My sister's boyfriend had his out today. I should imagine it's pretty painful. I had to have a tooth pulled out due to a tooth growing at an odd ankle. It was pretty painful as I was under a mild anasthetic. My cheek felt really numb for about a couple of hours afterwards.

I was 25 when I was told that I needed them out. I made an appointment for the next month and never went back. In fact, I switched dentists...

KidaDynamite said:

Imagine me trying to tell the bat dick joke that week

I was told by my dentist to have mine removed in 1996. They even gave me a referral to an oral surgeon.

Never did it. I wish I had, because over the years, my teeth have shifted in dramatic ways. They're still straight in the front, but the bottom row on each side is kind of bowed in toward my tongue.

And to make matters worse, I think about a year ago, this is what caused one of my molars to crack. This past fall, it finally started completely breaking and falling out. I haven't gotten it fixed yet.

The plus side is that the dentist I went to to look at my broken tooth said that because I hadn't had my wisdom teeth removed, the one next to the broken tooth could possibly shift into its place so that I'd still have a decent bite after awhile.

So I don't know if I should get them removed or not.

Raze said:

I was worried about similar things happening to me. I've always gotten compliments on my teeth, so I was really worried about it. But nothing's happened. And that was almost 15 years ago that I was told I needed them out.

I was 22 and they had to knock me out because of how deep-rooted mine were in my jaw. We had to reschedule twice due to the constant ear infections they caused. The shits were so bad that my jaws got swollen and they couldn't operate.

They hooked me to an IV, I experienced five seconds of SHEER BLISS, and woke up hugging my surgeon and telling him I loved him. And I still do. He looked like Chef Boyardee.

They had to slice the gums open and yank them. There were only three, as the fourth never grew, I guess. I was required to take two days off afterward. The recuperation wasn't too awful. They'll tell you this, but don't use a straw or suck on ANYTHING. If the blood clot in each of your gum sockets doesn't heal due to suction, it'll be long-term HELL.

And yeah, with the bottom one, there's always a risk of nerve damage! Thar frightened me, as my lower jaw was numb for several weeks afterward.

It completely depends on the person.

I just got one pulled last year. I'm 35, and haven't had any trouble with the others, but this one was cracking.

I was very nervous, but it was literally about ten minutes of some blood, and I was back to normal. The actual pulling was no problem, either.

Does anyone know what having a deep cleaning is like?

I'm scheduled for one next Tuesday. There's something irritating the upper gums on the backside of my mouth, and the dentists think it's below the gumline. My teeth are in good shape, I floss religiously, and I get cleanings when I need to. But, I still have to go in and get this stupid deep cleaning crap done. Supposedly, it's different from just a drill and pick cleaning--they're going to numb me up and it'll be nastier?

INSATIABLE said:

thanks! that's really good to know! i'm terrified of IVs and probably will be crying like a two-year-old

And yeah, even if I wasn't having complications, I'd have done it anyway--I've always had perfectly straight teeth and didn't want to deal with damage, pressure, shifting, or cracking. Which happens in many people, as there's simply not enough room.

If a person has a good amount of room back there and their wisdoms are growing straight down into safe territory, it's understandable to let it be.

Just let Ben punch you in the face. I'm sure you'd both enjoy it, and the tooth will be out (hopefully.if not, try again until you succeed)

Imago said:

all I could taste was blood after I had mine done

Imago said:

TR has it done 2 times a yr - it's a bit bothersome for a day or 2

evenstar said:

I donate platelets twice a week, and my fear of IVs had dwindled by that age, but I completely understand your fear. Everyone I know (including myself) has been given three Valium pills before the procedure to take home--I was to take two the night before, and one when I woke up. That alleviated enough fear for me to trust my surroundings.

Even those I know who were awake during the procedure were given Valium the night before and the morning of. To ease your fears: the IV-knockout thing is a rare occurence; it was just due to my acute, painful situation.

I created a thread afterward, I remember that. / To this day, I want to buy whatever they gave me off the black market. I think it was called "twilight sleep", or something. It was truly a lack of pain. I seriously felt like I'd experienced Heaven. And I ain't religious.

Imago said:

Now that I think about it.....that probably would have sounded pretty hot!

INSATIABLE said:

i don't think my doctor mentioned giving me anything the night before...i'll ask about it!

veronikka said:

Did it get rid of the gum irritation?

I'm confused. I'm paranoid about my teeth so I floss like a motherfucker. And still, I have to have this done?

evenstar said:

Me too. I was scheduled to have my two impacted wisdom teeth (upper only) removed about 10 years ago and then I found out I would have to have an IV. I was like, "Fuck that," and I cancelled the appointment. About a year ago, one started breaking through the gums and was a little sore--it's at a slight angle and I thought I'd have to get it pulled; but my dentist says it's not messing up my teeth or anything so I don't need it have it removed. The other one is still impacted and I don't have any on the bottom.

INSATIABLE said:

I want to thank you for that. About 14 years ago, my life was saved by intensive, daily plasma pheresis and platelet infusions. I wish more people would do this. I would if I could, but having been treated with them, I'm not allowed to.

Thanks again

DevotedPuppy said:

i've been putting it off for 4 years because they freak me out so much. you're lucky!

Imago said:

I had no gum irritation, they made me get it done cause I had not had a cleaning in over a year. Even the guy doing it said, you're teeth and gums are in great condition, so why I needed it, I have no idea

veronikka said:

How long did it hurt for?

I swear, I need to get my ass back in the gym as soon as I can after that shit.

Imago said:

hurt just for the day, not that bad, I just hate the taste of blood in my mouth.

shouldn't keep you from going to the gym though

Raze said:

Wow! No one's ever said that to me. How wonderful that you were saved by it! I work for a blood bank and what you've said has truly made my day. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

INSATIABLE said:

Well, what you've done has really made my life The least I can do is say thanks

I had mine out when I was 18. Four impacted wisdom teeth, all taken on the same day.

I was on Tylenol #3 for one day, then off all pain meds. I hardly had any swelling and no bruising. The worst part was when they took the sutures and packing out a few days later. (That almost made me hurl.)

A couple tips:

1. Go to an oral surgeon, rather than a regular dentist - especially if the teeth are impacted.

2. Prepare to lose weight. I lost 10 pounds when I had mine done.

3. Do NOT make popcorn your first meal after they take the sutures out. I was washing popcorn hulls out of the incisions for days.

Genesia said:

oh, maybe i'll try that.

Genesia said:

AWESOME. there is an upside! i bet i could fit into a size 4 if i lost like 15lbs

evenstar said:

My experience was pretty much the same as Imago's except it was about 4 days before I was back on solids.

If you're having general anesthetic (and I assume you are) make sure you start moisturising your lips (constantly) a few days before hand. Your mouth gets stretched more than you want to know and your lips will be cracked to bits afterwards. If you keep them as moist as possible they'll still be cracked afterwards, but not as badly.

Straws - you'll need them.

Slop - any food you can suck through a straw. Plenty of them about. Baby food is quite good too.

Beer - natural anesthethic, and can be sucked through a straw.

All in all, it's not too bad a surgery to have to undergo. It's pretty quick too, so I wouldn't worry about it too much, you'll be fine.

Genesia said:

Definitely. During my second ear infection, a dentist covered by my plan told me she'd take them out (mistake #1--never do surgery during an infection!). She started cutting at my jaw, and I could feel everything. It was quite a scene and I won't go into it for your sake.

Thank goodness I got out of there and went to a professional instead.