WIBU to go camping the day after having dental surgery?

[mopandsmiff]

I’m having an impacted wisdom tooth out (actually - it’s a coronectomy not a full extraction). I’m having it done under local anaesthetic.

I’ve just had the date and it’s the Thursday morning before I am due to go camping with friends (Friday night to Sunday afternoon). We will be doing some walking (circular routes), sleeping in tents and cooking on stoves.

I’ve never had an operation like this done before, but I know I will be sore and only able to eat soft food.

I would be gutted to miss the trip and to miss seeing my friends. I also feel that a dental procedure is a bit of a lame reason to drop out.

But, a colleague who’s had a wisdom tooth out has told me I would mad to go and will want to be in bed. My mum also thinks I should cancel.

If you have had surgery on a wisdom tooth, what do you think? AIBU to plan on going?

I've had an impacted wisdom tooth extracted. There is absolutely no way you will be up for camping and hiking the day after. It's madness to even try, if you get dry socket and you're miles away from your dentist you really will be screwed.

Just ring up and see if you can move the appointment? Is it with your dentist or the hospital? Either way, they'll have other appointments, just might mean you needing to wait longer. I would do that in the first instance though!

She won't get dry socket though because she's having a coronectomy, so the roots stay in place - no socket to get dry! But that doesn't mean it might not be painfull/swollen etc.

I felt rough after my wisdom tooth extraction but that was under general anaesthetic and that was probably the reason I felt whacked. It also really hurt to talk though - I remember going to see friends in the couple of days after and saying to them "sorry I just am going to sit and listen to the convo it hurts to join in, I need a rest". Wasn't very pleasant.

I've had 2 out;
One - I was completely fine after.
Two - I was really unwell and in lots of pain for days. Even got a black eye?! My fave was all swollen. Also could not eat anything other than soup for a week or so

I was fine after having two wisdom teeth removed (with gum numb). I just used salt water for a couple of days.

I had a double coronectomy at maxfac a few years ago. Staff referred to it as the ‘biggie’. I needed more time off than the day after. I wouldn’t have been able to go camping. That being said, everyone is different and you may feel more able to do so. I’d certainly plan for not being able to just in case you feel rotten. (The drugs I was initially on made me a bit of a space cadet as well)

I don’t think you are supposed to exercise (long walks) after dental surgery as the risk of bleeding is too high. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.

In a previous life I was a dental nurse, well haven’t practiced for a while but you don’t forget, recovery can vary a lot. But with driving and the hiking plus camping, I wouldn’t be doing that. You should avoid strenuous exercise.

There is a big difference going off down the shops for a wander or some other usual low level activity versus climbing over stiles, hiking and sleeping in a tent.

I went to a wedding the following day, i wasn’t in pain for the first time in months

Urgh. I had a wisdom tooth out earlier this year and I wouldn’t have wanted to do this. I think you’re advised to avoid exercise for the first few days…

Same here had all four out at the same time. I was tied to the sofa for a week drinking soup

Oh god no, that trip is long dead and gone I'm afraid. Mine was very impacted and closed to the nerve so I was sedated but it was 6 weeks before it was vaguely normal. The next day I could hardly get out of bed

I had 3 removed under GA. 1 got infected & I was incredibly ill for over a month & lost about 2 stone in weight. Theres no way I could have done anything within 24 hours - I was so ill.

But I know others who have been back to work within 24 hours with no ill effects- it really depends& you won't know what way you will go until after rhe extraction.

Good luck!

No I would move thr dental appt. For sure. I would not be doing both.

you need to be wary of dry socket. You wouldn’t want to be miles from home if it got sore

There won’t be a dry socket 🤦‍♀️ fgs. You need to rest and take your pain relief regularly OP. It takes a while to recover and can be very sore /debilitating at first. No camping / hiking- the very idea is ridiculous.

Read the thread people, she’s not having the wisdom tooth out (unless something goes seriously wrong) she’s having a coronectomy

You should plan on being unable to drive due to the pain killers you will likely be taking as they will be removing part of your jaw bone which causes major pain and cutting your gum open, then stitching it up.
Honestly I've had 3 wisdom teeth removed, 1 was a normal dentist extraction with minor pain, 1 was at the local dental hospital and involved cutting the gum open which didn't hurt to much after but the stitches and keeping it clean from food was tricky for the 1st couple of days. The 3rd extraction was the worst recovery I've ever had and thats because they removed part of the jaw bone, the closest thing that I can describe pain wise is having a broken bone, even talking hurt let alone eating for almost a week, then there was the bruising and swelling to my cheek and jaw which made me look like I'd gone 10 rounds with Mike tyson.
Honestly I'd cancel the trip now

In the past few years I have had an extraction and a dental implant (my teeth are a mess!) In both cases I had a full day WFH the following day. I was really worried that I'd be in agony and have to cancel so had all my heavy duty pain medication lined up ready to take. As it turned out, I felt only moderate discomfort which a few Ibuprofen could easily handle.

That said, I was lucky and there's no way of knowing how you might react. You may feel fine or you could be in severe pain. So I guess it's up to you if you want to take the chance or not. Not very helpful I know!

You don't want to be on a campsite if you get a post-op infection.

I'm waiting for a date to have my wisdom tooth out, and because I had a trip booked, when I had my initial appointment I did ask whether it would be easy enough to change the date if I got offered a date that clashed with it. Apparently it would be fine. So you can always try!

If you decide to go, take the painkillers and antibiotics, that the maxillo prescribes, with you. Also Panadol, ice packs, fluids and straw.
Be aware that you could experience after affects similar to a broken jaw. Swelling (face like a brick) and bruising is common.

Inquire as to whether medication permits driving.

I had a coronectomy on my impacted wisdom tooth last year. I had stitches down my gum and about 3 cm into my cheek. My face was very swollen and lopsided for a couple of days and I was too swollen and sore to sleep easily. Some of my stitches split, and I needed to go back in. I also needed to use salt water mouth washes regularly, and was on antibiotics. There’s no way I could’ve gone camping and hiking. Of course everyone is different, but I understand my experience was pretty typical for this surgery. Good luck OP. Stock up on cocodamol and soft food!