I've had problems off and on for the past four years with my wisdom teeth (I'm a 24 year old female). I've had two infections due to my erupted teeth collecting junk between the gums and tooth... but now my biggest worry is that my fully erupted tooth (which has grown out sideways towards my cheek) is now constantly rubbing my cheek and causing a lot of pain, it may be infected, I'm not sure, I have an appointment booked for next week).

I know for a fact now that I'm going to need to get it extracted. Since it's in such an awkward position, it's going to have to be smashed to be extracted. Here in Canada it's illegal for the dentist office to put you to sleep during the procedure, and I'm absolutely FREAKED about about feeling this being done... not the pain, but the actual shattering of the tooth.

Has anyone else been in my situation? I had someone suggest to me to ask the dentist for a prescription for Valium (or a drug that does the same thing) to take a couple of hours prior to the procedure. Would this help?? I'm so scared (not to mention a little broke).

Thanks

can they give you nitrous oxcide it is a gas that does not put you to sleep but relaxes you quite a bit, I had it and remember very little to the procedure. Good luck!!

:) Don't worry! (I know, easier said then done, right? I know exactly how you feel ;) .) It's really not nearly as bad as you think it will be. I had mine pulled with nitrous oxide (laughing gas) on Friday. I was so worried about it that I lost two weeks of sleep and drove my coworkers crazy. Now that I look back, I don't know what I was so worried about. I would schedule the appointment to get them out as soon as possible because the waiting was the worst part. I had to wait for two weeks and I was an abolute wreck by the time the big day came. When I walked into the office I was crying and shaking like a leaf. The oral surgeon that I went to spent about half an hour talking to me just to try to get me to relax. Once he gave me the laughing gas I was completely fine. I remember most of what went on, but the gas had me so relaxed that I didn't even care. I do remember sitting in the chair thinking I would feel awful pain any minute, but it never happened. Everytime I had a filling I always felt the drilling so I was sure this would hurt terribly too. Here he pulled the tooth and stitched up my gum and I didn't even realize the tooth was gone! I didn't feel a thing! :) I would definately go with the laughing gas, it worked wonders for me. I hope everything goes well for you. Let me know how it goes, ok. If you have any questions I'd be glad to try to help. Hey I'm the biggest chicken in the whole world and if I can get through it I'm sure you can too!!! :) :)

LMAO! I have booked an appointment for Saturday. It's going to be the initial exam BUT they will extract it if I want right there. Nitrus Oxcide sounds woooonderful. Usually if you go in for the Examination and have to go in for the extraction on another day (or later in the day) the dentist can write up a prescription for a drug (that will basically give you the same effect as the laughing gas, but in a pill form). I got even more scared because the dentist I called (had this guy as my CHILDhood dentist!! WOW I didn't even think he was still around) said that they may have to do the procedure RIGHT after the xray. (never even though of laughing gas).

I'm still shaking like a leaf and annoying the hell out of my co-workers... even more so than yesterday when I thought i had to wait two weeks for it to be done.

What prompted me to call another dentist this morning was that last night i went to the doctor, just to be sure that there was no infection (Advil & Normal Tylenol 1's *with codine* did not help AT ALL). There is no infection, the gum around the tooth is NOT swollen (only my cheek from the tooth rubbing against it), but SHE told me to get it pulled ASAP, and wrote me a prescription for Tylenol 3's. EVEN THOSE ARE"NT WORKING!!! I just feel a little "happier" but with all the pain. I can't take two because I would scare the piss out of my students (I work at SAIT and register students for upgrading)...I'm scary when I'm high.

ANyway I'm rambling on cause I'm nervous as heck (lol doesn't matter how many people tell you it isn't as bad as you think, it's still freaky hehe).

Thanks everyone!!

Believe me, there is no way you could be as nervous as I was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) I've alvays been the biggest chicken in the world, especially when it comes to dentists or needles. I had so many people tell me that I would be fine, but I just couldn't make myself believe them. By the end of the two weeks, I drove everyone of my coworkers totally nuts! Some of then still aren't speaking to me! The day before the surgery was the worst one for me. I was shaking so bad that I couldn't do anything. I just about dropped a whole pan of gravy on the floor because my hands were shaking so bad I couldn't hold on to anything. Then I had to try to run the cash register which didn't go very well either. I couldn't hit the right buttons and I think I overcharged half of my customers. My boss got mad at me because I was pacing back and forth and wearing out our new carpet.

I don't know what I was so worried about. Now that it's over I look back and laugh at myself. It was realy no big deal at all. I really enjoyed getting all the attention and I even got to eat ice cream for breakfast! I have to get the other three taken out in a couple of months and I'm not at all worried about it. In fact I'm almost looking forward to it, My mouth feels so crowded and I almost gag myself whenever I try to brush them so I know I'll be much happier once they all come out. (And the laughing gas was sort of fun too! :cool: )

I hope everything goes well for you. Though it is hard, try not to worry. You'll be fine! Once it's over, you'll look back and wonder what you were so worried about too. Again, if you have any questions I'll do my best to help.

Thanks :) I'm more nervous now that it's going to be on Saturday instead of a couple of weeks.

I woke up this morning and my tooth didn't hurt as bad. So I'm thinking "Maybe I don't need to do it". My fiance is pissed! LOL He told me that I might as well go through with it because my tooth is still sore (not that stinging sensitive feeling all the time anymore, but it still hurts to open my mouth all the way, swallow, talk too much or chew), and he is sick of hearing me whine and complain.

But the good thing about NOT going through with it is that I will save $250 (Our birthdays are one day apart... mine is the 26th of April and his is the 28th). I feel bad that I will be using the money I was saving for his birthday present for it, but he still insists on putting money away on layaway for this ring I have been lusting after for my birthday (makes me feel one inch tall). He told me that the best birthday gift for him will be me to stop annoying the hell out of him. LOL

(Another year I won't be able to celebrate my birthday, last time I did I was 17... Pregnant at 18... had my daughter so I couldn't at 19 or 20... then pregnant again at 21... kids at 22... Blizzard locked us in our apartment when I was 23... so I figured that it would be different this year... LMAO!!! Now I'm going to look like a chipmunk, and won't be able to drink or eat good stuff heheheh).

You're awesome thanks for all your help. :) Have any kids yourself??
I have a 5 year old daughter, and a 2 year old son.

No, you don't want to chicken out! It might feel better now, but It will start to hurt again sometime and then you'll have to get it out anyway. I was supposed to have mine done five years ago and I chickened out. I would have saved myself alot of pain and frustration if I did it right away!

*nods* I Agree, after speaking to students here at work for 3+ hours, Im in a considerable amount of pain again. I spoke again with the dentist to be sure that they booked enough time for me for Saturday just in case I DO need it pulled (that is if they can actually do the extraction there... they may need to send me to a specialist if they can't pull it, at least that's what the receptionist told me... I thought that was more for the bottom ones... all well I just hope they can get this thing out of me, It hurts too much).

Sorrry to hear that your tooth is bothering you again. You'll feel much better once it comes out!

I was thinking it might be best to go directly to an oral surgeon? It depends on how much pain you are in. I was under extraordinary pain so I just went right to an oral surgeon and they took it out the same day. It was in bone and next to my sinus and oral surgeons are experienced to do work if it is a difficult extraction. I received the same response when contacting dentists that were not oral surgeons, they said they can only take it out if it isn't in bone. I'm not sure if yours is or not since at least yours is out breaking skin. Mine was all the way up my gums.. very far up. I was lucky enough to find an oral surgeon that took emergencies so they saw me the same day I called. Just something to think about. I feel soooo much better now. Just completely relieved.
Good luck.

If I had the money I would (I apologise, for some silly reason my last account was disabled from posting. Not sure why I haven't broken any rules).

Plus for an Oral surgeon here you need to book at least two months in advance, there are waiting lists hundreds of people long that are on Cancellation bookings. So it would be MUCH faster (not to mention cheaper) to go to the normal dentist. *sighs*. I'm not as anxious now, I just want this tooth OUT. lol

Wow, such a long wait for one... that stinks. Well hopefully tomorrow that will just be able to take care of this for you and you can get it over with.

I know what you mean. The pain was so bad it overpowered my fears and I just got it done.
Good luck.

LOL exactly. of course when I'm taking my tylenol 3's (which have started to work...to a point that is) then I start getting uptight again since the pain isn;t there). How fun lol. I'm just about to call the dentist to see what they will charge for Laughing Gas (if they can do the procedure).

I would go ahead and get that thing pulled! Really, it's not a big deal. It seems like it now, I know. You mentioned not being able to celebrate your birthday. think of it like this, you get that thing pulled, and you can spend your birthday pain free!

If you go with the laughing gas, you'll probably not even care about how they get the tooth out. Seriously. You know what's going on, but you don't care. Maybe you can see if the dentist will let you bring in some headphones so you can listen to music and not have to hear it if they shatter your tooth.

Spend the money now, and you'll avoid spending a lot more later. You'll be so much happier when it's over. Trust me. :)

Let us know what you decide to do.

Will deffinately be going tomorrow. Can't stand the pain anymore, and I don't want to keep taking these tylenol 3's (they make me tired as heck during the day and then I can't sleep at night). I'm gonna make a HUGE fuss tomorrow at the dentists. And hopefully they can pull it there. I had a PAN done aboooout I think 4 years ago because of a wisdom tooth infection (didn't know what it was then). And I remember that dentist telling me that I will need the bottom left done by a specialist... but he never said anything about the others. So hopefully it can be done tomorrow. That's really my biggest worry now.

Thanks Everyone!

(the tooth I need pulled is the top left... which grew all the way out... but sideways toward my cheek)

Hey, I'll be praying that everything goes well for you tomorrow. Once it's over with it's definately such a relief. Hope everything goes well for you. I just had my stitches out and I'm feeling great! It feels so good to be able to open my mouth all the way. (I think your account was banned because you posted your webpage. I'm not quite sure why mine was banned though.)

I didn't know you were not allowed... (sorry if I got you banned). Thanks for the prayer. Still scared poop-less... but at least I know it will be a relief! I wonder if I will need stitiches?

My tooth grew out already, so it's like a normal tooth (gum surrounding the tooth)... Will find out tomorrow I guess lol.

No, it wasn't your fault. I accidently posted something that wasn't allowed. OOPS! Now I know not to do that again.

When I got the stitches out, my oral surgeon told me that it's normal to be scared. Most people are. He said that almost all of his patients who were terrified like I was end up comming back and telling him it definately wasn't worth worying about. He also said that it seems to him that the ones who worry the most end up healing the fastest. (I was so scared, so maybe that's why I felt better so quickly?) :)

My tooth was completely in too. I had to get it pulled because I bit into a potato and broke it. The dentist didn't even want to try to fix it because it would have just ended up causing more problems later. It was so far back in my mouth that I had a really hard time brushing it. After vacation (I'm going to Florida next month) I have to get the other ones out. I want to get them taken care of before they start causing problems too. I was supposed to have them taken out four years ago by an oral surgeon, but I chickened out. (My dentist was so mad when he found out that I didn't listen to him.)

If you need stitches they're really not that horrible either. They just get a little anoying after a while. Mine started itching two days ago. As my gum healed I could also feel them pulling whenever I opened my mouth too far. Still, that was alot better then a toothache. And, it didn't even hurt when he took them out today. (I was a little worried about that.)

Let me know how everything goes! :wave:

I bet!

I'm going in at 12:00 (It's 8:05 here). You know i'm not as nervous as I figured I would be. Ny tooth isn't as painful as it was thelast few days. I decided not to take any Tylenol 3's before my appointment. Might as well go in there while I'm in pain.

I heard something from somewhere... If you're nervous about having something done, it won't seem so bad. But (if it is your first time) if you think it's going to be a breeze, you're in for a suprise. (well something along those lines).

I'll still probably break down as soon as I step into the office. I'm just hoping they can pull it though this weekend. They're going to want to pull my others (partially erupted) but right now I can only afford the one. I've applied for Blue Cross (which covers Dental), but I won't get it for another month, and I didn't want to wait that long for the one tooth.

If the dentist argues, I'll tell him wait one month, then he can go nuts. LOL

How long were your stitches in? How long did it take for you to feel comfortable enough to eat solid foods again? (beef, chicken etc *fish is not really "solid" it's quite soft*) We're planning on going to Banff (to celebrate my 3 month mark for quitting smoking) next weekend... How much "pain" were you in after one week??

lol I'm full of questions.

I've had problems off and on for the past four years with my wisdom teeth (I'm a 24 year old female). I've had two infections due to my erupted teeth collecting junk between the gums and tooth... but now my biggest worry is that my fully erupted tooth (which has grown out sideways towards my cheek) is now constantly rubbing my cheek and causing a lot of pain, it may be infected, I'm not sure, I have an appointment booked for next week).

I know for a fact now that I'm going to need to get it extracted. Since it's in such an awkward position, it's going to have to be smashed to be extracted. Here in Canada it's illegal for the dentist office to put you to sleep during the procedure, and I'm absolutely FREAKED about about feeling this being done... not the pain, but the actual shattering of the tooth.

Has anyone else been in my situation? I had someone suggest to me to ask the dentist for a prescription for Valium (or a drug that does the same thing) to take a couple of hours prior to the procedure. Would this help?? I'm so scared (not to mention a little broke).

Thanks

You may want to see an oral surgeon (I am one). They can put you under IV sedation. It is very safe and comfortable. Ask for a referral

I got it taken out. It was a VERY easy extraction... (HOLY MOSES was the root HUGE!!) I kept the tooth *I'm strange that way* since it was in one piece. In fact since the extraction was so easy, and they knew I was suffering money wise (have no insurance) they let me pay $150 for everything instead of the $180 :D

I went in, they asked about it (the type of pain I was feeling, how it came about...if I was taking anything for it etc...). Then all of a sudden my dentist comes swooping in, opens my mouth and swabbs the numbing jell on... They did three injections to make sure it was numb enough. Then he had me lie back, and used this tool (that sort of looks like a square-head screw driver). He pushed down HARD on my tooth and I heard all this crackling (I thought I was going to feel pain, but I didn't), then he put the pliers in my mouth, and popped it out within seconds. Boom.. done...just like that! (no stitches or nothing). He told me my other top will be the same.... he also told me that I WILL need to see an oral surgeon for the bottom though, since the roots are too close to the nerves.

Are the roots HUGE though!! I couldn't help wanting to keep the tooth, probably to remind me for next time I go in how easy it was.

I am now waiting for this numbness to go away...

I'm soooo happy it's finally over and done with. :)

Thanks everyone!

:wave: See, I told you you'd be fine! There really wasn't anything to worry about. I'm glad that everything went so good for you. How are you feeling now? Hope everything is ok.

I wanted to keep my tooth too, but I didn't get to. I didn't even get to see it. The oral surgeon told me that the roots were extremely long though.

You're so lucky, you didn't even have to get stitches! My stitches were the most anoying part of the whole thing.

I had mine done on Friday morning and by Saturday I was able to eat semi-solid food. I was even able to eat my Easter dinner on Sunday without any problem!

Actually other then the stitches, I didn't have any pain at all. I couldn't open my mouth all the way because it pulled on the stitches. Today though I was thrilled because I could open my mouth far enough to eat a hoagie, and it tasted so good!!!!!! :)

*mumbles* A hoagie sounds VERY good right about now. Still eating softer foods... LOL I did eat chicken wings and onion rings the same night I got my tooth pulled... I was absoultely starving (cause I couldn't eat ANYTHING solid...all soups and breads before the tooth was pulled).

I work at a local college, and they have this cafeteria across campus that sells foods that the Professional Cooking students make (this is GOOD foods that you would normally spend TONS of money on at a restraunt, for CHEAP). For example last friday I had Lobster Bisque (real lobster!) and a sourdough roll for $1.50. Not bad! (excellent tasting by the way).

Can't wait for lunch today. I'm starving! LOL

I had quiche on the night mine was pulled. I ate mostly soft foods for the first two days, but I was fine after that. I could have eatten regular food earlier, but I was afraid that I would hurt my gum.

I work as a cashier in a hospital cafeteria, so I'm always around food. There were a couple of times last week that something looked so good, but I couldn't eat it because of the stitcches. Now I'm feeling completely better. Still though, I'm trying to be careful because my gum is still a little sensitive if I bite on something wrong.

How are you feeling now? Hope all is well. I have to go now. I want to go to Neopets before the snowager wakes up. ( I just love that site! I've been playing for six months now.) :)

Does anyone know for sure if you have to have an IV when getting your wisdom teeth extracted? If so, is it used primarily for sedation? If it is, is there any other ways for sedation so I wouldn't have to get an IV?

Thanks!

I didn't have an IV for mine. I had it done with laughing gas and novicaine. I had only one out though and it wasn't impacted, so I don't know if it's different if you have more done.

Does anyone know for sure if you have to have an IV when getting your wisdom teeth extracted? If so, is it used primarily for sedation? If it is, is there any other ways for sedation so I wouldn't have to get an IV?

Thanks!

When I had mine pulled in January, I was given a form to fill out on which sedation I wanted. I picked IV sedation, so I'd be asleep. You can also pick laughing gas, or general anesthesia (which they wouldn't give me unless I had the procedure done at a hospital, cause it's more risky). I depends on what you feel is best, and what you can afford. The IV sedation was great, though. I was out like a light!

do a search for LINGUALNERVE. you may think twice about getting your wisdom teeth out with all the complications. They tell you in the dentist office that it is a 2 or 3 percent chance of risk. In a British study, they say it is more like 30 to 40 percent chance of something happening. Do your homework before you have it done because surgery does not always work out the way it is suppose to. Get a second and third opinion before you do anything.

Ask to see the consent form at the dentist's office long before you have any thing done. It tells you all the things that can go wrong.

If something bad does happen, you may be on tranquillizers, anti depressants and anti convulscants(ie:Neurontin-for nerve pain) for the rest of your life.

Impacted wisdom teeth is the most common pathology in the world. Many studies have been performed on extraction vs. leaving alone. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons has come up with guidelines based on this research for assymptomatic wisdom teeth. Of course, if they become symptomatic, then removal is necessary. Nerve damge is a potential complication for the removal of lower 3rd molars, but the risk in the US is low. I have seen some of the British studies, but there surgical technique is different than that in the US. A competent, well-trained oral surgeon can remove most teeth with extremely low risks. As everything else in life goes, there are, of course, no guarantees. But if we lived our lives based on statistics, we would never drive in a car again because that is a much higher risk.

Well, I am new here. I just met with an oral surgeon yesterday & found that I have some serious issues with my wisdom teeth. One is partially under bone/gum and partially erupted, another top one is impacted possibly into my sinus cavity (I think that was where he said ?)and the third is horizontal, and is ON the root of my other molar next to it. That one is also so deep that he is concerned about nerve damage, and may have to leave part of it in. There is also the possibility of losing the molar as well.

I am scheduled for surgery on the 28th, and am totally sick about the whole thing. I was reading the posts here, and everyone seems so nice... Have any of you been in a similar situation? What happened? Please help :)

Wow, you poor thing! If you are going in to see an Oral Surgeon (if you are not, DEFFINATELY see one) he should be able to remove the entire wisdom tooth (not having to leave a portion of it in).

If it is an oral surgeon that suggested that, I would reccommend going to another one for a second opinion.

I hope things go well for you

Wow, you poor thing! If you are going in to see an Oral Surgeon (if you are not, DEFFINATELY see one) he should be able to remove the entire wisdom tooth (not having to leave a portion of it in).

If it is an oral surgeon that suggested that, I would reccommend going to another one for a second opinion.

I hope things go well for you

Hi, just wanted to say THANK YOU all for sharing your experiences. It's really good to know that I am not the only one who is scared out of their brains to have dental surgery done. :) I'll have 3 wisdom teeth and one molar extracted in 2 hours time and suffice to say that I am really edgy just now (as I am working in a call center my customers must think that they "pressed 5 to speak to a raving lunatic... haha). Anyway, I don't even know what it is that makes me so frightened, but I narrowed it down to three points:
- the fact that I don't know what will happen and what amount of pain I will experience
- the remote chance that something major could go wrong (no kidding, it happened to a friend of mine: some nerve was damaged during her tooth extraction and she hasn't been able to move half of her mouth ever since and looks really bad...)
- the fact that I am a heavy smoker and will have to stop smoking for the best part of a week - at least. That's something I haven't been able to do for the last 12 years, so it makes me nervous to even think about it.
Anyway, the operation is going to be performed under conscious sedation which (after all I read today) makes the experience bearable, but we'll see about that!! I'll let you know.
Fortunately my best mate agreed to accompany me to the surgery which is very reassuring and at least he has experienced some nervous breakdowns with me before, so I guess it'll make no difference if I embarrass myself in front of him today... I'm so looking forward to invite the guy for a couple of pints once the whole thing is done and dusted :)
Sorry for babbling like this but I guess it's all part of my brain coping with the stress - I'll update you all when it is over (if I'm still alive ;) ). Until then - wish me strength... and thanks again!

Guess who's still alive... :bouncing:
It's four hours since my last post, I just came back from my surgery and I have four teeth less (I even got to keep them as proof :) )
Now, what can I tell you... probably the first thing I have to say is that I am still heavily drugged up, so I don't know how coherent this is gonna be, but I just feel it's best to share my experience as long as I can remember *anything* (I feel it's slipping away already). Ok, here's what happened: I went into the surgery, the dentist hooked me up to the IV and talked to me for a couple of minutes... after that I have some bits and pieces of memory about somebody rocking around in my mouth, but not painful, rather... funny. Ah, not even "funny", more like it was some sort of a boring dream. Then, after what I took for 5 - 10 minutes maximum (turned out to be approximately an hour) the guy suddenly says to me: "Ok, that's you done" - and I go: "uh??". Honestly, this was the best ever experience anyone could ever make with a tooth extraction. Ok, I give you that, it was under sedation, and everything, so you could say that's too easy. But hey, come on... Read my post above - I was a complete goner just 4 hours ago... and now I just feel on the top of the world!! I know, as soon as the local anaesthetics wear off it's gonna hurt, but I don't mind that, the main thing is that I've got the extraction behind me... yeehaw. Ok, maybe I'll post something about the progress during the next couple of days later. Take care everyone & THANKS. :wave:

Glad to hear it went so well. Keep us updated. I am having all four of mine out in about 1 month. I am so scared also. It really helps hearing all the positive stories!

Feel better soon - :)

Doesn't it feel great to know that it's finally over after worying about it so much! I worried myself sick before I had my tooth pulled. Once it was all over with I was so glad. Now that I look back a month later, I don't know what I was so worried about. I have to get my other three wisdom teeth out soon so I keep on reminding myself how easy it was last time. I hope everything goes just as well this time.