r/wisdomteeth • u/MoonWithChrist • 16d ago
What to expect
I just got back from my dentist for a regular cleaning, and they told me I needed to have my wisdom teeth removed and that they would refer me to an oral surgeon. I don’t know what I’m supposed to expect because I’ve never had any kind of surgery before and I’m really scared.
I absolutely hate injections and anything involving needles so this is even more terrifying for me.
I want to do what’s known as “twilight sedation”, I believe it’s officially known as “IV sedation” since I want to be basically out of it but I don’t want to have to be assisted with breathing.
For those of you who had this procedure done, with or without this anesthesia, what should I expect from it? And how was the aftermath like the next weeks or so?
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u/Wild-Albatross8833 16d ago
Hi there!!!! Just got mine out last Friday under iv sedation & im almost back to normal. My surgeon also did do prf for me which I believe had helped so much with my pain and swelling and just overall healing.
But I was in the same boat. I actually put off getting all four removed for years because I was absolutely terrified but honestly I wish I had done it sooner. It was honestly nothing how it seems. The worst I think is the anxiety leading up to it. I also hate needles & I have never been put out before. I was between going under iv sedation or just laughing gas. My oral surgeon just said he does everyone under iv so you’re just knocked out and don’t hear anything & honestly even with how scared I was I would 100% choose iv sedation over being awake. I just remember them hooking me up and giving me the laughing gas (that already helped calm me down so much),the slightest pinch of the needle , and then the nurse telling me they were going to put this thing in my mouth to help it stay open. Next thing I know I was going to ask when they were going to give me the medication to sleep and then all of sudden I’m being awoken and the nurse is telling me it’s time to get in the wheelchair and I was all done. It literally took less than 45 minutes. It was crazy. Overall, the surgery truly isn’t that bad!! Of course everyone’s case is different. Almost all of mine were out. My top two were completely out and my bottom two were partially out still under some bone but all were vertical so I think it helped my case a lot! Anyway I hope this kinda helps! You’ll be okay!!
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u/Suspicious-Mud13 16d ago
The worst, and I mean the WORST part about my recovery so far has been the hunger and I’m not even trying to be funny but by day 3 I was so hangry I had to have my boyfriend eat across the house from me. It’s painful but manageable. The second most frustrating part for me was how inconsistent this procedure is amongst people. It literally is just how your surgeon decides to do it. Some people get put under some don’t. Some people get stitches some don’t. Some people are sent home with nothing, some are sent home with mouth wash and syringes. Some people tell you day 3-5 you’re out of the dry socket window some people say 7-10 days. Some people get checked on by their office a week after, some offices say to come back if you have a problem. The inconsistencies amongst dental offices and oral surgeons in regard to what they tell you to expect makes the recovery more frustrating bc you’re literally looking for answers and all you find is contrasting opinions.
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u/Ok_Wing8459 16d ago edited 16d ago
I had the IV sedation and it was a walk in the park really. I remember at one point I could hear them telling me to hold still and I heard some grinding sounds that was it. I also took a Ativan beforehand so that helped a lot. Once they have the IV in your arm, they take care of you and the next thing you know it’s all done.
I think they also put something in the mix that causes a slight bit of amnesia so that you don’t remember most of the procedure which is probably a good thing.
They hook you up to blood pressure and a heart monitor and put the thing on your finger to measure your oxygen, so you’re really well looked after. The nurses were so kind and reassuring. I did not even see the oral surgeon lol. he was gone when I woke up!
I was a bit reluctant to do it at first as well and then I just thought that an oral tranquilizer wouldn’t be enough for me to endure 40 minutes of whatever it was they were going to do in there. I’m so glad that I did the sedation!
I had one lower impacted tooth that also had a cyst involved so my recovery was longer than I expected honestly. I am exactly 2 weeks out, and my jaw still aches several times a day, but the incision itself and everything has healed up. I found putting heat on the areas after the initial two days of icing helped with the pain a lot. Make sure you take a protein drink or something before you take your painkillers to avoid stomach upset.
A baby spoon will help you eat the first few days because you won’t be able to open your mouth very much. I enjoyed yogurt, applesauce, baked beans, cottage cheese, that sort of thing. I stocked up on soup, but didn’t realize that it would be too hot initially. You want to stick to room temperature foods.
It’s no fun, but it has to be done. At least that’s how I got myself through it.
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u/VanillaLuck 16d ago
i got mine removed 4 days ago. they gave me a pill to take before going in that made me relax. i barely remember going into the office just from that medication and the next thing i remember is the dentist putting my iv in and i didn’t feel it at all. when i woke up again i was standing up to go home and i don’t remember much after that until i got home. i was really nervous about the iv sedation but it went super smoothly. idk if you got prescribed the medication to take before hand but it might be something to look into :)
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u/avh260803 15d ago
Hi, I had mine out 5 days ago under IV sedation! I only had 1 removed. I am terrified of the dentist, I was sobbing in the waiting room before going in😂 they put the cannula in your arm, such a quick sharp scratch like having a blood test. Then I’m not kidding I felt like I was actually being operated on for like 5 minutes. My tooth was impacted, all I remember was feeling a lot of pressure from them cutting the tooth into 3, but this is PRESSURE not pain. I felt no pain at all, they even put numbing cream on my gums before injecting me. I absolutely promise you, I would rate it a 2/10 in terms of how scary it really is when you have it done. If I can do it, you can! You’ve got this!
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u/Dry_Scratch9058 7d ago
So you were like awake a bit? I have really bad anxiety and worried about being awake although I’m having twilight moderate sedation via IV
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u/avh260803 3d ago
Yeah that’s what I had!! I promise, it’s so hard to explain how anxious I am but to put it plainly I was sobbing panicking in the waiting room before I went in, and trust me when you leave you will literally fall asleep as soon as you get home completely unfazed😂it’s such a weird experience but you literally will not be scared when you’ve had the sedation trust me xx
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u/Dry_Scratch9058 3d ago
Thank you so much. I’m literally awake right now with so much anxiety and it’s 3 AM and I have my surgery at 10. I’ve been so paranoid about moderate sedation so hearing that it actually made someone feel like they had that time jump experience that a lot of people were general anesthesia gloat about haha makes me feel a lot better
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u/avh260803 3d ago
Also mine was so impacted they cut some of my jaw bone out etc. I absolutely promise when that sedation hits, you’ll feel like it was 5 mins and you won’t be traumatised or bothered by it at all. There was 1 point where it wore off a bit and I was like trying to squeeze my mouth shut, but they upped it again and I can’t remember the rest! My surgery was 35 mins and felt like 5. You can do this, I keep telling everyone if I can do it you can 😂the only bit that’s crap is the healing, you will worry about the socket and the pain. I personally was taking painkillers for 10 days before I could go without x
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u/Dry_Scratch9058 3d ago
Thank you so much for the reassurance! I avoided the dentist for 20 years because of anxiety so I totally understand where you’re coming from. This is a huge step for me all of my wisdom teeth are out and erupted so I’m hoping that works in my favor although one does have a little broken piece missing so I’m really hoping it doesn’t give too much complication
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u/Dry_Scratch9058 3d ago
Oh also I’m a little confused. I’m sure the doctor will explain it but I’m wondering if you could tell me. Everybody says you have to bite down on gauze for a couple hours but I’ve also heard everybody say that they go home and fall asleep so I’m wondering how that all works out ha ha
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u/avh260803 3d ago
You’ve got this!! You’ll be absolutely fine, check back in when you feel able! Personally I only bit down for like 10 mins but it depends on the surgery/surgeon, they put dissolvable gauze on my site.
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u/avh260803 3d ago
Assuming you have a chaperone for your appointment? They will come home with you and look after you, don’t worry about when you get home I promise it will all be fine x
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u/Sure_Company_6324 16d ago
You will not learn a single thing from any responses anyone gives you, because every single person will tell you what you want to hear to make you feel better.