What to expect during and after wisdom teeth removal?

Question

My dentist told me that I have to get my wisdom teeth removed. My concern is that he told me that “ It will hurt a lot after “ I checked this with others who have told me they were out for a week. The wisdom teeth are enflamed and a cause of bad breath and some pain. The dentist also told me that I did not have to be put to sleep because he could not guaranty if I would wake up. How can I be awake while he cuts all four of them out? Can someone shed some positive light on this dilemma? I also have to come up with $ 1000 to get this done witch is roughly a one months salary. Can OHIP cover some of it? Thanks to all who answer.

Answer 1

Hey dont worry...its not as bad as it seems. I had 3 removed surgically cause they were all impacted. Before the surgery the dentist will give u about 2-3 shots of a local anaesthetic. This will really numb the area and you dont feel a thing during the surgery. If you have a good dentist he will poke the area first and really make sure you dont feel anything. And dont worry, the shots hurt a little but its bearable. The numbness last for about 1-2 hrs. Your dentist will prescribe for you pain killers to help ease the pain once the local anesthetic wears out. If you are worried, ask for stronger pain killers like Tramadol. While the wound is healing, good oral hygiene is important. Gargle regularly with an antiseptic mouth wash or salt water. As for food...its common sense to avoid hard, hot and spicy food. When I had both my lower and upper wisdom tooth removed, I stocked up on complete nutritional drinks like Ensure and Resource. One can keeps you full for about 3 hrs....so 6 cans per day if you dont feel like eating anything.
Its worth it to get it removed considering the constant pain, bleeding and annoying bad breath. It can also cause tooth decay and eventually you still have to get it removed.
All the best!

Answer 2

Hey there!! I just had 4 wisdom teeth, 2 impacted k-nine teeth and also a baby tooth removed on Thursday the 16th. I was awake for all of it. I'll explain how it was done. See, the dentist gave me LOTS of shots to numb the heck out of me. The shots were the worst part of it all. I was out of there with 2 hours. The wisdom teeth were pretty easy to take out...the top ones he just pulled out, the bottom he had to cut just a bit. Really, if I'd known that it was going to be this easy I would have done it back in October of last year was I was supposed to. I still haven't taken any of the painkillers. The part that sucks the most is after, not the pain but not being able to eat....LOL...Lots and lots of apple sauce and jello. Ice cream works too. Trust me, I was in a lot of pain because the wisdom teeth growing in, this is nothing...really. Don't be scared or worried, it really is better.

Answer 3

Thank your lucky stars he doesn't put you out for the removal. That probably means they'll be pulled and not surgically removed because they're not impacted. Impacted is when they break them and pull out the shards. They did that to me, and knicked a nerve in my lower right cheek. I now have PERMANENT numbness in that part of my face. It's not a problem, just numb.
After the procedure avoid smoking anything. Also no drinking from a straw. Getting "dry socket" is a very big reality, and is EXTREMELY painful. Follow all post-op directions.You'll look like a chipmunk for awhile after, but the swelling will go down. The dentist sounds kinda sketchy: he doesn't think you'll wake up???? Weird. Call around. It's a common procedure, and you may find some financial assistance through specific dentists. Ask if they have a sliding pay scale judged on income. You sound young...get them out though, because you may have problems later and they'll really mess up your grill. You teeth may get super crooked when you age. Take care, kid.

Answer 4

I had my wisdom teeth taken out my junior or senior year in high school. It actually wasn't that bad, from what I recall. Your dentist will probably numb your jaw using novocaine - which is injected, so it will sting a little bit - and you won't feel a thing until after he's done taking out your wisdom teeth. You'll have some facial swelling and residual oozing of blood for a while, and you'll be eating soft food for a week or so, but they'll give you painkillers and plenty of gauze to get you through it. You'll be fine.

Answer 5

Awesome! Dont be afraid! I work at an oral surgeons office and it is fantatastic! There is no other better way to get all 4 out at the same time under "conscious sedation" it is a very light sedation (propophol,fentynyl and versed) and recovery time for it can be as little as 30 mins after surgery. Not an all day thing. That is...if u are a healthy person with no medical problems, you should definitley get sedated for it! I'd hate to see anyone get 4 wisdom teeth extracted with local sedation only!!! Trust me it will make u and ur surgeon for a better day!

Answer 6

get a 2nd opinion... you should be able to be put under during the operation, although it is not necessary to be completely out.
I had mine out a few years ago. They put me under, and it was no problem.
Sure , it hurt a little, but no more than it did before I had them out.
For 3-4 days after surgery, my mouth was sore, but the pain meds helped. Just don't smoke or anything that might cause dry sockets. It's really not as bad as you make it seem to be. You'll be alright. Just getting it done and taken care of will help immensely. Good luck!!

Answer 7

Man I had my back bottom wisdom tooth cut out on the 14th and it cost me $220 for xrays and surgery and it took me about 3 weeks to save up, anyway have it done because it gets worse trust me. If I chose to be sedated it was going to cost $275 for that plus the other so I ask if it hurt to do it by just being numb and he said not at all and he said that most people only go under if scared, anyway he numbed me up good and cut it and and put in 2 stitches. I didn't feel any pain just alot of pressure and I was done. I was scared I admit the worst part is the needles to numb and and you can hear bone crunching just close your eyes and it will be over quick. Its alot cheaper and you can walk out. Just take your good pain meds it'll be sore for awhile ans watch what you eat! Good luck and have it done! Trust me!

Answer 8

When they put you under, they will put a catheter in your arm. When the sedative is injected, you will feel a cold sensation running up your arm and to the inside of your shoulder. You will feel fine for a couple of minutes, get groggy, and pass out. When you wake up, you should be a little out of it, but not bad. You'll feel some soreness afterward, but that differs from person to person. You need to clean out the cavities that your teeth used to occupy, as food sometimes collects there. You should be back to normal soon, though.

Answer 9

hmm sounds like a very comforting dentist! dude, everybody is different. for some folks the pain lasts longer; others are up and running within a few hours. don't sweat it. you'll make it through it--most all of us have! as far as the not putting you to sleep thing, that is a choice some folks make, in fact, i was awake (but it was my mother's choice not mine); it's just like a regular dentist appt as far as they numb the area but you are still awake. and just like a regular dentist appt, like filling a cavity, you won't feel the pain till after. don't know about the money part.

Answer 10

I only got one out. The process was not that bad but expect a lot of bleeding and a huge gaping hole in your mouth (or four in your case.) It closes over after a while though.