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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to go to work after wisdom tooth removal?

87 replies

Covidwoes · 10/02/2022 19:33

Getting a wisdom tooth removed under local anaesthetic tomorrow. Dentist said it 'should be' straightforward. I'm a teacher and have work afterwards. People who have had this done under local, will I be ok do you think? I've never even had a filling before, so this is my first experience of 'invasive' dental work. I have just had Covid too and am now out of isolation, but still getting hit by waves of tiredness, which may possibly be exacerbated by the wisdom tooth removal. I'm just not sure if I'm being unrealistic trying to go to work afterwards, or if it'll actually be fine! Stories of removal under local welcome! Thank you!

OP posts:
GrandmasCat · 10/02/2022 20:05

And also, it is not the same sitting in front of the computer after the extraction as trying to teach a class of children after one.

gogohm · 10/02/2022 20:06

I was fine until the pain relief wore off, I did sit in the waiting room for 15 mins though before driving. Make sure you take ibroprofen

Soundby · 10/02/2022 20:07

@RB68

impacted wouldn't be under local.

I would say you could definitely feel rough, your mouth will be numb as well as they will injext deeply for a wisdom tooth

Personally I would say if you can leave it open and call once done - best option if not then I would give yourself the bit of time and go in the next day - if you feel OK am sure there is some prep you can do for something if you feel guilty

My impacted was under local! I opted for sedation the second time round…
Twizbe · 10/02/2022 20:09

I've had 4 teeth out including 2 wisdom teeth.

I'd take the day off. When it wears off it can be quite miserable pain. That and you can't really eat anything after.

SalsaLove · 10/02/2022 20:09

I would give yourself the option of not returning if you can. It’s impossible to know how you will feel.

megletthesecond · 10/02/2022 20:10

I wouldn't. You probably won't be able to eat or drink easily for a while. I'd stay at home for the rest of the day while it settles down.

I had an impacted wisdom out under local and wasn't in work for 3 days as I couldn't eat properly. Swollen face and amazing brusing.

Thighdentitycrisis · 10/02/2022 20:11

I had mine out under local, partially erupted. The dentist had to brace herself against my chest with her knee to pull them. I could barely get home afterwards lee alone work !

Flabbyflabberghasted · 10/02/2022 20:13

I was a mess but had all four out at once. In bed for a couple of days and looked awful!

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 10/02/2022 20:15

I think the advice is to rest for the first 24 hours and avoid exercise.

Running round after teens made me walk 12k steps a day….

Numnumcookie · 10/02/2022 20:15

Depends on the person probably. I went to work, left to go to the dentist, got my wisdom tooth pulled and was back seeing patients at work 40 mins later albeit a bit numb-mouthed.

Fredstheteds · 10/02/2022 20:15

No as a teacher I wouldn’t but I’ve never had wisdom teeth out and it’s Friday afternoon- not the time to lose your class

FizzyTango · 10/02/2022 20:16

I got dry socket after a wisdom tooth extraction and needed 2 weeks off work. so it's difficult to say!

KitKat1985 · 10/02/2022 20:16

I had one out last year. I was pretty sore once the anaesthetic wore off, and in the meanwhile my speech was all slurred and I kept dribbling as I couldn't feel my mouth due to the local anaesthetic. I think you need to take the rest of the day off really. You should be alright to work the next day, but I'd stock up on some painkillers as you will be sore for a few days.

Wrenna · 10/02/2022 20:17

My husband had laser surgery to remove his, he was totally fine. I went under at 21 to have mine out and it was awful, I would have been out at least a day probably more like two.

Nat6999 · 10/02/2022 20:18

I've had all 4 out under local, I drove home & went to bed for the afternoon. On the instructions you get it tells you to rest for the rest of the day along with no smoking or alcohol. I was fine next day.

KatherineofGaunt · 10/02/2022 20:19

I'm a teacher and I went back after my tooth extraction under local.

Original poster
Covidwoes · 10/02/2022 20:20

Thanks so much everyone. I'm really terrified about dry socket, as I've heard it's absolute agony! I'm getting it removed as I keep getting pericoronitis, which has become resistant to amoxicillin. Such varying experiences here, but it's good to read a spectrum of people's experiences. I must admit I'm anxious about it, and I'm not usually dental phobic at all!

OP posts:
SparklyLeprechaun · 10/02/2022 20:20

Even if everything works smoothly and you're not in great pain afterwards, local anesthetic means it will be very uncomfortable to speak. Unless you want to slurr your words in front of the kids, don't go back the same day.

pointythings · 10/02/2022 20:21

It depends. If it's an upper one and it isn't impacted, you're likely to be fine to work. If it's impacted or a lower one, best not.

Tigertigertigertiger · 10/02/2022 20:22

You absolutely can get impacted wisdom Teeth out under local anaesthetic

Orarewedancer · 10/02/2022 20:24

I've had an upper one removed by my dentist under local which was absolutely fine.

Had an impacted lower one removed under local at the dental hospital and it was hellish. If I needed the other side removed I'd want at least sedation, preferably GA! I had a few days off work and my face swelled up badly. It was so painful, and being pregnant meant I was limited with pain relief!

So yeah, totally depends on where, why and how!

lrosey · 10/02/2022 20:28

I personally wouldn’t. My last tooth removal (not wisdom tooth) made me feel quite bad. The anaesthetic has adrenaline in it and it can make you feel a bit shattered once it’s worn off. Not to mention the fact I was dribbling like mad!

lrosey · 10/02/2022 20:31

And yes, dry socket is absolutely savage!

MizzFizz · 10/02/2022 20:33

I got a dry socket - it was painful but not agonising - about the level of pain when the anaesthetic originally wore off... I needed the strong painkillers longer than expected and didn't understand why it wasn't healing faster. Turns out it was dry socket - returned and dentist literally just cleaned the socket and packed it with gauze soaked with clove oil (antiseptic and also numbing - I can still remember the strong taste/smell!). Pain immediately resolved and didn't return.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 10/02/2022 20:34

I've had two wisdom teeth removed.

One I wasn't fit to work for about 48h afterwards. I could barely move my jaw and my face was really swollen, bruised and sore.

The second one was a doddle and I could easily have gone straight back to work from the surgery.