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

[Anonymous]

I need to have four wisdom teeth extracted and I'm absolutely opposed to general anesthesia if I don't need it. I'm not afraid of pain but I am very risk averse. And the side effects of GA the one time I had it were just so terrible that I'd do anything to avoid it. Any recommendations for a good OS who will remove wisdom teeth (not impacted, but two lowers have grown in sideways) extracted?

I should have done this long ago. My dentist recommended an OS but it seems this OS prefers IV sedation. Is that standard now? Are there other options?

Many thanks, and while I'm not the police of the forum by any means, I am absolutely certain I do NOT want to be sedated in any way. I've had teeth extracted with novacaine before - high pain threshhold, etc but if I have to have sedation my anxiety will skyrocket.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I had all four impacted removed when I was 21, and I had only local - I didn't know people did general anesthesia for wisdom teeth. It was fine during the surgery. i had a painful recovery and looked like a chipmunk for a few days, but then it was over and forgotten. I would definitely recommend the local anesthesia.

[Anonymous]

You can do it with local anesthetic. My DH did. You can hear all the cracking and feel the pulling he says, but if that bothers you less than the general, go for it. Bonus- it's usually cheaper than going under general. I had mine taken out this past February (all 4 at once, 2 were infected= blah) and I cannot stand any kind of crunching/pulling/cracking noises coming from my skull, so I opted for general and was fine. Came to in recovery demanding to know where Ryan Gosling was because I swore the nurses told me he'd be there.

[Anonymous]

Ha, I had sedation because of my anxiety.

It's really not too big of a deal. You just have to eat and drink carefully for a few days. I was not in pain, just a bit sore.

Go to an oral surgeon. (S)he will work quickly and efficiently so your procedure doesn't last long.

[Anonymous]

I didn't, but my college roommate had a local. It was a nightmare for her and the oral surgeon. He said he would never do that again.

[Anonymous]

Gas -- get the gas.
I did it for the 2nd time last summer...easy peasy

[Anonymous]

I had laughing gas... woke up just as they were finishing. All 4 of mine were impacted. I am not sure if they still give laughing gas as an option but I would ask. You are basically out for entire procedure and won't hear or feel a thing.

[Anonymous]

That nitrous gas is the only reason I returned to regular dental visits after years of anxiety and canceling appointments and suffering dental pain & problems. I had stopped going because I just couldn't take all the shots in the mouth anymore, several times had nearly passed out from the pain. Would rather go through childbirth again than have a bunch of needles stuck into my mouth. The gas helped a LOT in my case.

[Anonymous]

I had all 4 of mine taken out when I was 18, with local only. I had a bad reaction to the percoset, so after that managed the pain just with otc drugs.

[Anonymous]

I had mine taken out by the oral surgeon Dr Delgado (he's in Tysons and Alexandria) . . . however, I did have IV Sedation (i.e. twilight stuff they use for colonoscopies, D&C's etc) - would it be worth a meeting with an anesthesiologist to see if the issue with general anesthesia that you had (assume you were intubated etc?) would be an issue with sedation? I was up working that afternoon and never took more than advil . . . anyway, might be worth calling to see if he'd be willing to do it under local. . .

[Anonymous]

I had mine taken out by Dr. Cyrus Ramsey and I HIGHLY recommend him. He only used a local anesthetic and they were extracted in seconds. I needed no cutting etc. It also healed quickly and I had very little swelling. He is awesome. I will send my son to him when he is ready for braces.

[Anonymous]

I was put under and the whole experience was pleasant. One minute I was looking at the clock, 27 minutes later I was looking at the clock and poking at the gauze in my mouth. My brother had general and was traumatized by the bone crushing sound.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had mine taken out by the oral surgeon Dr Delgado (he's in Tysons and Alexandria) . . . however, I did have IV Sedation (i.e. twilight stuff they use for colonoscopies, D&C's etc) - would it be worth a meeting with an anesthesiologist to see if the issue with general anesthesia that you had (assume you were intubated etc?) would be an issue with sedation? I was up working that afternoon and never took more than advil . . . anyway, might be worth calling to see if he'd be willing to do it under local. . .

This is what I had, too. I was informed it's not "true" general anesthesia, but I'm glad I didn't hear them breaking up my teeth, auctioning, etc. but that's something that really bothered me. My husband only had local, is not squeamish and he thought it was brutal. I don't know your body's personal issues with twilight sleep though I would be inclined to recommend that. Threw up twice, but it was fine.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

OP here. Thanks for the replies. I'm not interested in twilight sleep or nitrous / gas. I just basically want someone who will do it with novacaine. I could care less about crunching and tugging - I'm totally not squeamish. I'd probably just take a valium if the OS was okay with that (could probably skip it also).

Anyone to recommend who did a great job with local only? For those of you who had no IV sedation (or gas only, as they'd probably agree to local only I'd think), who did you go to? Did you need a referral from your regular dentist? (She's really pushing someone I'm not crazy about, who is really in turn pushing IV sedation). I'm just not open to that unless it's necessary.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

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).