Wisdom tooth removal under general anaesthetic or sedation - terrified

[scaredddd]

I need to have one of my lower wisdom teeth taken out. I had an attempted removal with local anaesthetic that had to be stopped as the anaesthetic wasn't having any effect despite numerous injections. It has led me to have a fear of the dentist and I haven't been back since. I was referred to the hospital to have it out under either sedation or general anaesthetic. I met with the dental surgeon and he agreed for it to be out on general anaesthetic. I've since been on the waiting list for 3 years and largely forgotten about it. The wisdom tooth causes me no pain but several dentists have affirmed that needs to come out as it has damaged the molar next to it. The dental surgeon also said I should have the top wisdom tooth out too, even though it's perfectly healthy and erupted? I don't know why.

I'm now at the top of the waiting list and need to get booked in and I'm terrified. I have never had general anaesthetic before so I'm scared of that. I'm not scared of the procedure, but more the recovery. I'm scared of feeling 'trapped' in pain and scared to swallow, drink water, or go to sleep in case I dislodge the clot and getting dry socket. I'm scared of getting dry socket and not being able to access a dentist/it happening in the middle of the night and having to wait. I've never had tooth ache before so have nothing to compare it to but it sounds horrendous.

Also practically, the receptionist said I wouldn't need any time off from work only a few hours in the morning for the procedure but online it says I would likely need time off after a general anaesthetic?

Has anyone had a tooth removed with general anaesthetic or sedation and could advise on how it went?

I’m in the same boat and equally terrified. Having a lower wisdom and an upper back molar out. I’m going for GA, I was tearful at the thought of sedation and it still hurting but not being able to say. So would much prefer to be out. I’m also scared of dry socket potential.

If you have GA you will have absolutely no recall of anything that happens. You'll just wake up and it's done. It might be a little sore for a day or so. But use saltwater rinse three times daily and keep area clean it should heal pretty quickly.
Please don't worry. You'll be fine x

I had my two bottom wisdom teeth out about a year ago and opted for GA as no way was I going to be awake for that!

I was scared too as I had never had a GA before but it was all very straightforward. I was only under for 20-30 mins and they discharged me about an hour or so later.

you will definitely need time off work. My face swelled up and my jaw was stiff and painful for several days. You will need at least a week off but I was signed off for 2 weeks so used it.

I was also scared for dry socket etc but I followed all the aftercare advice and was fine. After about 3 weeks I was getting back to normal eating and drinking etc.

I had all four wisdom teeth out when I was a teenager under GA. I wasn't out for long, didn't remember a thing and they gave me really good soluble painkillers afterwards so it was very relaxed and I had a pretty easy recovery.
The only thing no-one warned me about (so I've made a point to warn people) is that there may well be bleeding in your mouth during the surgery. This is totally normal and harmless but you may swallow a small amount of blood while you're under the GA. As your body cannot always digest blood, you may well find that you vomit it back up. This is 100% normal but no-one warned me so I had a bit of a panic but the nurses reassured me that it can happen. It doesn;t mean that'll DEFINITELY happen to you but if it does then please don't be alarmed.

I've had all mine out, one under sedation. Absolutely fine. Just had an injection and then woke up and it was all over!

I had a tooth out under sedation, it was great - didn't remember a thing. Felt fine after and back to work next day.
Recovery was absolutely fine too.

I would do it under GA, and ask them to take all 4 out.

They do crowd your mouth, and maybe why they want to take the top one out as well.

If taking one out, yes you could go back to work the next day, but with all 4 you may need a few days due to the swelling.

I had it done under sedation and it was fine. I have some dental anxiety, but honestly, with local and sedation it was no big deal. I didn’t feel anything and was chatting to them the whole way through. The recovery, oomph, was rough, but the procedure itself was fine.

anaesthetist pov...usual advice after a GA is that you need to have someone with you for 24 hours post-op and don't operate heavy machinery/make any important decisions or sign-anything important for 24-48. Wisdom teeth can be pretty grim but it depends on the teeth. Usual advice is about a week off, but some people need less and some need more. The dentist should be able to advise a bit more specifically.

I needed a week off after a G.A and all 4 wisdom teeth removed. I did get an infection though and was in quite a lot of pain.
I second the poster who mentioned vomiting blood afterwards. It's pretty grim.
I found the whole recovery awful though tbh.

I had all 4 wisdom teeth out under general and had never had general before.

I hate the dentist and had a bad experience so honestly the GA route was easy and a much better experience.

I felt a bit off for a few days, had a weeks recovery but all 4 is maybe a bit different. I remember my nose hurting a little as that’s how they get the air flow in while working in the mouth. Partner had to come pick me up / drop off as you can’t drive and need someone to be with you for a while after.

i would 100% pick this route again if I had to pick again.

Apparently it depends how long the roots are. I had 2 wisdom teeth taken out under local injection with no pain or issues - but that's because an X ray showed they were really crooked and the dentist said it was best to remove them before they got too big. If the roots are long and crammed into neighbouring teeth a GA is probably better. Talk to your dentist about your X rays. He/ she should be able to explain the best option.

I can't help with the anaesthetic/sedation question as I had my impacted wisdom tooth taken out with a local anaesthetic injection.

But about dry socket, everything you read online says that it's the worst pain ever but I didn't even realise I had it. I went back to the dentist after a week to check on healing as I was still in some pain and having to take painkillers regularly and that's when they said I had dry socket and treated it. I followed all the aftercare instructions so I think I was just unlucky. So if you do end up getting it, it's treatable so try not to worry.

I had a wisdom tooth out several years ago under sedation. I was absolutely terrified, and was upset that I wasn't offered GA.. however, the sedation was wonderful in that I don't remember a thing! Recovery was also much better than I expected. I managed to have soup that evening (my appt was at 3pm), and then was eating soft foods for a few days and then pretty much back to normal.

Would definitely recommend sedation as you come around easier afterwards, but if you feel really nervous about this then do go for the GA

Upper needs to come out as it will over-erupt once the lower has gone.

Don't be scared of the GA, you'll be given it and next thing you know you'll be coming round. It's like time travel!

I had sedation for a different procedure. What freaks me out is whether you go through it all in real time but then forget it or whether you just don’t actually experience it during the procedure. Does anyone know?

I’d expect to need a bit of time off work for the recovery from the GA, but the wisdom teeth themselves were fine with me. I had one side and then the other side a year or so later and both times absolutely fine. I hadn’t heard about dry socket in those days - I was about 18 - so didn’t know to fear it!

I had all 4 of mine out under local anaesthetic. Bit miserable for a few days but then fine. Don’t read too many horror stories, you’re more likely to be a bit sore and sleepy rather than writhing in agony.

I had all of mine out in high school under GA. It was fine. I was off school a couple of days after surgery, and I think that was it.

My only problem came from taking the prescribed painkiller - that’s how I found out that I can’t tolerate codeine. The pain was so minimal I didn’t need it.

If you don’t smoke, vape or suck on food, use a straw, or chew hard food, you can lessen your chances of dry socket. Follow the aftercare instructions carefully! People don’t. For a wisdom tooth that’s not impacted, the risk is less than 5% anyway.

Please do it, OP, because most of the time this is easy and most of the time dental problems only get worse. Best wishes.

There is nothing to be afraid of, once you’ve got the needle in you will feel no pain. Just follow the fasting instructions and prepare for half hour of oblivion and then the best nights sleep once it is over

you will feel nothing at all but you might be a bit giggly and cute for a while after coming round

Had mine done, it was impacted and I had quite a few stitches after. I had virtually no pain at all, didn't even take paracetamol.

The anaesthetic was the worst part, it made me very sick and affected my blood pressure for a couple of days. I had it done on a Friday and was back at work on Monday.

I did look a bit like a chipmunk for a few days and it was difficult to eat because of the swelling. It's difficult to open your mouth properly when your jaw is swollen.

It's fine though, everyone loves to tell you horror stories but I was nicely surprised!

I've had sedation before and I remember everything! It wasn't anywhere near as bad as I thought so if I was offered it again I'm not sure I'd bother. But then I'm not sure if maybe it didn't seem that bad because of the sedation.

That happened to me too. Quite a lot of it.

Sedation is probably the better choice, Ive had that too. You're not really aware of much. I remember them putting a cloth over my eyes to shield them from the light and a vague recollection of the dentist saying "Oh that'll be a piece of piss, the roots dead straight." Followed by an odd dream about my favourite TV show. Then I was sitting up, talking to the dentist about keeping the gauze in place for half an hour.

Do you get to decide if you have sedation when you’re there? I am nervous as hell about having this done.