Getting wisdom teeth removed, need advice from a CRNA

Specialties CRNA

Published

Specializes in ICU.

Ok. So I have some wisdom teeth to be removed; I was told by the dental hygienist that I am lucky because I only have 2 to be removed, they are uppers (one on each side) and they have erupted from the gumline. I can either go for the conscious sedation in my dentist's office or IV anesthesia in an oral surgeon's. I have done some searches on oral surgery anesthesia on allnurses, and found that some oral surgeons perform the anesthesia themselves, some have RNs perform (some RNs without ACLS!), but I haven't come across any about CRNAs or anesthesiologist performing. This may be just me, but I want an actual trained anesthesia provider! I would love to have a CRNA! Am I just being paranoid about this? Can oral surgeons do the surgery AND monitor my sedated self effectively? I live in the St. Louis area and have looked at the some oral surgeon's websites, they say they have "experienced surgical staff" but do not give any credentials (RN, CRNA, etc). Please help.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

First of all I am not a CRNA but I was a dental asst, and I did help with oral surgery's. You do not need to be knocked out to have two teeth removed so why risk it at all. Just get numb, its really is not a big deal. I had all 4 of mine taken out at once, and two of them were still impacted. As long as your numb its no worse than getting any other dental work done. Of course that's just my opinion. I would have an oral surgeon remove them though(they can do it with only Novocaine) as opposed to general dentist. Good Luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Palliative Care, NICU/NNP.
Ok. So I have some wisdom teeth to be removed;

My dad was a general dentist and when I was in HS and college he would remove one at a time over a year or so. He was a big believer in getting them out young. He simply numbed the area and removed the tooth.

An oral surgeon is a highly trained individual and is able to safely maintain anesthesia, but that seems like an unneeded risk.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in medical, telemetry, IMC.

i had my two wisdom teeth removed 2 years ago. i only had 2 in my lower gum (and none in my upper gum), one was fully erupted, one partially. i just had some shots to numb the area and i did fine, i didn't feel any pain during the removal.

and i had one tooth removed at a time, that way i didn't have any problems eating afterwards, i had the other side to chew on.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Same here - no IV sedation, just a lovely shot of some form of lidocaine. Two at a time out. It wasn't a big deal.

My oldest son had a complicated extration with a nerve involved and so did have IV sedation . . . .I wasn't crazy about it at all for him.

In Vietnam, we didn't do anything except numbing them up - amazing what the adults allowed us to do but then their teeth were so bad I think they just wanted the chronic pain to stop.

Good luck with your procedure.

steph

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

Dont forget the laughing gas....that is some good stuff....

Same here - no IV sedation, just a lovely shot of some form of lidocaine. Two at a time out. It wasn't a big deal.

My oldest son had a complicated extration with a nerve involved and so did have IV sedation . . . .I wasn't crazy about it at all for him.

In Vietnam, we didn't do anything except numbing them up - amazing what the adults allowed us to do but then their teeth were so bad I think they just wanted the chronic pain to stop.

Good luck with your procedure.

steph

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Stepdown progressive care.

Had mine removed and had conscious sedation. Great stuff......I don't remember anything and woke up in another room and didn't remember how I got there. I don't think I'd want to be awake for that kind of thing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Dont forget the laughing gas....that is some good stuff....

The pediatric dentist my 5 year old goes to uses nitrous . . . . I wish we had it in Vietnam for the little kids.

steph

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

I have had it with all my extractions and every time I get it I start telling naughty stories...or so they say!!!! lol

The pediatric dentist my 5 year old goes to uses nitrous . . . . I wish we had it in Vietnam for the little kids.

steph

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

To me it was a big deal getting my 2 wisdom teeth removed, and a big shot of lido wasn't going to cut it (thanks to horrible childhood dental experiences). I didn't want to feel anything during, no pressure, no squeaks or creaks, no pain, didn't want to remember anything from the moment i got in the chair. So i opted to be completely out. The OS that did this for me, did it at a hospital. I wasn't willing to be knocked out at the office (this doc didn't do that at his office anyway) , because if something went wrong, i would have had to be trucked to the hospital anyway.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I had all four out at once, including some drilling, with just novocaine. The shot hurts quite a bit, but other than that the procedure is totally painless. No point in overmedicating yourself...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.
Had mine removed and had conscious sedation. Great stuff......I don't remember anything and woke up in another room and didn't remember how I got there. I don't think I'd want to be awake for that kind of thing.

Ditto. My husband "woke up" in the middle of the procedure with the oral surgen over him with a pair of pliers. He heard his tooth being broken in half before they gave him more Versed. No thank you, I do not want to remember something like that :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment