wisdom tooth extraction - who did yours? Anyone go with local only?

[Anonymous]

I do extractions of wisdom teeth on awake patients; there is no medical need for sedation or laughing gas. If the noise worries patients, I tell them to turn on their ipods and up the volume as loud as they like.

[Anonymous]

I went with a local only (no twilight sleep or gas) and I didn't feel any pain - it was only one tooth though. I was in my mid-30s at the time.

[Anonymous]

I had my two upper wisdom teeth extracted with only local when I was 26 (not in this area though). I was adamently opposed to sedation of any kind, and my oral surgeon said he rarely removed wisdom teeth without sedation but was willing to do it with just local. The procedure was a breeze (there was a lot of bone crunching and tugging.) Both teeth were impacted, but one was under the bone more so he had to slice off the bone with a saw to get at it (that one took about 30 minutes to unearth).

Basically when I got in the chair, a nurse gave me two lollipop looking things that were filled with some sort of topical local. She told me to place them in the area of each tooth. This numbed the gums so that I barely felt the injections of local (I think there were 2 injections for each tooth). Now the part about all this that freaked me out and made me panic was that the injections of local numbed my tongue and upper palate so that I felt that I could not swallow properly. Not being able to swallow is something that has caused me panic attacks in the past, so this totally freaked me out and I started wishing I had done the sedation, just for this reason. I felt like I couldn't coordinate the motions of my swallowing because I couldn't feel my tongue or upper palate. So think about whether this would freak you out too (I think if I had had all 4 injections for all 4 teeth and couldn't feel my upper or lower palate I would have definitely had a panic attack. Luckily after a few minutes the worst of the feelings of non-coordination wore off and I was able to swallow a bit better. I had to hold my swallow reflex during the wisdom teeth removal part (because there were sharp objects back there) which was very hard (that's another thing that causes me panic, when I feel that I can't swallow).

I had no problems sailing through the cutting, tugging, and crunching sounds. It was the swallowing thing that caused me to have moments of panic.

My lower 2 wisdom teeth are still impacted but my dentist adivsed against removing those because of how close they were to an important nerve. Now I'm in my mid-30's and figure since the lower 2 haven't caused any problems yet, I might as well leave them in.

By the way, I'm still adament against sedation for medical procedures, and had several breast lumps removed with only local (which was not advised by my breast surgeon, he recommended general anesthesia or heavy sedation). I did great with these procedures too, much better than if I had had to have anesthesia!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I should also say I've had an extraction before, local only, not phased by it and I had a root canal before, didn't find it terrible at all. Obviously realize wisdom teeth will be worse, but I'm not worried about pain. Just don't want to go under unless I have to. (probably sounding mental about it by now, too, ha ha).

Does twilight sleep count as being GA? I'm the one who had that and whose husband had local. Other than that the mild nausea, I had no side effects. What they used is a mystery to me (I was 18 and that was twelve years ago), it was nice not to be awake. But I'm someone who would have preferred to be out for my c section.

[Anonymous]

I've had all of mine taken out with local novocaine only. I don't have a particularly high pain tolerance and was totally fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had my two upper wisdom teeth extracted with only local when I was 26 (not in this area though). I was adamently opposed to sedation of any kind, and my oral surgeon said he rarely removed wisdom teeth without sedation but was willing to do it with just local. The procedure was a breeze (there was a lot of bone crunching and tugging.) Both teeth were impacted, but one was under the bone more so he had to slice off the bone with a saw to get at it (that one took about 30 minutes to unearth).

Basically when I got in the chair, a nurse gave me two lollipop looking things that were filled with some sort of topical local. She told me to place them in the area of each tooth. This numbed the gums so that I barely felt the injections of local (I think there were 2 injections for each tooth). Now the part about all this that freaked me out and made me panic was that the injections of local numbed my tongue and upper palate so that I felt that I could not swallow properly. Not being able to swallow is something that has caused me panic attacks in the past, so this totally freaked me out and I started wishing I had done the sedation, just for this reason. I felt like I couldn't coordinate the motions of my swallowing because I couldn't feel my tongue or upper palate. So think about whether this would freak you out too (I think if I had had all 4 injections for all 4 teeth and couldn't feel my upper or lower palate I would have definitely had a panic attack. Luckily after a few minutes the worst of the feelings of non-coordination wore off and I was able to swallow a bit better. I had to hold my swallow reflex during the wisdom teeth removal part (because there were sharp objects back there) which was very hard (that's another thing that causes me panic, when I feel that I can't swallow).

I had no problems sailing through the cutting, tugging, and crunching sounds. It was the swallowing thing that caused me to have moments of panic.

My lower 2 wisdom teeth are still impacted but my dentist adivsed against removing those because of how close they were to an important nerve. Now I'm in my mid-30's and figure since the lower 2 haven't caused any problems yet, I might as well leave them in.

By the way, I'm still adament against sedation for medical procedures, and had several breast lumps removed with only local (which was not advised by my breast surgeon, he recommended general anesthesia or heavy sedation). I did great with these procedures too, much better than if I had had to have anesthesia!

Wow, OP here. This is great info. thank you.

[Anonymous]

Forgive my hijack, but I have a related question. I need to have a wisdom tooth pulled. My dentist told me he can do it in his office and there is no need for surgery. I was a little distracted at the appointment and didn't ask any questions. Ow ive got an important one. I am assuming that I'll be given a local and so will be able to return to work after the procedure. Spound right? Anyone gone back to work right after having a wisdom tooth pulled (as opposed to surgically removed)? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

done it twice local only, no problems whatsoever. I agree with the poster on sedation, I avoid it in any procedure if possible (which has been all so far *knock on wood*).

[Anonymous]

Great post. I have a wisdom tooth that will probably need to be pulled. How much does pulling wisdom teeth cost? I need to get a root canal/crown redone on one tooth and I know that will maximize my benefits for the year. Thanks!