Wisdom teeth

Has anyone had theirs out? I'm needing mine out and I'm scared out of my wits I'm seeing an oral surgeon who has estimated that if I want to go under a general, then it's about $3,000 so I have to decide whether I want to be put out completely or save $1,500 and just be sedated with a local. A no-brainer, right?! I'm petrified I'm going to freak out in the dentist's chair!

If so, please share your stories. And seriously, I'm freaking out, so perhaps only good stories will suffice!

Hi Baalamb

I had my wisdom teeth (all bar one for some reason) out about 7 or 8 years ago. I too had them done under GA and Southern Cross paid for it all. Wasn't a bad experience at all and I am a complete wuss when it comes to dental work! My dentist even gives me gas before an injection .

Recovery wasn't too bad either, like SimSam says they give you really good painkillers and it doesn't take long for them to come right.

Try not to worry too much

Don't panic, it's not always bad. I had six teeth out including my 4 wisdom teeth last year. I had them out by an oral surgeon as two of the wisdom teeth were touching the facial nerve and there was no way in hell I wanted my dentist playing around near that.

I didn't have health insurance, so went with IV sedation. It was great. I have no memory of the surgery at all. I remember very lucidly telling them before they started, that I was going to have 6 out (I was still deciding 6 vs 4), and sitting on the chair - from then to when DH walked in to pick me up, I can't recall anything. I was back at home after about an hour, eating soft food but with very little pain. I never really had pain afterward except if I talked too much, so had 5 days off work (I'm a speech therapist so needed to be able to talk!). I was out and about 2 days later with no swelling. I had one of the best maxillofacial guys and I think his skill made a big difference in post-op recovery.

So if it looks like it will be a relatively straightforward surgery (and your surgeon will know) and you're paying yourself, personally, I'd recommend IV sedation and save yourself $$$$$. Don't be too scared - I was petrified beforehand but it really went well.

Edited by Flissty

Flissty, to answer your last part, the surgeon has said that the 2 top ones are going to be easy, the bottom 2 are slightly harder in that he'll need to cut them into bits and then pull them out.

Excuse me while I just pick up my fainted self from the floor. I can't even talk about it without going weak!

They're all impacted. The bottom ones are only partially erupted though, and that's cause for the breaking them up. I think the part I'm most scared about is the noises!!! And seeing scary looking tools come towards my face. But the logical part of my brain KNOWS it's not going to be as bad as I'm feeling it's going to be. And I'm forgetting that I'm actually NOT going to feel this pain that I'm thinking of.

I've read that the earlier you get them out, the less problems they'll cause later on down the track.

Thanks for your post. That actually makes me feel a lot calmer... for now!! Hehe

no prob....hmm, maybe you could bring an ipod ? some of our patients that dont like the noises do that , it doesnt completly drown them out but it gives something else to focus on , worth a try ?

baalamb wrote: the surgeon has said that... the bottom 2 are slightly harder in that he'll need to cut them into bits and then pull them out.

That's how mine came out, and I was a complete mess beforehand - hysterical in the waiting room. It was so embarrassing! The surgeon was reluctant to start until he was convinced I was consenting to the procedure but it's hard to convince someone of that when you're sobbing violently! Ha ha. Ah, I'd say if it's not going to send you broke, I'd recommend the GA. I had IV sedation (ask if they offer this - explain that it's not just pain you want meds for it's the anxiety of it all) which was really good stuff, but if I did it again, I'd opt to be out.

Edited by Andie

I'd push for IV sedation. Oral knocked me off a little - like having 4 wines - but IV midazolam is wonderful for deleting your memory and pain. If he doesn't offer it, IMO, it'd be worth looking for someone who does, esp if you're rather anxious about getting them out.

There may also be something around definitions - is he a maxillofacial surgeon (dentist and doctor in one - imagine that student loan) or oral surgeon (dentist with extra experience, I think). I think he's have to be a maxfax one to do IV sedation (wouldn't want dentists putting IVs in my arms) - someone else might know.

I had one out under local (thought it was going to be a filling). It wasn't imparcted, and honestly, was fine. No pain at all really, and came straight out. But if they are all imparcted, then that may change things.

Flissty wrote: I'd push for IV sedation. Oral knocked me off a little - like having 4 wines - but IV midazolam is wonderful for deleting your memory and pain.

That's exactly what he told me oral sedation was like. I think I want more of a relaxer than that! I'll ring them in the morning and if they can't offer IV, then I'm back to deciding if oral is going to be enough, or if I should go under. We have the money to do it, but I just don't know if I want to spend that much on removing my teeth!