Wisdom tooth extraction nightmare

[bumblebee1987]

I had two wisdom teeth removed yesterday. I was a bit blindsided to be honest, I was supposed to be on a waiting list to have them removed under a general, but one of them got infected (fairly frequent occurrence!) so I got an emergency dental appointment, only to get there and the dentist to whip them out there and then. I'm not sure why I agreed to it, three dentists in the past have told me they will be a tricky extraction hence the need for a general, and to be honest the whole ordeal was awful, the dentist was like a butcher and it was horrid.

Anyway, it's done now, however I feel absolutely horrendous. I am on amoxycillin (I'm guessing to treat the infection that was there?) and been told to take paracetamol and ibuprofen, but I can't take the latter because I haven't eaten since yesterday morning and my stomach is really sensitive to ibuprofen when I haven't eaten. I can't eat, I feel so sick, my mouth is absolute agony and my face has swollen up like a balloon, so much so that my skin hurts from stretching. Before he took the teeth out he asked if I had eaten recently and I said not for 11 hours, but he still went ahead, so I'm not sure why he asked.

Is this normal? I had to cancel work today and have just had to cancel tomorrow too (self employed so this is problematic and if I had known I'd need 2+ days off work, I would have refused and rebooked for a time when I could plan my work accordingly)

I feel so awful I don't know what to do with myself. I'm utterly miserable and paracetamol isn't touching the sides. I can't take anything stronger because of another medication I'm on long term, so I'm stuck.

This can't be right, surely?!

You need corticosteroids! Try to contact your dentist or GP again to see if they can provide a prescription. DH is a dentist and gives a single dose of 40mg methylprednisolone alongside antibiotics and painkillers for rough wisdom teeth extractions. The steroid works wonders and keeps the swelling under control which also has a beneficial effect on pain. You won't need as many painkillers either.

Unfortunately the swelling tends to peak on day 4 so you may not be out of the woods yet. But it should get significantly better after that.

EDIT: I'm not sure if they would be allowed to prescribe steroids if you have an active infection (due to reducing immunity). It's usually done preventatively right after the extraction. But it can't hurt to ask because it's just a single dose which works right away and lasts 24hrs.

Your DS has my sympathy, I totally get it! I stupidly drove home afterwards and probably shouldn't have, but I spent the whole journey just reliving the past hour 🤣 I'm glad I'm not the only one who was blindsided by a surprise extraction though! I hope he's feeling much better now.

Oh that's helpful, thank you! Okay, so I will expect the swelling to be worse tomorrow or Monday, but hope it gets better after that. I'll ask about that medication too. I'm so panicked about taking the metronidazole as the dentist really impressed on me how important food is and I am struggling so much to get food in me. I've been nursing a cup of soup for over an hour 🙈

You really must try to rest too, your body will recover more quickly if you do.

Parking's always an issue there, so I offered to drive him. So glad I did because he was genuinely traumatised.
Hope you feel better soon x

You poor thing. I had a horrid wisdom tooth extraction a couple of years ago - I didn’t have an infection but the extraction was brutal - jaw was wrenched and incredibly painful to move/ eat. I don’t like protein shakes but bought a load of slimfast ones instead which were an effective way to get some calories in. Don’t use a straw though as danger of dry socket from sucking. Soup seemed to make it worse for me with the heat. After a few days I found cheesy mash a lifesaver. Really soft and easy to swallow with minimal chewing.

The extraction is awful isn't it?! He literally had me in a headlock for one of them because it wouldn't come out! Traumatising!

Oh cheesy mash sounds like a great idea actually. I think I could stomach that. Soup isn't going well for me either. The dry socket thing is terrifying me, it sounds awful! Although I think there is less chance when you have stitches, but still not worth the risk!

Oh I feel for you - it IS brutal.

I had four out and ended up with drysocket: infections in two of the sites and was on various concoctions of different antibiotics for six weeks before infection improved. Was about two months before I started to feel normal, and I ended up on voltarol for the pain. I looked like a chipmunk who’d chomped on a few wasps. It’s so sore - make sure you’re properly supported when you try to sleep as when you roll on your side it might wake you up.

no hot compress on your face - but a nice ice pack may help soothe it, and I found ice lollies really helped.

Oh my gosh, 2 months, that's awful! Dry socket also sounds so horrible 😫 I am going on holiday in a month, I was really hoping this would firmly be behind me by then! My face is unrecognisable today!

This First few days will be awful but by Easter weekend I bet you feel so much better. I found wisdom teeth extraction to be worse than giving birth. Just be really gentle with yourself and try to rest as much as possible.

Part of it is the shock. Did the dentist have his knee on the chair to lever them out too? Traumatic is an understatement.

I hope you’re feeling better soon x

I'm not sure if he had his knee on the chair, but he did have my head in some sort of headlock because one of them was really tricky to get out 😬 It really is traumatic, I feel really shell shocked by the whole thing. I agree, two c-sections and I am genuinely more traumatised by my wisdom teeth being removed!

I had one out and was terrified even though had teeth removed when I was younger for braces, anyway it was totally straight forward and i only took paracetamol once that day when I got home.

i was very careful to avoid dry socket and did not brush my teeth that not as advised and did the salt wash but just rolled it my moving my head and no spitting just letting out of my mouth, it’s gross but fine. I did get a sore bottom jaw for a few days even though was an upper tooth but think that’s because I only ate on one side but did move to toast quite quickly.

i also did vape 😱😱 but I had a freebie one with the larger mouth piece and kind of just breathed it in, not sucked it, shouldn’t encourage this tbh!

really feel for everyone who’s had a hideous time, I’ve had a few other dental traumas!

Just to buck the trend here, I had all 4 out at once under GA in a private hospital.
My friend is a homeopath and gave me some remedies to start 24hrs before the extraction and continue afterwards. The dentist and anaesthetist asked about any medication and laughed at me when I said I was taking them but then both were astonished when I had negligible swelling and pain afterwards. I'm usually pretty sceptical but chalked that up as a result!

I had one done under GA, which was absolutely fine, they were meant to do two but decided in their infinite wisdom that the other one would probably not cause any problems. A year later I had to have the other one done (also at the hospital), just with a local and the girl who did it was an absolute butcher, she took forever, broke it into a dozen pieces, managed to cut the inside of my cheek with I assume a chisel type thing, and ran out of the room when she finished, I assume even she realised she had made a hash of it. She then had to come back to stitch the inside of my cheek and gum. I was on antibiotics and I looked like a gerbil with black and blue swollen face for a week.

I'm sure that's where my white coat syndrome came from! If only they had done both when they were meant to.

Edit: My DH had one done by our dentist and it was absolutly fine, took no time, no pain, no after effects at all.

Mine was out today, ok so far. Took 35 seconds (he timed it for me as he promised me less than 60!)

Arnica tablets are great for swelling @lunaemma

Fingers crossed but no swelling or anything so far. Jaw feels a bit stiff and I’m desperate to vape!

This. I've had 3 wisdom teeth removed and I was in a little bit of discomfort but nothing major. I didn't have any facial swelling at all.

My sympathies to you. You’re gonna feel sore for a while but it’ll heal. And one good thing is you will never have to go through that again.
I remember how bad I felt after getting mine out 30 years ago.
hang in there xx

I had one out late last year and it was fine. I had no issues at all (same situation as yours) and went out for both lunch and dinner with friends the following day and ate normally. I'm booked in to have another one out in June and am not anticipating any problem.

Any idea which remedy? I'm due to have the two upper ones taken out in a couple of weeks' time so would be keen to do this.

Hopefully it was all good?

35 seconds to remove, didn’t need any painkillers at all after and no dry socket so I’ll say very successful!

I had Arnica for bruising, swelling and trauma plus calendula for healing. I can't be sure but think both were 30c strength.
Good luck!

God feel for you awful. Mine ballooned just before hols last year. She said was huge! Removed that evening. Good recovery god not pleasant. Am prone to gum issues so had to be careful