Looking for some encouragement here! I had all four wisdom teeth out a little over a week ago and still suffering a fair amount of discomfort. It was a difficult procedure. Two lower were impacted, I am in my mid 30's so those roots had time to grow deep near the nerve.
I am still very numb in chin, lower lip and gum. The numbness is driving me nuts. I felt so bad I had to call off a couple days ago.
I had bruising all the way down to my Adam's apple. Swelling is going down.
I didn't take any Vicodin for the last day and a half for fear of the medicine (Vicodin and antibiotic) making me feel bad. I finished antibiotic last night. So far today I just took 2 ibuprofen.
Please tell me I am on the upswing! I am finally getting better at chewing more solid foods. Operative area not as tender, can tolerate maneuvering foods in mouth better.
I was told the numbness could be permanent! Please tell me that is rare! I hate this numbness! Will it likely gradually diminish?
I did the same thing...had all 4 of them pulled out at once. They were all impacted. Thankfully, I did not suffer nerve damage. What it did do was make my TMJ problem worse.
Need to have this problem fixed asap but it costs beaucoup $$$$.
Anywhoo.....
Keep the area clean of food by using the syringe and flushing the "holes" in the mouth.
because I'm 21 years old and I haven't had my wisdom teeth yet
the last time I was at a Dental office(Aug 2004) and had an X-Ray, the dentist said he didn't see any more teeth hiding in my gum..hmm could I be lucky?
And is it possible to NOT get one? I'm scared from reading all your post, plus I don't have a Dental insurance so it would cost me a lot to have them removed :stone
No, not everyone has wisdom teeth...and evolution is hopefully doing its work towards eliminating them all together! Unfortunately, evolution didn't catch up with me....my experience getting them out wasn't fun. I was 22, and it took so long to heal because I had a dry socket.
I hope you're feeling better ~Kitty~. I had two out about 4 weeks ago (one normal, one impacted). It took about 2 weeks for the pain and most of the swelling to go away. I was out of work for almost a week. The worst pain ever! I now have a nasty hole where the impacted tooth was. Food still gets in it...I read that it may take up 3 months for it to fully heal. I'm 25, by the way. I should have gotten them done when I 17.
Funny that I saw this thread on the front page. I just had my 4 removed on Friday. All in all, it wasn't a bad experience, the recovery is SORE though. I am also a bit swollen.
They gave me xanax for the hour before, then when I got there laughing gas...then they put me to sleep. I literally felt like someone snapped their fingers and I was waking up! But it had been an hour. Mine were hard to get out they said, the bottoms were impacted and almost sideways, the tops were halfway in my maxillary sinus. (For the person who said they didn't show up on xray, yea, my top ones didn't either because they were so up high) Having them put me to sleep was very relaxing, I joke with my husband that it was the most relaxing day for me since becoming a mom almost 5 years ago, lol. He brought me home, gave me my vicodin and I basically slept ALL day and then all night. The numbness was driving me crazy and the next day I was basically just very sore. I didn't have a horror-story for an experience, thank goodness. My biggest complaint is just the SORE, SORE, SORE recovery.
The vicodins were kicking my butt and making me feel nasty. I called them today and asked for darvocet which to me is not such a groggy medication. It has taken my pain away but I'm still functional and not tired and I'm doing homework tonight.
Anyway, just wanted to relay my experience for those of you needing them out but feeling a bit scared. Just don't forget to stay on top of the pain meds afterwards, and do the warm compresses and cold compresses afterwards like instructed.
i've been lurking around here for a while, but this thread was just all to familiar... i had mine out last tuesday, all 4 impacted, and i was miserable. my face was so swollen i could barely talk, and couldn't eat or drink (big no-no, i know), which resulted in a trip to the ER and 4 day hospital stay- all i can say is- keep hydrated!! i was discharged today, and found out i have a dry socket- it was packed and i feel better already!!
i definitely agree that it's better to get them out when you're younger-- im a older teenager and had i not gotten mine out, i was at risk for nerve damage.
hope all you recovering are doing well, and after a few days, switch from ice to heat- it helps with the swelling sooo much!!
Specializes in jack of all trades, master of none.
I know several people who have never had the "joyful" experience of having those nasty ol' wisdom chompers pulled out b/c they just weren't there ( or maybe visible) to pull. Both my step-mom & younger half sis were missing several adult teeth, both of them missing wisdom teeth & 2 top front teeth... just never developed...
I had 2 molars removed last summer & missed an entire week of work... couldn't talk, eat, my face was fairly swollen, & I had bruising up & down my face, but the pain was the worst of it. Lots of ice & pain meds helped, but anytime I stood up, it felt like my face was going to explode. I had some areas of numbness that lasted a good 2 months, but all feeling has returned. I was knocked out at the oral surgeon's office with Versed & Fentanyl. They also gave me Phenergan & Solu-Medrol. The only thing I remember about the whole experience was getting to the office & having the doc start the IV & me asking what he was giving me. I don't remember a thing about the procedure. My hubby told me that it was fairly difficult for the oral surgeon to remove one of the teeth, but it only took about 30 minutes from start to finish (for 2 chompers). I was pretty sick from the pain pills (darvocet) so my hubby actually had to call for me & get that switched to vicodin. My hubby told me while I was at home passed out on the couch, I was pretty squirmy & actually kicked the lamp & broke it, b/c I was having some wacked out dream... I don't remember that for the life of me.
Pain took a good week & a half to subside. I was very careful with my salt water rinses & everything healed up nicely.
Mine were hard to get out they said, the bottoms were impacted and almost sideways, the tops were halfway in my maxillary sinus. (For the person who said they didn't show up on xray, yea, my top ones didn't either because they were so up high)
Oy! If they were that high up why did they go after them? Were they giving you problems? They would have had to cut in for those........ouuuucch!
and after a few days, switch from ice to heat- it helps with the swelling sooo much!!
Right, right! When I went in last week (almost 1 week post-op) doc told me to continue warm compresses.
I was very careful with my salt water rinses & everything healed up nicely.
Doc also told me to continue salt water rinses at my visit last week. I was pretty meticulous about that, especially the first few days.
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Wow, some of you have had experience as bad or worse than mine. Seems like anyone I talk to around here did better than me. I've been fortunate in that I have had no infection, dry socket, etc. I just pulled a yucky, barely hanging on suture out of the back of my mouth last night.
I did hear of a girl that died of endocarditis after a dental procedure. (Maybe not wisdom teeth, not sure.) I heard about that shortly before mine, and I was so paranoid!
It is possible not to have them. I thad uppers but no lowers.
I'm just curious and well, concerned as well
When should a person get their wisdom teeth?
because I'm 21 years old and I haven't had my wisdom teeth yet
the last time I was at a Dental office(Aug 2004) and had an X-Ray, the dentist said he didn't see any more teeth hiding in my gum..hmm could I be lucky?
And is it possible to NOT get one? I'm scared from reading all your post, plus I don't have a Dental insurance so it would cost me a lot to have them removed :stone
It is possible not to have them. I thad uppers but no lowers.
I had mine out, if I can remember correctly, when I was 20. Some of my friends had them taken out even later. What an expereince! Not too much fun.
I actually tried to tough it out nad went on a trip right afterwards. Didn't eat anything and ended up having coffee to try and stay awake. End result, dehydration. That is not a good combo...
URO-RN
451 Posts
I did the same thing...had all 4 of them pulled out at once. They were all impacted. Thankfully, I did not suffer nerve damage. What it did do was make my TMJ problem worse.
Need to have this problem fixed asap but it costs beaucoup $$$$.
Anywhoo.....
Keep the area clean of food by using the syringe and flushing the "holes" in the mouth.
Here's to a speedy recovery. :)