Worried about losing my wisdom!

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

Nile wrote:

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

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

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!