oil. That stuff is amazing, and you can pick it up most places. It really helped my mother who ended up with dry socket after having a tooth pulled at 58.

For food, anything squishy. I had a frosty out of surgery, it was quite nice. Otherwise it's mashed potatoes, chicken broth, jello, pudding, and soups. After a few days of that you can gradually work up to macaroni, rice, and other things you can crush with your tongue. Stay away from chips for a while, though.

You'll probably have some bruises on your cheeks but that'll go away in time. Just make sure to take it easy while you're recovering, it is surgery after all. Make sure someone is there with you to drive you home afterwards and don't forget to sleep. You're gonna be just fine.

 

[The Heik]

...and I am absolutely terrified. I'm 20 years old and this is the first time I have been legitimately afraid of the dentist. These wisdom teeth coming in are really messing up all of the work three years of braces accomplished. I suppose the pain will be alleviated to a great deal once this is all over, as I am in a fair amount of pain, but I am no less worried.

Would there be any advice my fellow Escapists could provide to ease a troubled mind? I've never had to go through anesthesia or surgery like this yet in my rational life. I'm scared, is all.

Well in regards to both the anesthesia and the surgery, one will fortunately effectively cancel out the general scariness of the other. When you get anesthesia, you either get knocked out completely or are in such a state of oblivion you wouldn't notice really it if someone shot you (if the dental surgeon does the anesthesia right).

And so long as you pop those painkillers they give you afterwards, you should be generally fine. I just recommend not eating anything solid for a few days. Soup is your friend after something like that.

 

[Odbarc]

...and I am absolutely terrified. I'm 20 years old and this is the first time I have been legitimately afraid of the dentist. These wisdom teeth coming in are really messing up all of the work three years of braces accomplished. I suppose the pain will be alleviated to a great deal once this is all over, as I am in a fair amount of pain, but I am no less worried.

Would there be any advice my fellow Escapists could provide to ease a troubled mind? I've never had to go through anesthesia or surgery like this yet in my rational life. I'm scared, is all.

I've got a wisdom tooth pulled. Of all the oral care I've had in my life, dozens of cavities, cleanings, I'd say this is one of the LEAST painful things a dentist can to for you. The pulling of the tooth is PAINLESS. The worst part of it all is that your gums will bleed for quite a while and you need to have gauze in your mouth.

You get a needle that feels like you got a needle. They wait 10~15 minutes, they give you a needle that feels like they're just looking at you and you feel nothing. They wait another 10~15 minutes.

Then they do something that feels like they're putting a small bag wrapping around your tooth. You'll hear crinkling sounds and sense that your tooth is being touched (no pain, no real sense of touch other than the vibration of the touch echoing into an unnumbed part of your body, like in your jaw. No pain.

Then he starts spinning the tooth and you'll hear more crackling sounds. No pain. It almost sounds like the tooth is breaking apart, but it comes out whole. He says, "That's it." and you start laughing at how over hyped wisdom teeth pulling really can be.

Unless you have your teeth compacting against each other in which case they knock you out completely, you wake up and they're done and you get some T3's which you won't need for anything other than a headache.



And I'm a pretty awful patient when it comes to dentistry. Don't worry about the tooth/teeth being pulled. The worst part is the annoyance and inconvenience of eating soups (I hate soup) and leaning your head so no food gets into your new gum-hole (which eventually closes up - no worries).
Pain wise; 1 needle. If you've ever had a cavity (even a small one), that was much worse than what your coming up against.

Frankly, if teeth regrew, I'd opt to have them removed instead of getting a cavity filled EVERY time!

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Damn, this thread exploded in a way I didn't think would. I'll be taking all suggestions into mind. I've read every post in this thread and I just want to personally thank everybody who gave their advice and experiences with having their wisdom teeth pulled.

...oh look, my ride is here to get this thing over with. Ugh.

Well, here I go. I probably won't remember the rest of the day. My brother is actually bringing his video camera to record the outcome of whatever wacky things I'll say when I come out of the surgery. That should be worth a laugh or two.

Thanks again everybody for the help. I'm off to have my mouth sliced open.

Farewell.