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From: paveleck@ihlpl.UUCP (Bob Paveleck)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: wisdom teeth extraction?  help!
Message-ID: <426@ihlpl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 22-Nov-85 10:16:51 EST
Article-I.D.: ihlpl.426
Posted: Fri Nov 22 10:16:51 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 24-Nov-85 03:56:56 EST
References: <457@mot.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 75

> []
> while i've never had trouble to date with them, my dentist has finally
> convinced me that i should have my wisdom teeth removed:  3 of 'em are
> suffering from progressive decay, the 4th (upper left) is mildly
> impacted, and if i want adult orthodontics i need the space.
> 
> i don't need the horror stories.  i get queasy just remembering the
> bad times last summer with my wife's.  i'd like to hear the good stories.
> - what did you use to reduce swelling?  pain?
> - what sedation did you use?  were you satisfied with it?
> - any adult with recent orthodontic work think the extractions will help?
> - how do you prepare mentally for this?
> - what and how do you eat until things return to normal?
> 
> i'm trying to be hopeful, since 3 *are* erupted, and only one root has a
> tad of a hook to it.
> 
> i trust net.med is right.  there isn't a net.dental.
> -- 
> << Generic disclaimer >>
> Fred Christiansen ("Canajun, eh?") @ Motorola Microsystems, Tempe, AZ
> UUCP:  {seismo!terak, trwrb!flkvax, utzoo!mnetor, ihnp4, attunix}!mot!fred
> ARPA:  oakhill!mot!fred@ut-sally.ARPA          "Families are Forever"

I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth pulled at once a little over 5 years ago
(just before I turned 21), so I guess I qualify as having had "recent"
orthodontal work.  In any event, I'll try to answer your questions
in light of the experiences I had.

(1) REDUCING SWELLING/PAIN: I was given Empirin/codeine tablets for
    this, as well as an antibiotic (I can't remember which one).
    I really didn't have very much pain (only occasional periods)
    and I only had measurable swelling with the bottom teeth (as
    they were mildly impacted).  It only took 2 or 3 days for the
    swelling to subside; a couple more days for all traces of pain
    to disappear.

(2) ANESTHETIC: My oral surgeon gave me sodium pentathol, since I
    really didn't want to hear the crunching and pulling he'd be
    doing in my mouth.  I had no trouble at all with sodium
    pentathol, even though that was the first time I'd ever had
    it (nor did it bother me a couple of years later, when I
    was given that anesthetic for some minor surgery).

(3) RESULTS OF ORAL SURGERY: I couldn't feel any differences (since
    I wasn't having any discomfort due to the wisdom teeth in the
    first place), but my dentist said that my other teeth shifted back
    a bit after the wisdom teeth were removed.  Since my teeth were
    a little cramped before that, the dentist considered the surgery
    to have been quite beneficial.

(4) HOW TO PREPARE FOR ORAL SURGERY: I was quite nervous about the
    surgery, since my younger brother had the same surgery not long
    before that and was very uncomfortable afterward.  I had considered
    having only 2 of the wisdom teeth removed at a time (so that I'd
    have at least one side of my mouth to chew with), but I wanted
    to get the thing over with as soon as I could.  I felt much better,
    though, when I got to the oral surgeon's office.

(5) WHAT AND HOW TO EAT AFTERWARD: A few hours after the surgery,
    I was able to drink a milkshake (as I finally got the yucky taste
    of blood out of my mouth!).  I was able to eat soft things (like
    sandwiches) the next day and by the 2nd day, I was eating pretty
    normally.

All in all, it wasn't too bad an ordeal (certainly not as bad as I
thought it would be).  I'd especially recommend that you choose to
have a general anesthetic administered to you instead of shots of
novocaine (it probably makes the surgeon's work a bit easier with
you not squirming and moaning in your seat!).  Just taking it
a little easy and following the surgeon's advice seems to be the
best route to take.

Bob Paveleck
(ihuxf, ihlph)!paveleck