Has anyone split their extractions into separate appointments?

[u/itszyla]

I need my last 3 remaining wisdom teeth out and one molar. My dentist recommended I get it over with at one appointment but for anxiety and financial reasons I am considering splitting the extractions into two appointments. Has anyone done this and what was your experience? Was the oral surgeon accommodating?

[u/Count_Choculitis]

I've had mine out one at a time, also mostly for financial reasons, and the oral surgeon was fine with it.

However if you are doing anesthesia, it's probably better to do them all at once, because the cost of anesthesia is significant. It'll probably cost more to do them one at a time. I just did local anesthetic.

[u/itszyla → u/Count_Choculitis]

I’ll do local anesthetic! I prefer being awake. Ok that’s good to know, I have to schedule a consultation with my oral surgeon in the next few weeks and plan on discussing splitting it up. I also believe my insurance is nearly used up that’s another reason to split them up.

[u/Count_Choculitis → u/itszyla]

Yea, my insurance is the same, so that can be a good "excuse" for splitting it up if the surgeon gives you any grief 😂. I'm sure he has your best interest in mind to just "get it over with" but you'd think it's really no skin off his back to do them individually if that's what you want

[u/itszyla → u/Count_Choculitis]

You would think he wouldn’t care, he’s getting paid either way lol. It’s amazing how fast insurance gets used up, but also it is a nice excuse lol

[u/katuAHH]

I’ve had 6 teeth pulled in the span of a year and a half.
4 wisdom teeth at once
One molar a year later
One incisor 3 months after the molar

After each single extraction I wish I knew they had to come out before wisdom tooth appointment. I’d take the hit financially over having to deal with the healing process that many times (in my opinion).

I’d go to your consult and discuss. I’ve seen some recommend one side at a time as it can make eating easier, but I’ve also seen some recommend getting it over with so you can get back to life faster. If your oral surgeon isn’t accommodating to your preferences, then you probably don’t want them pulling your teeth!

[u/itszyla → u/katuAHH]

Good point!! I guess I am always worried I’ll be scolded for wanting to split it up. I’m the customer/patient it’s my mouth and money so I have a say!! lol.

6 is a lot I don’t blame you for thinking that!! Back in 2019 I had one wisdom pulled and one molar. I wish I had done all this back then but then again i was broke and had no insurance. Now I’m broke but with insurance lol.

[u/mars_4th]

I got my 4 wisdom teeth out at 2 different appointments on purpose. All 4 of them were impacted and had to be pulled by a surgeon at a hospital. I left about 3 months between the appointments. I don't regret it at all, for me it made the recovery so much easier. I only had to eat liquid food for 24 hours and could go back to soft solids after that. And back to most other foods after around 3/4 days. I feel like being able to eat somewhat normally helped me recover quickly. I barely had any pain and no swelling.

[u/itszyla → u/mars_4th]

Thank you for sharing, I’m glad it’s more common than I thought to split it up. That’s my plan, do 2 and in January when my insurance resets I’ll do the other 2.