Wisdom teeth removal - nitrous and numbing vs anesthesia

[Anonymous]

I'm hoping to hear from parents of teenagers who have had their wisdom teeth removed recently. I was 16 when I had mine extracted about 20 some years ago. I had all four done at once, and did not get put under. My regular dentist did it right there in his office with just nitrous and numbing shots in the mouth. It was a long time go, but I feel like, had it been all that painful, I would remember that. What
I remember instead is it just being uncomfortable.

My daughter has to have her wisdom teeth removed because like me, we have small jaws and crowded large teeth. Her dentist said that it is the norm to go under anesthesia these days when all four are being removed. An hour later, they wake the child up and it's all over. I am not comfortable with this. Anytime anesthesia is used there are risks, and I have had negative reactions to certain medications in the past that have affected my heart, so I am naturally worried about this happening to my daughter.

Any one else out there with teens able to avoid this? My teen does not have any fear of the dentist, and if anything, would prefer not to be knocked out as well.

[Anonymous]

Is he talking true anesthesia or just deep sedation with Versed. I think the latter is much more common and much safer. If it were me, that's what I'd prefer. I had it done that way and hardly remember a thing.

[Anonymous]

I had 2 removed with just nitrous and numbing. No problems at all.

I don't think it matters if there is 1 tooth or 4, what's more important is how invasive it will be. If they are severely impacted it will take longer. If they just have to basically be pulled out then it will take just a few minutes.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it depends on the teeth. I had impacted wisdom teeth, and one had to be cut into four to be removed. For that, I was put under. Then I needed 4 more removed because my teeth were too crowded. I had numbing and nitrous for that, and I was fine. However, those were very easy to take out.

[Anonymous]

All of the kids I've known have had iv sedation for wisdom teeth removal -- my DS included. It is not general anesthesia, it a twilight sleep, and my DS was awake very quickly after the procedure was finished.

The oral surgery offices usually have a range of sedation options available. You need to speak with them about your concerns, and select what you feel comfortable with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of the kids I've known have had iv sedation for wisdom teeth removal -- my DS included. It is not general anesthesia, it a twilight sleep, and my DS was awake very quickly after the procedure was finished.

The oral surgery offices usually have a range of sedation options available. You need to speak with them about your concerns, and select what you feel comfortable with.

This is what I had for 4 impacted wisdom teeth, and they called it "general anesthesia." However, don't confuse dental "general anesthesia" with surgical "general anesthesia" which requires intubation, etc. they're very different things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the kids I've known have had iv sedation for wisdom teeth removal -- my DS included. It is not general anesthesia, it a twilight sleep, and my DS was awake very quickly after the procedure was finished.

The oral surgery offices usually have a range of sedation options available. You need to speak with them about your concerns, and select what you feel comfortable with.

This is what I had for 4 impacted wisdom teeth, and they called it "general anesthesia." However, don't confuse dental "general anesthesia" with surgical "general anesthesia" which requires intubation, etc. they're very different things.

Same for me. This was 7 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the kids I've known have had iv sedation for wisdom teeth removal -- my DS included. It is not general anesthesia, it a twilight sleep, and my DS was awake very quickly after the procedure was finished.

The oral surgery offices usually have a range of sedation options available. You need to speak with them about your concerns, and select what you feel comfortable with.

This is what I had for 4 impacted wisdom teeth, and they called it "general anesthesia." However, don't confuse dental "general anesthesia" with surgical "general anesthesia" which requires intubation, etc. they're very different things.

Same for me. This was 7 years ago.

Same for me as well and this was almost 20 yrs ago!
The oral surgeon gave me 2 choices: 1) awake with novocaine and knowing I had to remain absolutely still or 2) being put out (twilight anesthesia). I obviously chose #2 since I was having all 4 removed. They still use some novocaine with anesthesia and it was light enough that I remember hearing them cracking a tooth to remove it.

[Anonymous]

We did not do sedation with our 17 yo daughter. Big mistake. She had a terrible experience. Still remembers it. As I waited in the lobby area during the procedure, I chatted with the other waiting parents. ALL of them had chosen sedation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is he talking true anesthesia or just deep sedation with Versed. I think the latter is much more common and much safer. If it were me, that's what I'd prefer. I had it done that way and hardly remember a thing.

Yes, check into this- I have had 2 big dental surgeries (at 13 and 30) and both were under what they refer to sometimes as "twilight". You aren't intubated or anything like with general, but you don't remember anything at all. I've never had side effects from it (no vomiting, etc) except waking up really cold, and that goes away later on in a couple of hours.

[Anonymous]

Unless you're taking your daughter to a surgical center to have her wisdom teeth removed I absolutely would not allow her to be put under in a dentist's office. Anesthesia has a fairly major effect on your body and the more times you go under the larger does they have to give you.
"Twilight" sedation is different as the body metabolizes it quickly and there are rarely side effects. It used to only be recommended for people with high anxiety but its become very common in the past few years.
If your daughter does not suffer from high anxiety I would probably opt for numbing & nitrous, the dentist should prescribe a pain killer that she can take after for any lingering pain.
I had mine done 4 years ago after some issues and opted for numbing. While it was uncomfortable it was more like constant pressure in my mouth than any pain.

[Anonymous]

If you go the nitrous route, be alert for signs of vitamin B12 depletion afterwards.

[Anonymous]

I had all 4 removed using nitrrous and numbing shot. It wasn't bad at all and I was very glad I didn't do anesthesia. However, all 4 of my wisdon teeth were poking through already, so the were not impacted.

OP, do you know if your daughter's teeth are impacted? If they are not, I would definitely skip the anesthesia, but if they are, I would definitely consider it.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP,

I'm 24 and just got all 4 of mine out this year, and chose twilight sedation- - still anesthesia, but with no intubation. I had it done by an oral surgeon. I was extremely anxious about it, and am glad I was not conscious at all for it. One second I was watching the IV go in my arm, the next I was awake and groggily asking where my wisdom teeth were so I could give them to the tooth fairy. The whole thing took less than an hour, and I was probably under for only 40 minutes. 3 were impacted.

[Anonymous]

I did the twilight sleep for mine almost twenty years ago.