Words For Wisdom

[Riley]

On the 14th of this month, I'm going in to get my wisdom teeth removed. Things such as television and the story about a man who felt everything throughout his operation because of "anesthesia awareness." Am I in for a bad time? Or no?

 

[nowwhat]

On the 14th of this month, I'm going in to get my wisdom teeth removed. Things such as television and the story about a man who felt everything throughout his operation because of "anesthesia awareness." Am I in for a bad time? Or no?

Not necessarily. I had mine out under nothing more than novacaine. I think it depends how your roots are. Mine were straight, and according to the oral surgeon, "they extracted like corks from bottles of wine." It is an extremely common procedure, and complications are extremely rare. I would not worry about it. Maybe ask them to do it under local only. Perhaps that's possible for you, and I had no problems with it.

 

[Riley]

I'm getting put right to sleep, if that's what you mean.

 

[xudo]

This seems very similar to another thread you posted about having your wisdom teeth out.

If you're having a general anesthetic, you will be completely asleep and you won'y be aware or feel anything. I don't personally believe people who say they remember things when under a general. I've had many operations under a general anesthetic, and I remember nothing and felt nothing throughout.

 

[Riley]

That was my root canal.

 

[tree]

@Riley
Have all your wisdom teeth erupted [are they visible?]
Or are any of your wisdom teeth impacted?

 

[Riley]

Well...I can feel 'em with my tongue.

 

[tree]

Well...I can feel 'em with my tongue.

Does that mean you can feel them, but they are covered by gum tissue?
Or does that mean a person could look in your mouth and see those
wisdom teeth as easily as any of your other teeth?

 

[Judge]

I was semi-conscious when they took all four of my wisdom teeth out. Having taken Demerol before the procedure, then given a local (Novocaine) and then Nitrus Oxide.

I didn't feel anything during the procedure, but afterwards when all the anesthetics wore off I was in terrible pain for a few hours. No one thought of giving me pain killers for that.

 

[tree]

I was awake during the procedure to remove
the four impacted wisdom teeth. I had valium
beforehand and novocaine.

The surgeon managed to keep implements and
results out of range of my sight.

 

[xudo]

When I had 3 of mine removed, I was under a general anesthetic. This was mainly because I was 12 (they came through too early) and I was also having 4 other teeth removed due to overcrowding, one of which was coming through too far back, behind my front teeth.

Don't remember it, but it was painful afterwards and swollen. I was given painkillers to take after and I assume they worked. I don't really remember as it was like 19 years ago.

 

[Riley]

Mom said 'they're just floating there' and not erupted.

 

[Bolletje]

I've had a lot of oral and dental surgery done in the past, all of it under local anaesthesia. It's not pleasant, but that's about it.
The pain after the procedure is the most unpleasant part.

Local anesthesia works like a charm if it's applied by someone who knows what they're doing. It's highly unusual to use general anesthesia or nitrous oxide for the extraction of wisdom teeth in my country, as local anesthesia alone is effective at blocking the pain.

If you're going to be under general anaesthesia, as you said, you shouldn't worry about any of the things you mentioned. You won't notice much when you're knocked out. Is there a specific reason for the general anesthesia in your case?

 

[Riley]

Nothing other than the fact I'm beyond freaked out. And that I'm not a human voodoo doll

 

[Bolletje]

Cute, yet totally inaccurate voodoo doll analogy. Local anesthesia is a hell of a lot healthier for your body than being put under though. But if you're that freaked out about the procedure it's probably better for all parties involved that you're as unconscious as possible.

 

[Riley]

The 'voodoo doll' was an American Horror Story reference.

 

[xudo]

The 'voodoo doll' was an American Horror Story reference.

It only makes sense if we know that though.

@Bolletje in the UK they don't use nitrous or general much any more, unless you are having a lot of teeth out, or you are particularly nervous about dentistry. If I see my usual dentist, it's local for everything...but when I had a terrible phobia, I was sent to the dental hospital, where they will use nitrous throughout to keep you calm.

 

[Bolletje]

It only makes sense if we know that though.

@Bolletje in the UK they don't use nitrous or general much any more, unless you are having a lot of teeth out, or you are particularly nervous about dentistry. If I see my usual dentist, it's local for everything...but when I had a terrible phobia, I was sent to the dental hospital, where they will use nitrous throughout to keep you calm.

It's pretty much the same here in the Netherlands. Dentists use local for everything, and people with intense phobias or developmental disabilities are referred to a specialized dental hospital for nitrous, or in severe cases, general anesthesia.

 

[xudo]

It's pretty much the same here in the Netherlands. Dentists use local for everything, and people with intense phobias or developmental disabilities are referred to a specialized dental hospital for nitrous, or in severe cases, general anesthesia.

When I was younger (like primary school age, so up to 10/11) they would absolutely give you nitrous at your normal everyday dentists!

 

[Judge]

Getting nitrus oxide locally is a precarious proposition. The dentist I usually go to charges $20 for it. The root canal specialist charges $100 for the same thing.

What a ripoff!