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Original poster

Anyone been referred to a hospital for wisdom tooth removal?

24 replies

JinglingAllTheWay · 04/12/2011 22:56

Dentist has referred me to the local hospital for a wisdom tooth removal. Does this mean it has to be under GA or do they still use local if you are in a hospital? Any advice greatly received as I am worrying myself silly!

OP posts:

MrsTittleMouse · 04/12/2011 22:59

I had mine out under GA in a hospital, because they were really impacted - personally I was glad that I was unconcious, because I didn't want to know what they had to do to get them out. :) It was different though, because I was young, and so my Mum and Dad could look after me when I came out, rather than me having to look after small children.

I should point out here that even though I had them out under GA, I still had a very quick recovery time, and it wasn't a big deal at all. Please don't worry. :)

Tidybush · 04/12/2011 23:00

I've been in twice for wisdom teeth and yes it was to have a GA. All done and dusted in a day though.
Had to take a week off work each time due to swelling and discomfort but it was so worth it to get rid of the painful buggers.

Original poster

JinglingAllTheWay · 04/12/2011 23:05

Will the hospital use local anaesthetic? This is what I want! I am more than happy to have local and am not a nervy patient so won't need sedation... but defo do not want a GA... don't really want to go into it on here but I have my reasons for wanting to avoid a GA for this!

OP posts:

edam · 04/12/2011 23:08

I had mine out with g &a. You need to contact the hospital - don't know if it'd possible to have local.

Luminescence · 04/12/2011 23:13

I had all 4 out in hospital as a day patient with conscious sedation.

Atomant · 04/12/2011 23:19

Had mine out under GA all four at once. They were all impacted. Was painful after for a while everything through a straw as I couldn't open my mouth, extremely sore jaw & a black eye! Was v glad I wasn't awake as I suspect quite an amount of pressure is required to get them out based on bruising afterwards.
My brother had his done under local and said he'd wished it was GA...

Atomant · 04/12/2011 23:23

If you really don't want a GA OP you should talk to them about what options are available. My brother had two visits as he wanted LA, two teeth at a time. I wasn't given a choice as mine were badly impacted, but I didn't question what my options were as I was only 18 at the time.

bobs · 04/12/2011 23:23

Had one yanked out in the dentists chair and the other 3 out in hossie - ga and one night stay - would choose the hossie option anyday. This was however about 25 yrs ago and I gather they don't take wisdom teeth out anymore if they can help it as one of my DDs also has a small mouth and I thought she might need them out

oreocrumbs · 04/12/2011 23:24

DP had his out at the hospital with local. It was in the oral and facial unit and it was a dentists room (as in set up like the dentists with the chair, not a bed etc). Your dentist would probable warn you if it was to be under general, but when you get your letter from the hospital that will tell you what they are going to do.

scurryfunge · 04/12/2011 23:25

Had sedation for mine. Don't remember a thing.

oreocrumbs · 04/12/2011 23:27

I have to say I had mine out at the dentist under sedation (had to pay for that though) and I would pay for that again (cos I'm a wimp ). It is quite brutal and watching DP have his out was awful. I'd rather be out of it!

sprinkles77 · 04/12/2011 23:37

It depends on the hospital, your preference, and on your needs (surgical and psychological). Depending on circumstances you will have the options of local, local + gas and air, local + sedation, local + GA. Local is given even with GA to 1. minimise bleeding during surgery. 2. control post operative pain. 3. because you have a physiological response to pain, even when unconscious, which can temporarily affect blood pressure, which the anaesthetists don't like.

The more complex the surgery and the more anxious you are the higher the level of "anxiety management" you will be offered. If you are a nonchalant sort you can have even the most complex wisdom tooth removed under local (though many surgeons will prefer you to have GA for these). If you are really seriously phobic you could have the easiest one done under GA. But, the less sedation you have the quicker you will recover. If you are anxious but the procedure is reasonably straight forward, gas and air is wonderful, you will feel super relaxed but still be very much in control. You will have a complete memory of the procedure, allowing you to regain some confidence that you are able to cope with dental treatment (sedation and GA result in total amnesia). Best of all, within 2 minutes of the gas being turned off, you are back to normal, no wobbles and able to drive.
IME your average hospital dental surgeon makes removing even the most horrible wisdom teeth like shelling peas.

justamincepie · 04/12/2011 23:39

I had one out earlier in the year at the hospital under local. I'm going back next year to have one on the other side taken out (hospital mix up with appointments they were meant to be in successive months) They won't do both sides at the same time under local, not sure if they do under GA.

Similar to oerocrumbs dh it was a dentist chair set up. Dentist was fab, very reassuring made sure I had enough local not to feel anything, gave me enough info so I knew what he was doing but not too much to make me panic.

I had to go to a preliminary appointment where they took xrays of my teeth and discussed how I wanted them taken out - GA or local? they discussed the pros and cons of each method with me. I went with local as less complications and quicker recovery time. Fingers crossed it all goes as smoothly for you and my next appointment.

perfumedlife · 05/12/2011 01:32

I had mine out in hospital with consious sedation, that drug that means you are awake and sort of consious, with no memory whatsoever of the surgery afterwards. It was excellent, I remember nothing and slept like a baby when I got home.

I had to have it as I have a real fear of lying back in a medical situ owing to another medical crisis. Worth asking about.

NK346f2849X127d8bca260 · 05/12/2011 10:52

Two of mime were impacted and i had them out under LA as i was terrified of a general. The worst thing was the noises! didn't feel anything though. Had some stitches, so eating was a bit awkard for a few days.

rabbitstew · 05/12/2011 11:45

I had mine done under local at the hospital. I have to say, it was pretty unpleasant (in between wondering whether my jaw was about to be dislocated because so much pressure was being put on it, I was worried the person's hand would slip and give me a black eye and it did seem to go on an interminably long time...). However, I too have a phobia of the idea of not being aware of what is going on, so favoured the drilling, cutting, spitting noises, pushing, twisting, cracking etc to the thought of being unaware. I think it's actually a bit of a psychological oddity to be under the impression you are under any more control of the situation by experiencing it awake rather than asleep (I could hardly have leapt up off my chair declaring they were doing it all wrong!), but hey ho, if that's the way you feel, you have to run with it.

rabbitstew · 05/12/2011 11:47

Oh, sorry, should say I had two of mine done under local at the dentist's (not too bad - not much worse than having any other tooth removed) and one at the hospital that the dentist didn't want to touch and which did take quite a long time to remove and stitch up and did result in my being unable to open my mouth more than about half an inch for the next few weeks and looking a tiny bit like a bruised hamster.

Dozer · 05/12/2011 23:25

I had the two bottom ones out at once in the hospital under local (my choice), they were impacted, totally sideways.

I am a relaxed, confident patient, not squeamish or scared of dentist, but it was bloody awful. They had to cut the teeth into bits to get them out. Worst bit was the joint pain in my jaw / head (up by eyes) from jaw being stretched for so long, lasted for a whole week, agony, would probably have been quicker and hence less pain under general.

It was way, way worse than 2 C-sections with complications!

My face was mega swollen too.

Worst bit was, the dentist was really attractive, I was single at the time and trying to look appealing, my mum was with me and was filled with mirth at the sight of me trying to flirt while still numb, had massive hamster cheeks, no neck, drool and blood and bits of tooth dribbling from both sides of mouth!

Dozer · 05/12/2011 23:25

I went off the dentist when the anaesthesia wore off mind you.

pithtaker · 05/12/2011 23:29

I had one out at hospital, just a normal local injection, wait a while for it to take effect, then in, twist and out. I was very surprised it was over so quick.

Still not sure why they sent me the hospital for that.

birdinatent · 05/12/2011 23:29

had mine taken out in hospital because it was partially impacted. had it done under a local, but sorry to say it wasnt a particularly pleasant experience. they did have to cut it into pieces to get it out like other people have said, having said that, it was much easier than childbirth

Original poster

JinglingAllTheWay · 06/12/2011 22:37

Please tell me exactly what to expect, I would rather be prepared. I have had teeth out as a teenager for a brace, but those were normal teeth so
To speak! My wisdom is partially under the gum and on its side! Oh what fun that will be to remove!

OP posts:

tink123 · 07/12/2011 19:43

had my lower wisdom tooth. I would go for a GA or at least a LA with sedation, as my op went wrong, and two years down the line I am still completely numb on my lower right lip and gum.

By the way I have had problems finding other ppl on web with same permanent numbness so it is very very rare.

delurked · 07/12/2011 20:32

I had my lower left wisdom tooth out in hospital under local anaesthetic without any sedation. It was pain free but a pretty unpleasant experience - as others have said the pressure can feel very uncomfortable and there are some horrible noises. It also went on for a very long time - almost 40 minutes - although mine was badly impacted. The dentist was very reassuring though and made sure I was completely numb before beginning and also topped me up when necessary.

I was able to go home about ten minutes after the op as I wasn't bleeding much (a big advantage of local is that you can be in and out in under an hour).

If you are squeamish I would recommend sedation and a local - that is what I would do if I had to have another tooth out.

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