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Original poster

Wisdom teeth removal under GA

82 replies

WisdomToothRemoval · 10/09/2024 10:16

Posting for traffic, sorry!

I’m having four wisdom teeth removed under GA in October. I’m also having two additional teeth removed so it’ll be a total of 6 teeth needing to come out.

The surgery is scheduled for Thursday morning and I’m due to go back to work on Saturday. I have no more annual leave left so I’m wondering how other people were after the surgery? Once the anaesthetic wore off, were you in a lot of pain? Is it realistic for me to go to work two days later or will I need to take it off? For context, I have an office job that’s incredibly laid back

OP posts:
TrickorTreacle · 10/09/2024 11:48

14 years of Tory rule and people are having teeth removed under a GA? Things can't be that bad then!

I had 4 teeth removed back in 1991 under a local. The initial needle that numbs you was painful but it was ok after that. Liquid diet for the next 24 hours e.g. soup, Perrier water. 2 days off school. The day of the extractions itself plus the day after.

Hope it goes ok @WisdomToothRemoval

Btw, GA in operations has significantly improved since the 1990s as well. Pre-med is no longer needed as of 2024 and I didn't feel nausous like I did in the 90s.

Aworldofmyown · 10/09/2024 11:54

You need to have it done and then see how you are. You can self certify as sick for 3 days I think. Then you'll need to contact a doctor.
Are the teeth impacted? Do you need a GA?

meeeeeee1234 · 10/09/2024 11:58

Everyone's experience will be different.
I had 4 wisdom teeth removed under GA 20 yrs ago. I needed nearly 2 weeks off work. My face was puffed up, I had dissolvable stitches in my mouth where they had to cut the impacted wisdom teeth out.
I was also extremely bruised & achy around the whole chest area, because as a previous poster said, they can tend to be a bit rough with you when they're pulling the teeth out.
I couldn't eat solid food for over a week due to the stitches, only soup through a straw.
You might have a different experience though OP, but I think going back to work that early is a little on the optimistic side.

Original poster
WisdomToothRemoval · 10/09/2024 11:58

Due to how close the bottom two wisdom teeth are in relation to the nerve, it has to be done under GA.

I work part time, only two days a week on Saturday & Sunday. I can see that it really varies depending on the person and the dentist carrying out the surgery so what I’ll do is ask to have Saturday and Sunday off. Then see how I am the following week and if needed, I’ll get a sick note/self certify if I’m not able to go back the following weekend.

I’ll just see what my manager says. The comments are making me somewhat nervous about the whole procedure!

OP posts:
FooFighter99 · 10/09/2024 11:59

@WisdomToothRemoval I had a bottom one out last year and developed the WORST case of dry socket - horrendous pain for 2 weeks, had to travel to an emergency dentist to get the socket packed - it was absolutely awful and I cried I was in that much pain.

Please make sure you don't dislodge the clots as you WILL end up in agony - ask them about what to do to avoid dry socket!

leopardski · 10/09/2024 12:01

I had all 4 out under GA. I was on codeine for 5 days so absolutely could not have worked as I basically took it and passed out 🤣 took about 10 days to feel totally normal again; the hospital gave me a sick note for 2 weeks.

readingmakesmehappy · 10/09/2024 12:02

I had all four out in one go under GA. Was groggy for a couple of days afterwards, swollen jaw for maybe a week, hurt to talk for 4-5 days and could only eat soup and ice cream. If you can get a week off you should take it.

leopardski · 10/09/2024 12:03

WisdomToothRemoval · 10/09/2024 11:58

Due to how close the bottom two wisdom teeth are in relation to the nerve, it has to be done under GA.

I work part time, only two days a week on Saturday & Sunday. I can see that it really varies depending on the person and the dentist carrying out the surgery so what I’ll do is ask to have Saturday and Sunday off. Then see how I am the following week and if needed, I’ll get a sick note/self certify if I’m not able to go back the following weekend.

I’ll just see what my manager says. The comments are making me somewhat nervous about the whole procedure!

Don’t feel nervous, these extractions are done all the time. It is just pretty hardcore getting wisdoms out as they’re huge! I recovered well, I was just utterly wiped out by it and it is painful in the first couple of days. But I never, ever had a wisdom tooth / tooth infection ever again so it was absolutely worth it!

Weescottishwummin2 · 10/09/2024 12:04

Dry socket is the worst pain ! If you smoke then you would be wise to stop for now , Don't use a straw , the sucking easily dislodges the clot , hope it goes well for you and you have a quick recovery ❤️‍🩹

Hoardasurass · 10/09/2024 12:04

TrickorTreacle · 10/09/2024 11:48

14 years of Tory rule and people are having teeth removed under a GA? Things can't be that bad then!

I had 4 teeth removed back in 1991 under a local. The initial needle that numbs you was painful but it was ok after that. Liquid diet for the next 24 hours e.g. soup, Perrier water. 2 days off school. The day of the extractions itself plus the day after.

Hope it goes ok @WisdomToothRemoval

Btw, GA in operations has significantly improved since the 1990s as well. Pre-med is no longer needed as of 2024 and I didn't feel nausous like I did in the 90s.

Sorry but I had 3 out under labour gov and only 1 under tory gov. When your wisdom teeth are so badly impacted that they need to remove part of your jaw bone and cut the tooth in 4 just to get it out the only way is a GA.
So perhaps you should take your smugness about the ease of your tooth extractions to a different thread because many of us have had simple extractions done under a local like normal but when it comes to "difficult" extractions or any that requires stitches it must be done at a hospital which means that your stuck on waiting lists to get seen and don't really have much of a choice when it comes to how they anesthestise you if you want the tooth out

Seeline · 10/09/2024 12:09

I had two wisdom teeth out, two other molars and some other 'bits of tooth matter' that were spread around my mouth, all under GA when I was 16.
I don't remember being given pain killers other than paracetamol - stronger ones would have been great.
The GA made me very sick for 24 hours, and it was a good two weeks before I could stop falling asleep randomly throughout the day. The hospital food was awful - no allowance for not being able to open my mouth, chew etc. I kept fainting because I wasn't eating enough so was kept in hospital for 3 days. My Mum smuggled me in glucose tablets to suck just so she could get me home to give me some decent food. I could barely eat anything - even plain yoghurt and smooth soup were not great. Anything that got caught up in the stitches was not great.
My face was so swollen and bruised it hurt to smile, talk, drink

littleredbumblebee · 10/09/2024 12:09

I had one wisdom tooth out, straight forward and no GA and I felt horrible for 2 weeks afterwards. I was in so much pain I was literally counting the minutes till I could take painkillers. I went back to the dentist expecting them to say it was dry socket but it wasn’t. They did repack just in case and to give me some relief with the clove oil. My face was swollen for a week. I think I must just have and reactions to teeth being taken out as I had a normal one out because it fractured (still a back on but not a wisdom) and I was down for a good week. I have a pretty high pain threshold as commented on by the docs when I had major abdominal surgery and was up and about that evening so I was not being a wimp.

I also know other people who have had more
out and had a GA but been fine. I firmly believe we all have parts of our body that when injured or operation that we struggle with. Me it is my teeth

Melroses · 10/09/2024 12:10

I had the bottom two out under GA. A bit of bone had to be removed to get to them, and I had dissolvable stitches. Just two very neat bruises.

The painkillers (sodium diclofenac) they gave me gave me a headache but I was better once I moved to paracetamol. The worst bit was that I was flaked out for a week, which is normal for me after GA.

Original poster
WisdomToothRemoval · 10/09/2024 12:50

Hoardasurass · 10/09/2024 12:04

Sorry but I had 3 out under labour gov and only 1 under tory gov. When your wisdom teeth are so badly impacted that they need to remove part of your jaw bone and cut the tooth in 4 just to get it out the only way is a GA.
So perhaps you should take your smugness about the ease of your tooth extractions to a different thread because many of us have had simple extractions done under a local like normal but when it comes to "difficult" extractions or any that requires stitches it must be done at a hospital which means that your stuck on waiting lists to get seen and don't really have much of a choice when it comes to how they anesthestise you if you want the tooth out

Show quote history

Thank you! I’ve been on the waiting list for 3 years and have suffered unimaginable pain for longer. I’ve finally been given a date to have them removed at the hospital and I had no input on whether it’d be under GA or local due to the placements of some of the teeth.

Some people can’t help but bring politics into everything…

OP posts:
babyproblems · 10/09/2024 13:29

Agree four days is too short. I found the recovery quite long and I found it hard. Felt very woozy after the surgery.

Nickyknockers · 10/09/2024 13:40

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

lanthanum · 10/09/2024 13:41

I had one impacted wisdom tooth out under general anaesthetic. I was told to expect to need a week off work. As a teacher, I had it done the Monday before half-term, and I don't think I'd have been back until the Thursday of the following week, although possibly for a less demanding job the Monday would have been okay.

Ask the medics what they recommend, but if they don't give you any guidance, I would tell your work to expect you to be off for a week - sick leave, not annual leave.

If work try to tell you that you should be back sooner, push back with any advice from the medics. Wisdom teeth extractions vary hugely (my other three were local anaesthetic and only needed a day), and I think some people don't realise that.

SquigglyNonsense · 10/09/2024 13:50

All 4 out under GA - had a night in hospital (I was 17) then home after I'd eaten toast. Definitely on the watch for when I could take next dose of painkillers for a few days, and the swelling looked awful - but the GA was the worst thing, I was foggy/tired for about a week although I was back at school 4 days later.

My brother had the same thing at the same age and somehow swallowed all the blood from the op and was vomiting half digested blood once he came round. He also couldn't eat for a bit as his jaw wasn't quite back right. He felt awful for ages after.

sleepwouldbenice · 10/09/2024 14:03

Mine were 25 years ago, two impacted wisdom teeth and one misgrown tooth

I had just started a new job so it was awkward being off

But face did swell up ridiculously. And yes you can barely eat or talk as can't open mouth much. Then, after a few days I was feeling better, then I caught a stomach bug and was 🤢 with mouth full of ulcers! I would suggest allowing at least 4 /5days...

Aworldofmyown · 10/09/2024 15:01

I had two non impacted wisdom teeth out at the dentist and then went to work after. I was careful, did what I was told, and had no problems at all. So, you might be absolutely fine to go back once you feel OK from the anaesthetic.
However you might be unlucky, just wait and see, try not to overthink it. Good luck! (I find straws useful if I've had teeth out, just suck gently 😆)

TeamPolin · 10/09/2024 15:05

To be honest, you might need 3 or 4 days off to recover from having a general anaesthetic, let alone deal with the effects of wisdom tooth extraction....

Can't you take sick leave?

Shade17 · 10/09/2024 15:05

I had all 4 out under GA, gums stitched up etc. No facial swelling or any issues, took the following 2 days off. Some people have a much harder time with recovery than others.

Member984815 · 10/09/2024 15:07

I had one out under local , my face was badly bruised and I was in a lot of pain due to a complication, I also got a bad infection which took 2 courses of antibiotics to clear on the other hand had second one out also under local and went very smoothly and once I stayed on top of the pain I was fine .there's just no telling how you will be after having 6 removed together I wouldn't bank on everything being fine

ThatMakesSense · 10/09/2024 15:08

Hi - I had all 4 out under GA with overnight stay on Thursday night. Back at work on Tuesday. The first couple days were pretty horrible. Face like Grommit, not being able to eat other than mash! The heavy duty painkillers made me constipated to the point of crying! Take your time - rest and ice. Good luck!

FiveTreeHill · 10/09/2024 15:10

The thing is a tooth extraction can be as simple as a small wobbly root that takes 2 seconds to remove or a complex surgical that takes 30 minutes

People can give you their experience but it's irrelevant to how you will heal as it will depend on how much bone removal you need and your bodies response to the procedure. There's a massive variety in complexity of wisdom tooth extractions even 2 similar looking teeth

If they are impacted then I think it's unlikely you will be wanting to go back to work by Saturday. You can self certify for a week or the hospital can give you a sick note, but I would plan for a week.