Wisdom Teeth Removal (lose weight, dentists, prescriptions, recovery)

[phoenix_talons]

I've got two upper wisdoms covered nicely by my gums. (They are not exposed.) No problems with them. Had the bottom wisdoms pulled because they were impacted. The dentist, who removed my bottom left wisdom, recommended that I have the top ones off. My wife still has all her wisdoms and said she isn't planning on removing them unless they are giving problems.

[FightinPhils]

Originally Posted by Miami Vice

On my last visit to the dentist, he advised me that two of my wisdom teeth were impacted and the other two had cavities. He recommended that I remove all four.

I've never had a tooth removed and I am a little nervous about doing so. Should I wait until they bother me or take the plunge and have them removed?

Also, I was wondering if anyone could tell me their experience during and after the removal. Thanks in advance for your input.

I'm the biggest baby in the world with anything dealing with doctor's offices, and getting my wisdom teeth removed was no big deal. They give you an IV to knock you out, and you're out within seconds. The next thing you know, you wake up and its already done. You'll wake up loopy....I was laughing hysterically. They'll give you a prescription for painkillers, but I didn't need them. I didn't even have any swelling. Although I did bleed a lot for a day or two.

All in all, no big deal.

[L-88]

I had mine out a long time ago when I was in the Air Force. The two top ones were grown out, but one bottom tooth was half way through, and the other was impacted.

The top teeth don't have much root, and they come out easily. The half exposed tooth needed to be broken up and taken out in pieces...the fully impacted one involved taking some bone as well.

It wasn't the most pleasant of experiences, but I suspect they have better methods these days. The one that was impacted was quite painful after the anesthetic wore off, but all I took was some aspirin. The worst was over in a day or two, and yes...I would get them out the sooner the better. Agree about going to an oral surgeon rather than a general practice dentist. Good luck.

[stone-ground]

Well it's Wednesday today and wonder how Miami Vice is doing?

I used to work in the dental field, and as Lisa and a few others mentioned, the most important thing after having them out, is not to disturb the blood clots or you'll have 'dry socket' which can be so painful.

Just be sure to follow the instructions given to you, and don't think you can swish with salt water for about 24 hrs, but after that, the more you can with a warm salt solution and swish GENTLY so as not to disturb the blood clots, will help keep your mouth clean and free from infection, and heal more quickly.

Some people have an easier time than others, depending if the teeth are tissue impacted or bone impacted, the latter being the more difficult to extract.

Sometimes your wisdom teeth may never bother you, but there will probably come a time when they do, as they kind of 'move around' a little here and there .. and may cause crowding later. They are so far back in your mouth, that it's hard to keep them clean and can end up getting food stuck and can then become infected. Not sure why we have them actually, as they're so far back in the mouth that we don't use them to chew with.

If you happen to have had other teeth out in your younger years, then the wisdom teeth actually have room to move forward and fill in .. so in cases like that, you may not have any problems with them.

Never fun going to the dentist is it?!? I still hate going!

Hope you're feeling ok after your ordeal MV, .. at least the worst is over!

Try and stay with smoothies and soft foods if you can for a few days ..

[phoenix_talons]

My upper wisdoms are all covered up. Dunno if I should remove them or not.

[myrc60]

Originally Posted by phoenix_talons

My upper wisdoms are all covered up. Dunno if I should remove them or not.

Usually you don't do anything about them until they start bothering you.

This is an old post and it appears that MV never came back to report on the surgery. I hope everything is okay, MV.

[FranPam]

I am not writing to ask for advice but to give advice to any teenager or any adult who is experiencing development of wisdom teeth or problems with their wisdom teeth. Unfortunately, most teenagers and young adults develop wisdom teeth; therefore, most of the time surgery is inevitable.

Here are a few things to know when you do have to have wisdom teeth pulled:

1-If you start to feel any pain in the back of your teeth go to the dentist as soon as possible.
2-If X-rays determine that you have wisdom teeth get them all out when you are younger. The older you get the more problems you have.
3-Have the dentist refer you to an oral surgeon.
4-Before scheduling an appointment with the oral surgeon make sure you have a list of questions about what is going to happen.
5-Also check to see if you need to be under sedation/general anestheia.
6-Make sure you tell your surgeon/anesthesiolgist if you are on any medications or have any medical problems or any allergies.
7-Be sure you have all your information the day of the surgery and follow all instructions.

Reasons you should get them out when you are younger:
1-More problems will develop when you get older
2-More resilient and tolerant to things
3-Wisdom Teeth shift other teeth and develop gum flaps

I'm thirty two years old and got my bottom wisdom teeth out last year. Tomorrow I'm going to see about getting the top left tooth out because guess what? It cracked and I keep getting nerve pain in the last week. I'm nervous because it is a harder to reach tooth. I should have done all of this when I was younger but because my parents hated going to dentists and only went when they were in pain, they never enforced it on me. It was only eight years ago I started taking better care of my teeth. I should have listened to an old dentist seven years ago when this top tooth emerged and got it taken of but I didn't. Now I'm paying the price now. And what surprises me is the fact that the surgeon who did my bottom teeth didn't suggest to get the top tooth pulled then. So my best advice is to get all of them out as soon as possible. Otherwise you will have problems and then you will end up sick.

Thank you

Frances

[msjack]

I had all 4 of mine removed about 4 years ago. It wasn't bad at all.

I had been told to do it when I was a teenager, I didn't because I was too scared. Well 2 of them ended up getting infected years later. That pain was AWFUL. My mouth swelled so large that my top and bottom teeth wouldn't touch. I was begging for them to take them out...lol. I had to go on antibiotics first and then they pulled them. Two of them were impacted and the other two were out. I did see an oral surgeon and was put out. I highly recommend that. I've known people who weren't put to sleep and it's nightmare stories. I got there, they put me to sleep and it was all over. It really wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. The healing process wasn't bad either. Just follow their directions and take your pain meds and you'll be fine. And yes you DO NOT want dry sockets. Do everything they tell you to avoid this. There is nothing like the pain of a dry socket. THey are no joke.

If you follow all the directions and take your meds, you'll be fine. It's really not that bad...honestly the worst part I think was the week leading up to it and the anxiety...lol. Once it's over you'll be glad you did it and you definitely do not want to wait until they start to hurt. Good luck!

[mrstewart]

I had mine taken out when I was 24 years old. It was not that bad but the top ones became "dry" and the surgeon packed them with gauze and clove oil...

that is a recipe for some strange morning breath!!

Have and oral surgeon do it and get a plenty of pain meds. Everyone reacts to pain differently. Good luck!

[eggalegga]

Originally Posted by stone-ground

Well it's Wednesday today and wonder how Miami Vice is doing?

Didn't he post he was having this done in September 2007?