Please tell me all about your lower wisdom tooth extraction.

[VolcanicCoconutCoast]

Hi all.

I'm having my lower wisdom tooth out soon.. I'm having it out under local (although I have been given the option of GA at hospital, however dental nurse said this wouldn't be "very nice" and advised I go for local)
I had my top ones out and it was a doddle. But this one is impacted and will involve cutting the gum and drilling some bone away..... I'm really quite nervous. I asked for sedation through IV or gas but my dentist doesn't want to give me this as they don't have anywhere in the surgery for me to recover. I'd go private but it's going to cost £700 so quite expensive.....

I'm worried about;

The pain afterwards (due to the drilling in the bone)

How long it will take to actually take the tooth out

The sound of the drill/sensation

Possibility of dry socket/loss of feeling

Any advice and reassurance would be welcome..... Thanks

Had one impacted one out from my lower jaw. I think a lot of it is down to how your teeth are. My dentist took one look at my x-ray and went: "wow, look at the roots on that!"

I was in the chair for almost an hour.

Plus side: I didn't get a dry socket or any nerve damage.

Downside: it hurt afterwards, more than I had been prepared for, mentally or practically. I was alternating ibuprofen and paracetamol at maximum dosage for quite a few days. I had it done Friday pm and was off work until the following Weds which I hadn't planned for at all. I assumed I would be fine for Monday but I really was no good for anything.

I'm not sure that general would necessarily have been better though, and it carries its own risks.

That's not to try to scare you. It was worth having it done.

I had sedation. I paid £50. Best £50 I have ever spent. I would refuse to have it done without some kind of serious drugs.

I had mine out under sedation and it was fine. Went home and straight to bed afterwards as I was very groggy and apart from a dull ache from my mouth being wide open during the procedure there was no other pain.

I had a not-great experience too (similar to @ShotsFired ). The actual procedure was the worst for me; holding my mouth open for so long was really sore. My teeth are very strong so it was hard to get out. I hated the sounds and sensations, though there was no actual pain (had to be given anaesthetic twice though, as it wore off half way through).

The dentist said afterwards that he'd give me GA if I ever had to get another wisdom tooth taken out, and I would definitely agree to it.

I got dry socket a few days later, which was painful but easily treated. The pain from the extraction was manageable- my face was quite swollen and I couldn't eat solids until the next day, but it wasn't sore as long as I kept on schedule with the painkillers.

I had all my wisdom teeth removed. The two lower ones were impacted. I had an abcess on one side. Drilling through the bone wasn't fun but doable. My biggest problem was with the other side because they didn't believe me when I said that the local didn't work. If it works then you'll be ok. Don't get me wrong, it's not a doddle as the top ones but it doesn't have to be a horror story either.

They had to cut through flesh with both of them. That didn't bother me at all. I also found the pain afterwards doable. They gave me satchets with powder. I took them the first day. I didn't take anything the day after, not even paracetamol.

I had mine done under sedation- valium drip I think.

I don’t remember anything about it, nothing from counting down to waking up. I opened my mouth to ask when they’d start and realised I was spitting blood- they’d finished. I was really sore for about 5 days, needed 4 days at home from uni. I was very woozy and needed someone around for a day I think.

No problems afterwards.

All four impacted and all four removed under GA as a day case. I had dissolvable stitches and some
pain afterwards, but felt fine within a week. I would recommend a GA if you can have one.

Just bumping this to get more people's experiences. I got some diazepam today ready to take before the appointment.
I'm still worried about how loud the drill will be, especially 'in my head'.
I'm feeling a bit braver, though. I'm not crying and getting into a state over it now which is good.
I've been told that I'd have to wait an extra month for IV sedation.. I don't fancy waiting as the daily aching and pain is annoying me. However if I get into the chair and realise I can't go through with it, then I'll have to opt for sedation. Just might bugger up my plans to have time off work...

I'm scared of the dentist and I was actually really surprised by how mine went.

I had normal local anaesthetic and he drilled the tooth into bits and took them out one by one. Took about 30 minutes all in all. I expected to have a problem keeping my mouth open too, but actually it was fine –I kept my eyes shut the whole time and tried to get myself into a meditative state (fully aware of how wanky that sounds but focusing on my breathing helps me when I'm in a dentist's chair) and it was over way faster than I expected.

The procedure itself was fine, but the week after was not a lot of fun.

My jaw felt incredibly stiff for days and I could hardly open my mouth. I'd stocked up on baby food, yoghurt and smoothie ingredients but none of it felt nourishing and for the first day I couldn't even fit a teaspoon between my teeth, so I wound up licking yoghurt off my finger nonstop for hours in an attempt to feel full.

The whole side of my face swelled up - I looked like the lovechild of the Elephant Man and a sweet potato.

And the pain really wasn't fun – lasted a good 3 days and was that deep-inside, invasive ache that only bones seem to be able to muster. They're super chilled about medication where I live (they'll chuck pills at you for EVERYTHING without prescription) and so I had some pretty potent drugs to knock back, but as soon as I felt them wearing off, I REALLY felt it.

On the plus side, it's how I met my DP (very outing story for another thread), so there was definitely a silver lining to my enormous sad face!

You'll be fine, OP – lots of deep breaths, look for the funny side of everything, and you'll make it through!

OP just to say that if you need to move your mouth or anything, usually the dentist will tell you to (e.g.) raise your hand and they'll stop at any time.

But you may just find it's ok and they can keep going.

I had mine out yesterday, lower right hand side.

It took 12 mins from starting to get the tooth out, lots of 'pushing' which was uncomfortable but not painful at all. Then another 13 minutes (to be precise!) to sort it out and do the stitches etc.

I was shaking like a leaf throughout but the dentist was so kind and kept checking in. I got emotional when the finished and had a little cry - really don't like the dentist!

I was in some pain afterwards yesterday but I think that's because I was stressed in town and hadn't taken any painkillers at that point. I've since been taking them every 4 hours and touch wood haven't had any pain. It's swollen this morning and is uncomfortable but I haven't felt any pain, have been taking the painkillers just in case really. (Touch wood!)

I ate cheesy mashed potato when I got home last night and have had more of the same today, I could probably manage something more substantial but don't want to push it too soon. I'm also a smoker but haven't had one since the extraction as I really don't want to increase my risk of dry socket.

I was terrified before (and during) it but am now out the other side and it's okay. Uncomfortable yes but not painful and the actual procedure only took 25 mins (only 12 on the tooth). Dentist advised me to take 7 days off and showed me the tooth, he asked if I wanted to keep it!

I had one impacted lower one taken out under local. I was offered gas and air and took one breath of it but it made me feel sick. I was absolutely fine with just the local. It was done in about 10-15 mins and didn't hurt. It healed quickly. I didn't like the stitches strings afterwards. I was very aware of them but nothing hurt really. I took paracetamol for a couple of days to avoid pain but I was fine really.

A week off for a tooth being removed?

A week off for a tooth being removed?

I have a friend who had virtually no reaction to their wisdom tooth out either – his face didn't swell up, he was eating normally right after, and yet I was swollen and achy for a good 4-5 days after mine.

Experiences really seem to vary so much!

I had all 4 of mine out under local, but at the hospital by a maxillo-facial surgeon. I think the bottom ones required a couple of stitches.

The two molars i had to have removed by dentists were far more unpleasant experiences.

I'm sure a lot of it depends on the skill of the person doing it.

Had GA myself as I had all 4 out at once...
No complaints, and to be honest I would choose that every time, mostly as i hate hearing/feeling but no pain.. and having had a totally different non-dental procedure done under local...which ran out.. put me off!

Following the op, was a little out of it, sore, and after a few days had some clots dislodge...
Soft foods to start with

Overall, as I can't recall much, i would hazard it not too scarring!

Just try hard not to sneeze afterwards - that reeeeally hurt!

Had mine out 3 weeks ago and I'll not pretend it was ok. It was pretty brutal I'm afraid, it took an hour and tooth disintegrated and had to be drilled out in the end. I can just about open my jaw past 1cm now.
I did cry quite a bit through the appt and the dentist kept telling me to open my mouth more- have sensitive gag reflex so to desensitise that I needed to relax my mouth. Stitching up was hard as it kept triggering my gag.

They gave me a week of antibiotics (I'd be tempted to ask for this if it's not offered if it needs drilling etc)

The actual noise of the drill was no worse than fillings and that bit didn't hurt. The crack of the tooth coming out isn't nice.

Recovery - nurofen with codeine was hugely helpful for 3 days - stock up on it!. Heat and ice packs help the swelling. Also mouthwash is good for removing possible infection. Stitches reduced dry socket so take them if you can.

I lived on yoghurt soup and mashed potato with gravy/beans and I had a few haribos and chocolate buttons as they can be swallowed whole and were a good sugar hit!
No straws, Hot drinks or fizzy drinks.

I'm now mostly ok just got last bit of healing to do but it's all closed up and I'm eating and talking ok.

Got my two surgically removed using local anaesthetic and sedation. One tooth refused to split, the dentist slipped and cut my gum and I felt one of the stitches which was sore. Mine were impacted and growing diagonally. I got an infection after a few days as my manager forced me to come back to work. I was very sick (probably from sedation) for two days. Ate yoghurts and soup only, be careful of ibuprofen if not eating well as it makes you sick on an empty stomach. Frozen peas applied to the face helps swelling and feels nice. I got it done on the Friday and had one awful day on Sunday then recovered well.

I had all 4 of my impacted wisdom teeth out. It wasn't very pleasant but not the worse thing I've had done. Couple of days and you'll be ok. Take arnica for a few days beforehand and afterwards to help with swelling and bruising. Sleep with a towel on your pillow for a couple of nights as there will be blood and drool.

I had 2 of mine out without issue - I had the two uppers done together, and although it was incredibly sore afterwards I'm glad I did it that way. The plan was to remove the other 2 in the same way, but the lower right one was wrapped around my jawbone and it took the dentist nearly 2 hours to get it out. It came out in literal pieces... one by one. My mouth was so so sore for about 3 weeks afterwards, and I needed a lot of painkillers. I wouldn't let them touch the other one for fear it had roots around the jaw like the other one, and it's been filled about 3 times. If it has to come out, it will be under GA. I'm not saying this to scare you, most are fine but they won't know until they're doing it.
As a plus side I lived on tomato soup and cheesy mashed potato for a good few weeks after. That was no hardship

Looks like I won't be able to predict what will happen! Dentist hasn't mentioned anything about the roots, or that it will be particularly complicated or anything.. only thing is is that it's grown to the side (it's literally lying on one side - I saw the X-ray!) and that a nerve runs close to it.. apparently this is the case with all lower wisdom teeth.
Anyway we'll see, thanks everyone for the replies.

I had an ordinary back tooth that my own dentist had tried to pull out & couldn't due to the local anaesthetic not working (its side effect of having CFS/ME & Fibromyalgia) I was sent to the local dental hospital where they gave me massive doses of local that couldn't be given somewhere that hadn't got the facilities of the hospital & put a mask like an elephant's trunk that went over my nose to give gas & air, they left me 15 minutes for everything to go numb & to get a lot of gas & air in my system. The actual pulling of the tooth was over really quick, I was numb for about 16 hours & my eyelid wouldn't work due to where the local was put, I went straight home with extra strong painkillers & antibiotics, I slept on & off for 24 hours, my cheek was very bruised but my mouth healed very quick.

I had two out under general as they were impacted and two under local, all fine and over very fast. I woke up in hospital and insisted I was a dinosaur but one wearing women's clothes, which was probably the worst bit. No probs with swelling or much pain either.

A week off for a tooth being removed?

That's what the dentist recommended, he said it wasn't an easy one and seemed to have more like 4 roots rather than 2. I won't be taking a full week mind as have work to do.

OP, my nerve was very very close to my roots, I cancelled my appointment last time as was freaked out at the thought of the possible lasting effects. I'm fine so far though and assume the numbness/tingling/burning would have started by now if they were going to.

I had all four impacted, all had to be drilled out, under GA. They were very rough with me I think, judging by the bruising & swelling. I was told that a local might have been better for my recovery as they would not have been able to bash me about like they had while I was out cold. BUT personally I think I was better off having the GA as I am really afraid of the dentist so being awake through all that would have been my worst nightmare.
There are good & bad points about GA and being awake for this, you just have to decide which would suit you best. Sedation was not offered but I have since had a tooth removed under sedation and would definitely opt for this again given the chance!