Worried about losing my wisdom!

[pug_in_a_bed]

Hello

I hope someone can give me some reassurance!

Unlucky me, I have had all my wisdom teeth appear. I had one out at the dentist which was absolutely fine, over in seconds - plus it helps I've been seeing the same bloke for 15 years.

Started getting one or two infections, and very strange pain on one side every time i bit into soemthing, like a dull, prolonged pain in my jaw. My dentist then referred me to the hospital about getting my teeth taken out. After waiting ages, appointments canceleld without warning etc etc, i finally saw the consultant yesterday. First, he was very late, so I waited an hour and a half first for an x-ray then ages till he arrived. So, that was annoying to begin with.

I've never seen a consultant before, never been to hospital - but he was very weird and I left quite frightened. It was almost like he was enjoying it lol. First he said, so your dentist wants these 3 teeth out - well, we'll have to cut them out with a knife! He even made a little jabbing motion with his hand! Then he said, it'll hurt and you'll hate it (duh).

I know its a normal procedure to him but being put to sleep and cut at :eek: is certainly not to me! I was in there about two minutes. He didn't explain anything apart from it'll hurt and also didn't look in my mouth. He also said the operation could damage the nerves in my lip 'but if someone competent does it it'll probably be all right' ! I'm sure he was joking but it didn't really relax me to be honest lol.

I knew, I just knew, i should have taken my mum in to ask questions, i was a bit too dumstruck!

I haven't had any pain for a while (because it took so long for the appointment) and now I don't even know the reason they're coming out specifically, except that i had some pain and an infection.

I am also PETRIFIED of being put to sleep. I hope this doesn't make me sound bonkers, I hate the dentist!

Has anyone had theirs out like this? What's tha actual reason the dentist can' remove them?

[Nile]

I'm sorry to hear about your experience with the hospital consultant, he obviously didn't graduate from charm school.:mad:

Don't worry, I'm sure an expert like Toothsmith will respond to your worries soon. You could try sending him a private message for a more personal reply too.

It sounds like the reason why your dentist can't remove your wisdom teeth is because they need to be surgically removed using a scalpel, not with the usual dental instruments.........and this will also involve a general anaesthetic.

For someone who hasn't experienced a general anaesthetic like you, it can make you nervous. Tell your surgeon of your worries and he/she will reassure you and explain exactly what will happen. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Make a list of the questions and take them with you, write down the answers and follow the advice you're given, especially for after the surgery to help your mouth to heal.;)

I hope that helps to ease your worries.

[crossleydd42]

Wisdom teeth are quite different from other teeth, in fact the roots come in four different types - mine comprise all four! I've had two of mine out, both with a local anaesthetic, but that was my choice and those less brave would have been wise to have a general, which is much more common.
So the procedure is commonplace: the experience was not!

PS I see that doctors and surgeons are now going to two-year courses to teach them how to be sensitive to patients needs, something which should not need to be taught, and certainly not for two years! Another waste of taxes and potential healthcare funding!

Rant over for today!

[Savvy_Sue]

I would also go back to your dentist and tell him how frightening you found the consultant. I am sure he will be much more helpful and explain why he doesn't think he can take out the wisdom teeth you have left and why they need to come out.

If you do need a general anaesthetic, I have never met an unfriendly or scary anaesthetist. Although you may only meet them just before the op, I have always found they are brilliant at reassuring you. If you are worried about that, ask at your GP surgery if they can get you a leaflet about anaesthetics - I saw one when I was in hospital last month.

[Toothsmith]

Seen your message, but I'm a bit busy at the moment.

I'll reply if/when I have a gap.

[Maisie]

I had 3 wisdom teeth removed in hospital when I was 16 (some years ago).
.
They said I was very young to have wisdom teeth. But they were very reassuring and all the doctors/dentists were very good.

It was a bit sore afterwards but soon healed.

When the last wisdom tooth began to come through a dentist told me to have that removed too as it was impacted and no good on its own. So that came out at the hospital.

I was fine afterwards.

[Bendybops19]

I thought you could only get 2 wisdon teeth :rolleyes: :o I have one coming through, my gums all split :eek: hmmm perhaps i should see a dentist!

[Maisie]

4 if you're extra wise... ha ha.

Sounds if you have one coming if it's right at the back. They sometimes get infected or are impacted. Get it checked if it continues to be sore.

[Teerah]

Wisdom teeth have to be surgically removed if they are impacted in the jaw bone and are starting to cause problems from recurrent infections or perhaps compromising the health of adjacent teeth. It is not unusual to have a GA for this procedure if, as in your case, there are three teeth to be removed. This is not to say that they could not perhaps be removed under local anaesthetic with or without sedation but as you dont seem too keen on dentistry in general I am sure that the GA would be the best option to get it over and done with in one go. There are risks with any surgical procedure and also with any general anaesthetic. These should have been clearly explained to you as if they were not you have not given informed consent for the procedure to take place. Make sure you have everything explained to you before going ahead with treatment. This is essential and any good surgeon would not dream of going ahead without you being happy at the risks involved, not to mention he would be liable if he had not received informed consent from you. It is a good idea as Nile suggests to make a list of any questions you would like to ask beforehand. It is common to forget things we were going to ask in situations which you find stressful. As for recovery afterwards, yes you will be uncomfortable afterwards during the healing but the better you follow the post op instructions and cleaner you keep the wounds, the less problems you will have. It is common to receive a course of antibiotics to take immediately afterwards if there has been bone removal to prevent infection of the wound. You will also feel groggy in general due to the GA and you will need a soft diet for a while. It is important to note that healing will be delayed if you smoke.

[Bendybops19]

Yeah its right it the back, ooooh i shall now be wiser than my older sisters as they dont have them :D

[Toothsmith]

Hi there.

I’ve written this out on ‘Word’ in between patients, so no smileys and things I’m afraid.

Here’s the Toothsmith bluffers guide to wisdom teeth and Oral Surgeons!

Wisdom teeth are 3rd molars. There is one at the back in each quarter of your mouth. Some people have one or more missing. We are evolving out of them. They generally come through between 18 and 25 yrs old. A lot of people just get them through without any trouble at all. Trouble can vary from mild ‘teething’ pains to frequent major infections (Sometimes called pericoronitis). If infections are frequent and/or severe, the teeth are best out. Also, if they have come through at a funny angle, plaque and food debris can collect around them, and decay can start in the wisdom tooth, or the molar in front of it. This can be another reason why they need extracting.

Some people have wisdom teeth that haven’t come through, but are so deeply buried that they will never have any trouble from them. These are left alone.

Because we are also evolving smaller jaws, wisdom teeth often get cramped up and appear at strange angles to the other teeth. Sometimes being jammed up against the other teeth – this is called impacted. Sometimes, one wisdom tooth comes through fine, but because it has not got an opposing one to bite against, it comes through too far. These are dead easy to get out, and are the ones that only take a few seconds and your dentist would be happy to do this.

Impacted and buried wisdom teeth are a different kettle of fish. For a general dentist in practice, unless they have a keen interest in oral surgery, these are better off referred. Especially if there is more than one to do, as under a local anaesthetic you could only really do them one at a time, or maybe two if they were quite easy. Plus, there is some pain, swelling and discomfort afterwards, and no dentist would like his patient to be telling other people of what they went through when they had a wisdom tooth out at their practice, and so would hate to have to do that 3 times! If it’s done in hospital, people somehow expect and put up with a bit more discomfort afterwards.

For an oral surgeon, removing wisdom teeth is a doddle normally. They are highly skilled and trained individuals. Unless it’s a much older chap, he would have to be a qualified dentist, who has done a postgraduate fellowship exam (V. Hard), then gone back to medical school to do 4-5 more years training to be a doctor, then done his surgical fellowships and worked up through house officer/registrar ranks to consultant. If you can imagine the amount of study that all that would involve, you can see that it would normally take a rather odd sort of person to want to do it all in the first place!! I have been lucky I think in that all the consultant OSs that I have been associated with really have been very nice people.

I must say that yours does sound like a bit of a pillock though!

I may be worth going back to your dentist and asking if there is another consultant he could refer you to, but that may put you back to the end of the queue again.

I am sure the guy you’ve been sent to is perfectly able, and will make a good job of it, especially as he’s left himself wide open to a lawsuit now if he does damage the nerve in the process! One of the best consultant orthodontists (Tooth mover – braces and the like) round here has very poor people skills!

If I had the choice of a good communicator, or someone who could do the job, I know which one I’d want (Although ideally I would like both, and I too would be pretty peed off if I got a grumpy s*d!)

Let’s face it, you’ll be asleep anyway, and probably not see the guy again until it’s all over.

As to the pain & suffering you’ll go through. I can’t pretend it’s not unpleasant! To put it into context though, it’s probably not as bad as a medium – severe flare up of the teeth themselves, and it will be a once only event.

The fear of a general anaesthetic is again a sensible fear. They do carry a risk, and shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. (Which is why I have strong feelings about cosmetic surgery!) Like aeroplane travel though, millions of people do it quite safely every day, and it’s only the disasters that make the news. I assume that you are very young. I would presume you are fit and well, and I would hope you don’t smoke. If you are all these things, you will be absolutely fine.

4 years ago I needed 4 general anaesthetics in 8 months for one thing or another. I quite enjoy the feeling of sleep coming over you like a wave, and the next thing you know, a pretty nurse is waking you up!!!!

Best of luck. It WILL be fine!


EDIT:- Just read Teerah's post. She's obviously had a quieter day than me today :D She's made some very good points!

[Spendless]

I had my bottom two wisdom teeth out in hospital under a GA about 16 years ago. It was sore afterwards and I had to go back about 10 days later to have stitches removed -i guess they'd use disolving ones now? I had no further problems.

A few weeks ago I went to dentist with tootchache, and she removed one of my top wisdom teeth whilst I was there.

[Toothsmith]

It sounds like the reason why your dentist can't remove your wisdom teeth is because they need to be surgically removed using a scalpel, not with the usual dental instruments.........


Oi! Nile!
I'll have you know I'm a dab hand with a scalpel!! We use them too you know. Apicectomies and removal of various bits of root and debris from below peoples gums are quite routine stuff for us.

I think I stitch better than most doctors too! (The tissue we work on is a lot more fragile than easy peasy skin!) :rolleyes:

Right at the back of the mouth, and buried though, you really need a patient asleep, or an unusually good patient with a big mouth :p

[pug_in_a_bed]

Phew. That all took a while to read but every post was a cracker - some excellent info there - thanks ever so much to all of you, and toothsmith for taking some time out to give me a really comprehensive answer.

I really, really appreciate all the posts and feel a lot better.
I know when the pain returns I will, as I was a few months back, be feeling like 'take them all out! I don't care!' so better out than in as they say.

I'm as equally worried about the G.A as the pain; I was also more worried as he didn't explain exactly what would happen and why - however, after these helpful posts, it seems very straight forward and I definately feel reassured. I'm very fond of my teeth, they are very useful for munching on cadbury's flakes and the like!

Anyhoo, many thanks again everyone and i reckon i'll be opening this thread up in a panic the night before!

[mini]

i was more concerned with the idea of the GA than having my impacted wisdom teeth out, I explained to consultant who said I have could have local anaesthetic with valium the night before & another tablet the morning of removal, it was great, I knew what was going on but wasn't in the least bit bothered (I think I have posted before about this with a reminder not to drive after taking Valium) I had 3 removed in 1 go & went home straight after, well I did some shopping at Tesco on the way home :)

Good luck

mini

[Nile]

Dr Mr Toothsmith (note the politeness, I don't say Oi!);)

You only captured (to quote) part of my words, I also mentioned a general anaesthetic as the reason. Am I correct in thinking that the use of general anaesthetic by dentists is rare nowadays?

I acknowledged that you are an expert (I am not an expert in anything:o ) but while we were waiting for an expert opinion, I thought that some reasurring words might put him at ease.
At least we agree on one thing.........the people skills of the consultant.:rolleyes:

[Toothsmith]

Dear Mr (Mrs Miss?) Nile

You are indeed quite correct that GAs are not done in dental practices nowadays. Due to one or two unfortunate deaths, which made the papers, and a right hullabaloo was kicked up, the practice was stopped.

Never mind that the death rate in dental practices was about the same as in hospitals, never mind that there wasn't and still isn't any alternative provision within the hospital system to mop up the cases that used to be seen in dental practices.

Nowadays kids with rotten teeth in poorer areas can suffer or be on antibiotics for years waiting to get an appointment to have their teeth out. They've often fallen out themselves before anything gets done. The extra load that has put on Oral surgery departments has shoved up the waiting times for all sorts of stuff like routine wisdom tooth extractions.

That's the sort of regulator clowns that I have to deal with!

Personally, I haven't done a GA extraction on anyone since I qualified. I can't stand the stress of it!!!! But some practices had that service as a large part of their business, and it was stopped overnight. As I said, it wouldn't have been bad if it really was more dangerous than having it done elsewhere, or if the altenative provision was good. It was however a simple Knee jerk reaction to some bad headlines, and it has caused more problems than it has solved.

Yours respectfully :D

T.S.

[pester]

Hello,

Nice to read all the mails, I will try and get back into the board very soon. With toothsmith and teerah this part of the board is well looked after.

Firstly I remove wisdom teeth under GA at hospital nearly every week and also work in general practice so can maybe give a little different view on the situation.

Normally for most wisdom teeth we would prefer to do them under local anaesthetic (LA)as long as the patient is aware that there may be discomfort and also as we may need to use a drill ( just like the dentist drill ). If they are happy then we can do it over 2 visits with LA. Some people would prefer being asleep, and thus if its for 2 or more teeth then we will agree. Also sometimes surgical difficulty dictates that a GA should be done, but this is not common and only for those teeth which are hugely buried and if that was the case I guess you would have been told.

The worst thing about GA is when u wake up, you feel so groggy and its not a very nice feeling after. But saying that my patients are in at 7am and leave at lunch (with supervision) so it’s not that bad.

Most dentists don’t have the experience of taking out these difficult teeth and hence at the hospital you should be in very capable and expert hands.

Have a good think about everything, ask as many questions and if your not happy with your consultant then ask your dentist to refer you elsewhere, maybe even private. Saying that your consultant sounds like a bit of an !!!, but then hey his hands are good that’s why he’s consultant. Can I be cheeky and ask what hospital ;)

Anything else, just hollow.

[pug_in_a_bed]

Thanks for this Pester. There was no mention by the consultant of any alternative other than general a. at all. I was in and out in less than 2 minutes. I don't suppose I'll be able to ask any questions now as next time I see him I'll probably be asleep.

This is so useful, having all these experts. Pester, if you don't mind me asking, are you a consultant dentist/mouth person (I'm sorry I can't remember the name!) like the guy I saw?

Again, thanks for the replies. As it turns out, my teeth are annoying me today!

[pester]

No problem at all, glad to be of help.

If you are unsure you can always phone the hospital and ask for another consultation as you have questions which wernt answered. If your still not satisfied then as mentioned a private option could also be available or ask to see someone else at the hospital. If you have health insurence this is covered mostly and if you have to pay then once again depends on you. Saying that i still believe the consultant youve seen will be more than happy to see you again as you should be 100% before making a commitment.

As for medication, not likly that dianette will cause any problems and if youve stated on your hospital sheet, then surely that would have been picked up.

As for myself, I am a dentist working mainly in general practice who also has a passion in surgery so I have a part time role at hospital keeping my fingers wet :)

once again any other queries, however little, just ask.

Take care and remeber its your mouth people are working with and you should be 100% with everything that is being done.


to also add......

if you are very nervous of being asleep and hence would prefer the procedure under local then ask. Once again most GA's are done because ppl are nervous and dont want to be awake, hardly due to surgical difficulity.

Some teeth do need you asleep as there is a lot of drilling etc etc, but this is not often. When you are numb you should not feel any pain, only pressure. If you would rather be awake and dont mind the above then ask, maybe even do one side of the mouth at a time.

[bluesnice]

I hope you don't mind me hijacking this thread but I've just got back from the dentist who refered me to the hospital for a GA removal of my bottom 2 wisdoms. I'm terrified!

He said they would have to remove some jaw bone to make room to get to my teeth out. Is that right ?? Did I hear him correctly? :eek:

The dentist said my teeth are impacted. The area is tender and I know they need to come out... but what would happen if I didn't have them out?? What are the consquenses??

also.. one last thing..how long did you all take off work after a GA type extraction?

cheers!

[pug_in_a_bed]

Not a problem, hijack away - its been very useful so far!

The guy I saw did tell me I would need a work off work i'll be having 3 out), it seems my teeth are also impacted.

I've been in pain this week so am becoming resigned to them coming out, although if the pain stops I'll probably go back into denial lol! I think the consequences would probably be more pain and upset to your other pegs but I'm sure Toothsmith or Pester will fill you in very soon.

When you go the hospital for a consultation ask loads of questions! I never had a chance and my consultant is a total nincompoop.

[Teerah]

The consequences are the same as the reasons for having them out! IE, infection, pain, possible damage to adjacent teeth.

[Toothsmith]

Not to mention the infection causing swelling around your throat which can put pressure on your airway and lead to death :eek: (That doesn't happen very often though.)

Having wisdom teeth out can't be described as nice. It's not the sort of thing you'd want done every day ;)

It is, however, a once only job. Unlike the infections and pain and swelling and bad taste etc from keeping them in place when impacted.

[bluesnice]

Not to mention the infection causing swelling around your throat which can put pressure on your airway and lead to death :eek: (That doesn't happen very often though.)

Having wisdom teeth out can't be described as nice. It's not the sort of thing you'd want done every day ;)

It is, however, a once only job. Unlike the infections and pain and swelling and bad taste etc from keeping them in place when impacted.


but I don't get infections or pain.. just a bit of tenderness and a bit of a bad taste. Everyone on here whos had them out seems to have a really bad time with them. I'm not. Feel a fraud! Do i still need them out.. maybe I can wait a while??!

thanks everyone for your replies.

[Toothsmith]

but I don't get infections or pain.. just a bit of tenderness and a bit of a bad taste. Everyone on here whos had them out seems to have a really bad time with them. I'm not. Feel a fraud! Do i still need them out.. maybe I can wait a while??!

thanks everyone for your replies.

The tenderness and bad taste are most likely caused by infection - just a minor one. Believe me, if you get a medium / bad flare up, you'll wish you'd had them out beforehand.

Bear in mind waiting lists for routine wisdom tooth extraction are often quite long.

You're better off on the list with a bit of minor discomfort than only being put on the list when things really hot up, and praying you get to the top before it happens again.

[pester]

if you’ve been having discomfort from the areas then most likely this will recur and toothsmith is correct that next time it may be even more painful.

If its only been minor discomfort and only once then u may want to leave it a while, if its not settling then yup u need something done.

Once again remember if you want you should have the option of getting one tooth removed at a time without a GA, maybe with some sedation. But if that’s not for you then get it done with GA.

Funnily enough I just done a GA wisdom tooth list this morning, and I still advise my patients that if they can take some discomfort then have one done at a time awake, that’s only if I feel the patient can cope and the surgery is ok for me to do awake.

Its a very very common procedure and ull be fine. If you have any other worries just let us know.....

best of luck :)


oh yeah the bit about removing bone----- there’s not enough space to wobble out the tooth, so we make a little space around tooth by taking some bone away, that’s it.

[elisebutt65]

Waiting lists!! - hahahahaha - "hysterical laughter!!"

My dentist referred me last August for a removal under GA. I got my consultaton in March and that's it!!! I rang up in case I'd had a letter lost in the post and they were quite snotty with me - Apparently I'm looking at November by the earliest!!

That's 15 months so far!!! My poor mouth - I'd be begging the dentist to just get the thin out were it not for my phobia of things in my mouth - I cry everytime he does a scale and polish and fillings???? Ha - I have to have them without injections if possible and with valium as i just freak - the injections really do my head in - sorry Toothsmith et al, I know you're probably great guys but after a nightmare removal when I was 18 (involving an emergency dentist in London, major infection, stitches falling out and anaesthetic wearing off) I just freak in that chair now.

Have to pretend to be calm and collected in front of the kids and then send them downstairs to wait while i'm getting done so I don't get them freaked as well.

Just wish the waiting list wasn't so long

[Toothsmith]

Just wish the waiting list wasn't so long


Have you seen my post #17 on this thread?

[Daisy]

Can any of the dentists on here please advise me about my gum? I had all 4 wisdom teeth removed when I was 13. (I'm now 32) Where they should be is a gap which I can feel with my tongue. On the bottom row though on one side, part of the gum seems to be at the same level as the tooth next to it and once in a while it (the gum) gets sore and feels like it's overlapping the tooth. I looked in the mirror and it looks like a soft lump. It's now not sore anymore and is going down a bit. This happens only once in a while (like once every 2 years) so it doesn't concern me but I just wondered what it could be?

The worst thing for me when I had my wisdom teeth out was feeling ill due to the GA and having a swollen mouth so I couldn't eat anything for 3 days. I didn't really find it painful, but I remember it took a while for them to stop bleeding. I also remember being told they had to break my jaw which surely cant be right?! because my mouth was so small. I do know though that my jaw 'clicked' for about 2 years afterwards!

[jezza1O1]

interesting thread to read, nice 1 dentists! Got a couple of wisdom through that seem ok but there is talk of removal due to overlapping gum (had 2 infections in 9 years) - cant that be just sliced off?! Actually its getting much smaller in time...

Thing that scares me most in the thought of GA - sounds horrible to me so reassuring to hear you can have it done awake. Fortunately never been too bothered by people rooting around my mouth!!

[Toothsmith]

Can any of the dentists on here please advise me about my gum? I had all 4 wisdom teeth removed when I was 13. (I'm now 32) Where they should be is a gap which I can feel with my tongue. On the bottom row though on one side, part of the gum seems to be at the same level as the tooth next to it and once in a while it (the gum) gets sore and feels like it's overlapping the tooth. I looked in the mirror and it looks like a soft lump. It's now not sore anymore and is going down a bit. This happens only once in a while (like once every 2 years) so it doesn't concern me but I just wondered what it could be?



I would suggest the best thing here Daisy is to go and see your dentist when it happens.

13 seems very young to have wisdom teeth out, and my best guess here is that it was not wisdom teeth. They would only be half formed in your gum at 13.

I can't really guess at what happened or why or what is happening now.

[Toothsmith]

interesting thread to read, nice 1 dentists! Got a couple of wisdom through that seem ok but there is talk of removal due to overlapping gum (had 2 infections in 9 years) - cant that be just sliced off?! Actually its getting much smaller in time...

Thing that scares me most in the thought of GA - sounds horrible to me so reassuring to hear you can have it done awake. Fortunately never been too bothered by people rooting around my mouth!!

If it seems to be getting smaller, it might go away eventually. How old are you? If you're older than 30, and it hasn't gone by now, it probably won't. 2 infections in 9 years isn't many. If that is the only reason for their removal, then it might be OK to leave them. Discuss it more with your dentist.

I think I'm right in saying that the reason the 'flap' isn't cut off is that it just grows back again! Strange but true (I think. That's just a hazy memory from my training - all I know is that you don't just 'cut it off'!!) Prehaps if Pester is looking in he could confirm that?

You sound like you should be fine with the local anaesthetic option if you do need it out though.

[gizmos]

Just stumbled across this thread and if brought bac memories.

I had two of my wisdom teeth earlier this year (aged 30), I had no problems at all.

Was extremely nervous when i went to the hospital. came round after the anaesthetic and was groggy but no pain. Stayed in the hospital for a couple of hours sippin water and feeling not too bad. at this point I hadnt seen my face and had visions of a grapefruit sized swelling - nothing at all and no bruising and surprisingly no bleed.

The only problem was not eating - weetabix were a good friend those first few days.

No swelling or bleed over the coming days though a soft food diet was a must for at least a week. Hey it was a good diet to go on before your hols - I felt really healthy and fit and indeed lost some fat (but not weight!!).

Might have to have the other two out next year but we are waiting to see

[pug_in_a_bed]

I know this is pretty old but I thought I woudl just update it a bit.
A cancellation came up so I am giong to the hospital on the 26th Jan. Yikes!

But...I was worried all over again as I was told over the phone it was to be with a local not general after all (the consultant told me I'd be asleep).

So I waited for the letter which said the same adn called just in case, and they confirmed that I would be awake, and that a double slot has been booked for me. The hospital thought mayeb it could be because there is higher grade dental surgeon whatsit going to be doing the procdeure, but that was the only explanation they could think of as to why I am now being told I will be awake.

I'm not sure why this has changed, but I feel better about being awake, although I was under the impression it was a bit of a nightmare procedure to do on someone who is awake....? I'm not looking forward to it but I don't feel like having a panic attack every time I think about it now
:eek:

To recap, I have one tooth on the top left which has come through quite a bit.

The ones on the bottom have barely come through but i can feel a little tiny bit of each.

Any thoughts?

[Toothsmith]

The top one will be a doddle. Like shelling peas - especially when they've come through too far.

Lower one will be a bit more of a dig, but to a top Oral Surgeon, it's like filling the washer bottle to a F1 Grand Prix pit engineer!!

Lie back and think of England dear - you'll be fine! ;)

[sue67]

[B] Hi, was just reading through this thread as i've got an upper impacted wisdom tooth being taken out tomorrow with sedation. I'v had trouble with this tooth for about three years pain soreness ect. Now my mouth won't open properly, so I knew the time had come to get it sorted. My worry is how will the dentist open my mouth wide enough to get to the tooth. Won't my jaw break if they try to force it open. My stomach is churning just thinking about it. The tooth is partly though. Any information would be much appreiated.

[Teerah]

Hi sue67, try not to worry too much, top wisdom teeth are much easier to extract than lower ones. As for not being able to fully open, again dont worry. To get at the tooth the dentist will actually not want you to open fully as it actually lessens the amount of access to the tooth so they will probably get you to open part way and possibly move your jaw to the side that the extraction is on as this will give them the room they need!

Good luck

[sue67]

Hi Teerah,
Thanks for the reasurance. One other question i forgot to ask is will I get full mobility back in my jaw once the tooth is removed, and the gum has had a chance to heal?
Anyway must go and have some rescue remedy and some sleep. I'm expecting pain so that anything less will be a bonus. The waiting is the worse thing. Must go now. I will let you know how it goes.
Thanks Sue

[Teerah]

Yes everything will get back to normal once the tooth is removed as this is what has caused the inflammation and infection leading to you being unable to fully open. It will take a little while to resolve but as long as you follow the post-operative instructions which your dentist will give you this will happen as soon as possible, Hope all went well today!

[sue67]

All went really well Teerah. Can't feel any pain not even the dull ache they said might be present. No pain killers needed either. Can't believe its been taken, keep wanting to check with my tounge, but know I mustn't. Had extraction about 2.30. So looks like I have been very lucky. It made a big difference having this forum and people like you to reassure us nervous money savers.

[Teerah]

Glad it all went well for you sue67 :)

[poppycat]

Just came across this thread and it’s very interesting reading! I don’t think telling any of you my experience is going to be very constructive but I’ve decided to anyway. If any of you are planning to have your wisdom teeth removed, you may not want to read this.

Anyway, here goes.. (apologies if its long but there’s quite a lot to tell)

I had all four of my wisdom teeth out in February 2002. I had had trouble with them for ages and my dentist recommended having them all taken out at the hospital under GA. I wasn’t too worried about it, I’d never had a GA before but realised it was a relatively minor procedure and was just looking forward to being infection free!

I had the op on the Friday morning. I felt a bit rough when I came round but nothing too bad. I managed a yogurt and they let me go home at around 5pm. Over the weekend I didn’t feel great but that was to be expected.

By the Monday evening I was getting some serious pain in the bottom left side of my mouth where one of the teeth had been removed. The pain got progressively worse and I spent the whole of the Tuesday in bed, in agony. By this point I couldn’t eat or drink, I couldn’t swallow my own saliva and so was surrounded by tissues (gross) and it was the most horrible feeling. I sat up all Tuesday night because the pain was driving my insane, I had never felt pain like it. I have given birth 3 times but I’d take labour over that pain anyday. By Wednesday I was having trouble getting my breath. I could only take shallow breaths and was feeling panicky.

On the Wednesday evening I was getting so desperate, I couldn’t take any pain killers due not being able to swallow and just didn’t know what to do. My OH practically carried me to the local A&E department where I pleaded to be admitted back into hospital as I knew something was really wrong. The silly cow doctor who was there told me there was nothing she could do, despite the fact that my face had swollen to elephant man proportions and I was really struggling to breathe, not to mention delirious with the pain. She gave me a bottle of Calpol and a couple of soluble aspirin – I kid you not. I was in tears, trying to tell her I couldn’t even swallow my own saliva so how could I take the medication? I couldn’t speak properly because of the swelling and my OH was trying to translate for me.

We went home and I spent another night in agony. I couldn’t lie down because that made breathing virtually impossible. The next morning my OH took me to see my GP and she took one look at me and got straight on the phone to the hospital saying that I needed to be readmitted ASAP. I could have kissed her!

At the hospital they told me that despite what I was telling them about the pain and the breathing difficulties, they were only admitting me because I hadn’t drank anything for 3 days and so they wanted me on a drip to stop me dehydrating. They also put me on another drip for antibiotics and promised me the pain would subside within 24 hours. By this point my breathing was so bad, I was begging them to do something but they wouldn’t even look in my mouth. My jaw had locked and I could only open my mouth by about 1 centimetre, if that.

That night in hospital the pain was still just as bad and I spent the whole night sitting up in bed just concentrating on my breathing, it was so hard to breathe that I thought if I fell asleep I would stop breathing. I got out of bed to tell the nurses this, but they were too busy knitting and just told me to go to sleep and not to be silly.

The next day nothing had changed. At tea time the doctor finally came round to see me. He was the first person to show any concern and he managed to get a look in my mouth. He disappeared off somewhere and came back a little later.

He told me that my mouth was badly infected. I had two very large abcesses in my throat which were blocking my airway and I needed emergency surgery that night or my airway would completely block and that would be lights out for me. Then came the bad news. He said that because my throat was in such a bad state, if they gave me a GA my airway would probably collapse before they could get a tube in so he said that before I was to be knocked out, they would have to put a tube up my nose and get that all in place before giving me the GA.

So later that night I had to climb onto the operating theatre table fully awake and lay there while they shoved a tube up my nose. It was so horrible, it took four of them to pin me down while they did it. That was the last thing I remember as they must have knocked me straight out afterwards.

Next thing I know it’s the following afternoon and i’m in intensive care on a ventilator with my family at my bedside. Apparently it had been touch and go, I don’t remember the details but my other half got a late night phone call and got straight to the hospital as I wasn’t doing very well. All the time I was unconscious, my family were all waiting to hear if I was going to make it or not.

I was taken off the ventilator later that evening and then spent another week in hospital recovering. I had drains put into my mouth to drain of the infection fluid and when i had to have them removed i was freaking out, I couldn't bear anyone coming near my mouth but they were really kind and patient and i got through it eventually. I couldn’t eat solids for weeks, my jaw was still locked and so eating was pretty impossible. For three months at least I couldn’t open my mouth properly, and even now, 4 years later, I still have some numbness in the side of my mouth due to nerve damage.

So that’s my story of having my wisdom teeth removed! I know what happened to me is a one in a million thing but it doesn’t make you feel any better when you’re the one going through it.

[tonytooth]

Thats a fairly scary tale!
Glad you came out the other side in one piece (just about)!!

Don't have much time to reply at length but i just want to reaffirm what you've said, that it is rare for the complications post extraction to be so severe.
Also the symptoms you describe are a real possibility with wisdom teeth that are still present and 'poking halfway through' the gum. An infection arising from these can spread rapidly to endanger the airway. I've had patients who've put off getting their wisdom teeth removed and came in as a last resort with large dangerous swellings. They've then needed emergency surgery like you.
So if your dentist says get them out, it's still best to do this in the big majority of cases, despite the complication risks.

i hope this is clear but im in a rush!! apologies if it isnt

[Toothsmith]

As Tony has said, this is a very rare, but very scary complication.

As he has also pointed out, exactly the same reaction can happen with troublesome wisdom teeth left in place, and also if you ignore broken teeth, or toothaches.

A couple of years ago, a case of a spreading septacaemia like this was also reported in a young lady who had just had her tongue pierced!

Glad you came out OK.

[pug_in_a_bed]

I am deliberatley not reading that post, as I'm still waiting for mine to come out!

[Lara]

My 20 yr old is having his wisdom teeth out under GA on 16th June and after reading poppycat's experience I shall be on the ball right away. Oh dear hope it isn't too painful cos he doesn't want to miss the World Cup he says!

Just one question: he is asthmatic but not bad at all now and suffers with bad hay fever. Does this make any difference to GA? Thanks T&T :D

[Toothsmith]

My 20 yr old is having his wisdom teeth out under GA on 16th June and after reading poppycat's experience I shall be on the ball right away.

It's an ultra rare complication following surgery. Much more common (But still rare) complication of leaving things in place!

Oh dear hope it isn't too painful cos he doesn't want to miss the World Cup he says!

More chance of being ready for it than Rooney;)

Just one question: he is asthmatic but not bad at all now and suffers with bad hay fever. Does this make any difference to GA? Thanks T&T :D

The anaesthatist will take a full medical history and take all appropriate measures.

[rharper83]

I'm glad I've found this thread (although a little scared now I've read some of it!!). I must admit I didn't look after my teeth as much as I could have done when I was little, but I've had a lot of work done to sort out the problems in the last couple of years (I'm only 22 now!! :( ). I've been told that I've got 2 horizontally impacted wisdom teeth in my lower jaw, and that unless they cause problems I should be ok. However, I've got a nasty taste most of the time coming from one of the teeth, and it's starting to poke through (no pain or anything). I've got a dental appointment for a checkup on the 1st of June. Is it worth making an appointment now for before then in case there are any problems? The taste is quite nasty at times, but doesn't taste like an abcess (I'm guessing it's plaque and stuff that's built up around the tooth in the gum?)

Also, do you think a dentist would be able to get it out or would it need to be a hospital operation??

Hope someone can offer some advice!

Rich..


PS, sorry for hijacking the thread!!

[Toothsmith]

If there's no pain or swelling, don't panic. The bad taste is probably just old food composting around it! (Not nice, but not an emergency.) See if doing a few salty water mouthwashes each day (Vigerously swilled around the tooth) and more dilligent toothbrushing help.

Mention the problem when you go in a couple of weeks, and see what the dentist says.

If it ever does need to come out, being horizontally impacted, it may well be a hospital job, but that's not really a worry. If the dentist has a special interest in oral surgery, he may well feel like he wants to do it himself. he would still explain the options and give you the choice though.

[Lara]

Thanks for your reply Toothsmith - really need thanks button back:(.
I think I am more worried than he is! Dentist decided last July he needed X Rays, that happened in December and they said all four have to be removed and so we've waited for appointment and it's just come through. I don't think he hasn't been in too much discomfort - well he hasn't said but there again he is at Uni:rolleyes: .

[Toothsmith]

He'll wake up groggy, swollen and with blood all over his pillow, so it will look horrific at the start!!

He'll be sore for a week or so, but the soreness isn't anywhere near as bad as the soreness of a major flare up - and it's a once only thing!

Feet up in front of the telly which MUST be tuned to football, something very cold in his hand (Tin of beer would be ideal) to hold against his face and to wash his mouth out with (Although it wouldn't hurt to swallow some)

I think he should be able to get back on his feet again by July 10th.

P.S.

For an extortionate private fee, I will write that up as a sicknote for anyone who wants it!!!!!!

[Lara]

Thanks Toothsmith - I think you're reading his mind! :D

Little concerned about 10th July though as he is off on holiday to Spain on 5th!! However it is with g/f and in parents private villa so won't be rowdy - except for Cup Final :p. Fingers crossed it'll all go like clockwork anyway:silenced:. Better him than me though .....................:silenced:.

EDITED:
Passed on words to Uni son and he's come back saying "I don't do pain so no problems but I like the third paragraph so I'll believe that and follow instructions accordingly!:):)"

[rharper83]

Thanks toothsmith! Really could do with the Thanks button right about now, so gonna say "THANKS" this way!

I think the sicknote suggestion is fantastic (the contents of it, not actually writing one!!), and I'm sure it's a great way to recover ;)

[pug_in_a_bed]

Don't think i'm ever going to get mine out as the consultant has just discharged me for not turning up today - got the dates mixed up :o, ohhh I am such an idiot - letter had the wrong day but right date, my fault for not checking!

I wouldn't mind but he has cancelled it himself twice :rolleyes:

[Toothsmith]

A 'Sorry' card and a bottle of wine addressed to the consultant may be well worth the £6-7 it would cost you.

Not money saving I know! But it may well be a huge time saver!

[spoardy]

Hi guys

Have been searching the web for some sort of idea why my lower jaw still hurts after having one of my lowe wisdom teeth out a year ago, then came across this thread which has giving me some hope!

As I said a year ago I had my wisdom tooth out under LA in the dentist, it was a struggle to get it out and I was in pain for 2 to 3 weeks afterwards, barely being able to open my mouth properely. However a year on I still get an ache in my lower jaw and sometimes after chewing some hard food or french stick etc.. it won't open fully. I am put off going back to my dentist as I don't know if it's something she has done or not.

I still have the other lower wisdom tooth to come out, and only the past few weeks it's starting to ache a lot, don't know if it's related but just wanted to ask anyone on here if they had any clues as to what it could be, before I probably start looking for another dentist.

I apreciate you are all busy, so any help much apreciated. :huh:

[Toothsmith]

There are many possibilities. Not many are bad!

I'd go back and see your dentist. It's the only way to be sure.

[CGG]

Hi
I have been to my Dentist this morning - I've had sleep-disturbed nights with toothache along the whole right side of my upper teeth for a couple of weeks now.
He x-rayed the area and said I need to be referred to the hospital to have my wisdom tooth out. He said my teeth roots have grown into the sinus cavity and that the x-ray equipment they have at the hospital will show a much clearer picture of what's going on.
I understand from reading the other posts on this thread that the upper wisdom teeth are 'easier' to remove than the bottom ones. My question is, do you have to have an overnight stay in hospital when this work is done?
Anyone out there had it done recently?
(I'm told you look like you've done 10 rounds with Mike Tyson when the bruising comes out - Help!)
Thanks

[Toothsmith]

I don't think it will be an 'overnighter'.

Probably Just a local anaesthetic day case.

I think you've been refered because the dentist is worried about how close the roots are to the sinus. Sometimes, taking a tooth out can cause a hole through to the sinus. For someone as experienced as an oral surgeon, this is really simple stuff to repair, but for an average GDP dentist, it can be quite tricky, especially right at the back up there. Even if the worst happened, you would hardly know anything out-of-the-ordinary had occured, and you'd still be sent home that day.

They would tell you though (They have to!) and you would be instructed not to blow your nose hard for a couple of weeks. If the roots really are close to the sinus, you will probably be given those instructions anyway.

Of course, there may well be a bit of bruising and soreness afterwards, but I would be surprised if it was anything more than aspirin/paracetamol/ibuprofen could easily deal with.