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Original poster

Impacted Wisdom Teeth - Removal under Local

49 replies

GoldenOldies · 10/10/2023 11:50

Just had a call from the dentist. I’m booked in with the oral surgeon tomorrow to have my wisdom teeth removed, and have been told the surgeon recommended sedation.

I was strict with my dentist who referred me that I would not be going under. I’ve just confirmed with the receptionist who said that the surgeon recommended sedation based on how impacted they are, but it’s ultimately my choice, and staying awake is alright.

I don’t have dental anxiety, and I have a high pain tolerance. I don’t mind sitting in the chair for 2-3 hours if I have to. But I am deathly afraid of sedation/general anesthetic, and if it were my only option, I’d keep my wisdom teeth in. I’m worried I’ll go in tomorrow and be pressured into sedation, which will cause me to panic. Can they do this?

Has anyone had very impacted wisdom teeth out while awake?

OP posts:
Original poster
GoldenOldies · 10/10/2023 11:52

As well as this, I will be driving to and back from the appointment myself as no one is available to be a chaperone, so sedation wouldn’t be safe

OP posts:
DownUdderer · 10/10/2023 11:53

They won't want you to drive yourself after getting your tooth out surely.

sleepybiscuit · 10/10/2023 11:55

I had mine out with just local anaesthetic - the one that they inject into your gums and makes your tongue numb. It was fine, just a bit "rough" as all extractions are. I just closed my eyes and thought of england.

Original poster
GoldenOldies · 10/10/2023 11:58

DownUdderer · 10/10/2023 11:53

They won't want you to drive yourself after getting your tooth out surely.

My dad drove himself back to work after an extraction, he was fine. I might be tender and numb but I’ll be capable of driving because I won’t have been “under”.

OP posts:
Frabbits · 10/10/2023 12:04

Well, obviously they can't sedate you without your explicit consent.

MatildaTheCat · 10/10/2023 12:10

Are you having all 4 out at once? If so you sound as if you are underestimating the procedure and how it will impact you.

They can’t sedate you without your consent. There’s a difference between sedation and a full general anaesthetic. If they recommend it I’d be asking why and listening.

Check about driving home as well.

Kitcatmouse · 10/10/2023 12:16

I had an impacted one out with just local anaesthetic and drove myself there and back.
and no they can’t make you have sedation!

Original poster
GoldenOldies · 10/10/2023 12:17

MatildaTheCat · 10/10/2023 12:10

Are you having all 4 out at once? If so you sound as if you are underestimating the procedure and how it will impact you.

They can’t sedate you without your consent. There’s a difference between sedation and a full general anaesthetic. If they recommend it I’d be asking why and listening.

Check about driving home as well.

All 4 out at once, and they’re saying that the teeth are impacted.

Honestly if they told me they had to cut me in half, I’d still insist on being awake.

The procedure is going to hurt, it’s going to be uncomfortable. I’m going to be in pain for a while. I’ll have to take time off work. They’re removing bone from my body, it won’t be a walk in the park. I’d still rather feel ALL of it than be put under

OP posts:
Justmyviews · 10/10/2023 12:29

It is against the law to drive after sedation. I think it would be a good idea to speak to the practice so they can give you more information on the procedure you are having.

If you are scared of sedation and general anaesthetic I am unsure why they have offered it to you as it's not always necessary for impacted wisdom tooth extractions.

Justmyviews · 10/10/2023 12:31

Why are you having all 4 out?

It's against NICE guidelines to extract teeth that are healthy and are causing no problems.

I had all 4 out at the same time, but I am a dental care professional and I know the risks.

Frabbits · 10/10/2023 12:32

GoldenOldies · 10/10/2023 12:17

All 4 out at once, and they’re saying that the teeth are impacted.

Honestly if they told me they had to cut me in half, I’d still insist on being awake.

The procedure is going to hurt, it’s going to be uncomfortable. I’m going to be in pain for a while. I’ll have to take time off work. They’re removing bone from my body, it won’t be a walk in the park. I’d still rather feel ALL of it than be put under

Edited
Show quote history

Sedation isn't "being put under".

You are awake and responsive, you just aren't as aware as to what is going on and you probably won't remember the procedure afterwards.

If you are having 4 wisdom teeth out as you say it's going to be unpleasant. It might be worth trying to get over your fear of sedation.

Melissamelisante · 10/10/2023 12:33

If they are that impacted they might have to saw into the jawbone. I really wouldn't want to be awake for what they did to me under general anesthetic. My face was a right mess right afterwards and I only had three (impacted and non-erupted) wisdom teeth removed. I would listen to your dentist.

Nursemumma92 · 10/10/2023 12:38

Having 4 impacted wisdom teeth out whilst awake is likely to be very traumatic, I absolutely would not recommend. There is good reason that they would not like to do this with an awake patient.

They cannot force you to have sedation but they may not want to do all 4 at the same time.

Sedation is just going to make you sleepy and possibly not remember the procedure but you will not be unconscious. You would need someone else to drive you though.

Catza · 10/10/2023 12:41

Sedation is not the same as general anesthesia. You can be sedated and awake and I highly recommend you allow them to do that so that the procedure can be done more efficiently and with less discomfort.

HisNibs · 10/10/2023 13:11

I had a fully horizontally impacted wisdom tooth removed just over 10 years ago under local anaesthetic as it was a 6-8 week wait as opposed to a minimum 9 month wait to be put under. I have had all sorts of dental work done (caps, fillings, crowns, cartlidge removal) under local so I thought "yeah, no problem". How bloody wrong I was. The tooth had to be removed in 3 sections and it was 35 minutes of solid cutting. I was a mess for the next couple of days. That is one procedure I will NEVER have done under a local ever again and it was one tooth, never mind four.

FooFighter99 · 10/10/2023 13:13

I had my lower wisdom tooth removed 3 weeks ago, it wasn't impacted and I only had the numbing injection

and it was absolutely HORRIFIC!! I swear to god she nearly broke my jaw getting the tooth out (I then ended up with dry socket for 2 weeks, which was actual HELL ON EARTH)

I can't imagine having 4 IMPACTED wisdom teeth removed with only numbing

12 years ago I had the opposite lower tooth removed under sedation because they thought it was impacted. I remember the sedation being put into the back of my hand then it was all over - 10/10 would recommend

I strongly recommend you reconsider @GoldenOldies as I fear you will regret putting yourself through so much pain - the numbing doesn't stop it from feeling like your jaw is breaking as they wrestle the teeth out

Please, I implore you to re-think as it will not be a walk in the park

Codlingmoths · 10/10/2023 13:16

unless they have said clearly they are only mildly impacted and fully erupted I would not be doing this! Or driving home- your dad had a tooth out and drove home is not a comparison to sawing 4 wisdom teeth out of your bone. And if you’re awake for it your body and brain will be feeling the shock of it not jsut the physical recovery.

I’ve had 4 wisdom teeth out but I had a general. If you really can’t be sedated you might need to consider doing it one at a time.

FiveShelties · 10/10/2023 13:18

The dentist started to remove mine under a local and after what seemed hours had to give up as they were too impacted. He put stitches in my gum and I had to go and have then removed under a general in hospital. I had all four done at once and my face was really badly bruised. I would not advise anyone to have them done with a local.

MereDintofPandiculation · 10/10/2023 13:19

Catza · 10/10/2023 12:41

Sedation is not the same as general anesthesia. You can be sedated and awake and I highly recommend you allow them to do that so that the procedure can be done more efficiently and with less discomfort.

Remember they don't want you to be in discomfort because they don't want you squirming. It's not about you!

Passthecake30 · 10/10/2023 13:22

I had impacted wisdom teeth, the top two were popped out and off I trotted to uni, no problems. A couple of years after that, I had the bottom ones out, the removal was much worse/stressful and I couldn’t move my mouth for hours after and needed a week off work as I was in agony. Both out under local, I certainty wouldn’t have been able to drive after the bottom set.

Iknowthis1 · 10/10/2023 13:26

This is total madness.

I had all four impacted wisdom teeth removed under general. It was not a simple procedure. I was in a considerable amount of pain afterwards, had quite a few stitches and a lot of swelling. It took a few days to recover. It's entirely different to non impacted teeth.

Anaesthetic or not you have no business getting behind the wheel of a car afterwards. You will be shaken and on painkillers.

Reschedule to a time when someone is available to drive you.

Original poster
GoldenOldies · 10/10/2023 14:08

Ok I think people are getting the wrong idea here: if they tell me I can’t drive after having them done awake, I WONT DRIVE. I’m not stupid, I wouldn’t ever put someone’s life at risk by driving if I was unable

People seem to have the impression that I am just willy nilly about this. Reality is, I’m terrified.

OP posts:
Original poster
GoldenOldies · 10/10/2023 14:12

I’ve never been sedated or put under general anaesthetic. I have no idea what to expect. Will I be loopy? Are there risks? Will I do anything embarrassing? What if I don’t wake up?

OP posts:
Catza · 10/10/2023 14:17

MereDintofPandiculation · 10/10/2023 13:19

Remember they don't want you to be in discomfort because they don't want you squirming. It's not about you!

Show quote history

Absolutely. And I was giving the recommendation with that in mind. Quicker extraction without patient squirming in the chair is easier for everyone involved and likely to result in a cleaner and faster procedure with minimal complications.

Catza · 10/10/2023 14:23

GoldenOldies · 10/10/2023 14:12

I’ve never been sedated or put under general anaesthetic. I have no idea what to expect. Will I be loopy? Are there risks? Will I do anything embarrassing? What if I don’t wake up?

Sedation feels like you having a large glass of wine on an empty stomach. Some people are just chilled, others say and do silly things. But you won't remember it afterwards so don't worry about it.
General anesthetic feels like drinking a large glass of wine on an empty stomach and then a lovely nurse asking you if you are OK and in any pain. I went under general twice, once for a 4h surgery and once for a 15 min procedure. Both times I had no awareness of how much time passed. Being under for 4h was rough as far as recovery (probably more to do with the surgery itself) but a quick round under general was just like waking up after a quick nap and I was good to go after a cup of tea. Looking back, I don't even remember how I went under - no counting backwards, or breathing mask... literally no idea. One minute I was lying on a medical bed, next minute I was awake.
There are always risks with every medical procedure and the longer you stay under, the greater the risks but you have competent anesthesiologist making sure nothing bad happens to you. I would have a chat with your medical team about that.