Ireland - Wisdom Tooth Removal under Local Anesthetic?

[RatherBeAwake]

Anyone had it done? I’m due in next month to have mine removed, as they’re all growing in a bit sideways. I’ve been told my jaw is very small, so in the interest of my other teeth, they’ll need to be taken out.

I have a massive fear of being “put to sleep”, and will actively avoid it wherever possible. I’ve chosen to have no sedation (bar local obviously) and just wondering what that’s like?

Note: I have quite a high pain tolerance, and the discomfort of the procedure would be nothing compared to the agony of the panic attack I’d have if I was going under, so I know Local is the best choice for me. It’s something I’ve thought about for months, so it’s not just a snap decision to stay awake.

I'm not in Ireland but I had two removed under a local in the UK. Both done at the same time. I can't remember much about the extraction - so the local must have done it's job - only that my jaw was a sore as hell afterwards but I gather that would have been the case whether I'd had a local or a general anesthetic.

I had 1 removed under local anaesthetic (not in Ireland). I wish I could say it was no problem at all, but I'm guessing you have asked so you can prepare yourself.

I'd had 3 previously taken out under General anaesthetic, and left the 4th for years because it hadn't previously caused problems.

Mine was pretty brutal, let's just say that the dental nurse was also in tears. Instruments slipped and hit me in the back of the throat and all sorts. However, mine had been impacted for probably 20 years and had broken up under the gum, and that is what made it so difficult to get it all out. Also, a dental surgeon was meant to do it but when I arrived he wasn't available for some reason so the normal dentist - who originally told me to book in with the dental surgeon - did it. I wish I'd just cancelled and rebooked.

So my advice is get in with a proper dental surgeon and don't postpone it for 20 years.

It will be very painful afterwards, give it a week to recover, have plenty of painkillers ready at home, and try to have someone around who can mollycoddle you a bit afterwards.

If you are likely to get anxious during the extraction ask if there is anything you can take for that as well.

Good luck!

Ouch, sorry you had such a horrible time of it! Mine are only after coming in the last 2 years or so, and the 3rd has only just erupted, so they’ve come in quite slow. The lower right one doesn’t seem to exist, and I actually can’t remember if there was one on the X Ray, because that corner is completely fine. I do remember the dentist saying that they’re only slightly sideways at the moment, and none are broken or cracked. I was referred when I was to prevent them getting any worse, so I’m not necessarily considered an “emergency”, which is good. The attitude of my dentist was “might as well do them now and get ahead of them”.

The dental surgeon seems to be top brass, only available once a blue moon, so I was fortunate to have been referred when I was (though I was still waiting months).

Thanks for your feedback! Google says that the bruised jaw and pain is par for the course regardless of the type of sedation used, so I know to expect it. I have TMJ issues anyway so jaw pain is like an old, horrible friend 🙈

I've had wisdom teeth removed under GA, sedation and local anaesthetic.

I would go with what the dentist recommends.

I find waking sedation far nicer than a GA. I personally just felt really buzzed and relaxed. I didn't forget anything later, but most people do. I had a wisdom tooth removed under general because I had lock jaw and a massive infection and there was no other way to do it. They had a really hard time getting it out and it took much longer to get out than they expected. I wouldn't recommend GA unless it's the only way to do the procedure.

The pain is related to how hard it is to get out. If it comes out easily the pain really is minimal, relatively speaking. The harder it is to get out the worse the pain is. Just follow the aftercare advice and you should be fine.

I'm not in Ireland but I've had a wisdom tooth out under local anaesthetic. It wasn't painful at all during it or after it. The only thing I didn't like was they stitched the hole afterwards and left bits of string loose. Loose string in your mouth isn't fun 🤣. The actual removal though was absolutely fine and recovery was unnoticeable as it was absolutely fine.