wisdom teeth removal

[meatless]

*sigh*

I know I have to get them out but i am so afraid.

I was wondering if anyone has gotten them out, but WITHOUT any needles while you're awake. That is the part I am most afraid of. Sometimes I screw up the courage and think "OK I can do this" but then I imagine getting a needle in my arm or my mouth and I feel the panic rising and my heart races and I start to sweat. Needles are among my greatest fears.

I can maybe deal with a needle, but ONLY if I am gassed or something first. However, two dentists have told me they can't/won't do this (and were also arrogant pmpous asses I can't fathom giving hundreds of dollars to). I can't afford to keep getting consultations. I have tried phone calls but the receptionists just want you to make an appointment, which I do understand.

So has anyone gotten them out without having a needle while awake?

[ynaffit]

i have not had my wisdom teeth taken out, only one of them seems to be coming in right now, but . . .

my first reaction: there is no way. you would pass out.

my boyfriend recently had a mild cavity filled without novacaine, and he said it hurt quite a bit, and he felt like he was going to faint.

[catswym]

i had them out, but of course i had novacaine. seriously, i can't imagine without something!

however, i DID have gas too which helped immensely. i always have to close my eyes before they start working on me so i don't see the needle. altho, with the gas you don't really feel it. everything is nice and happy. i'd say call around some more to find a place that will give you gas.

[ynaffit]

my sister was bleeding all over the place afterwards, constantly had ice in her mouth, and threw up a couple of times after she had hers out. she said it was the taste of so much blood that made her feel sick. i don't remember if she thought the pain was part of it. her mouth was swollen for a couple of days, and she didn't really do anything afterward. i think she stayed home from work because of it.

[meatless]

I'm not saying no needle/pain killer at all. I just don't want it put in while I am awake.

I am afraid of the pain too. I would never for a moment consider not having a pain killer or whatever it is. I just don't want to be jabbed with a needle, either in my mouth or in my arm, while awake.

[meatless]

my sister was bleeding all over the place afterwards, constantly had ice in her mouth, and threw up a couple of times after she had hers out. she said it was the taste of so much blood that made her feel sick. i don't remember if she thought the pain was part of it. her mouth was swollen for a couple of days, and she didn't really do anything afterward. i think she stayed home from work because of it.

That is not reassuring. :-/ :sick:

[ceryna]

When I had my wisdom teeth removed, they gassed me first, and then put a needle in my arm to put me to sleep while they removed them. The gas had me sort of disoriented and floaty, so I barely felt the needle in my arm. It was just like a tiny pinch, and then I was out like a light, literally.

It wasn't bad at all.

[ynaffit]

i think there is some legal reason that you have to be conscious while they do it.

edit: or that some require you to be conscious. fear of lawsuit if something goes wrong.

[meatless]

When I had my wisdom teeth removed, they gassed me first, and then put a needle in my arm to put me to sleep while they removed them. The gas had me sort of disoriented and floaty, so I barely felt the needle in my arm. It was just like a tiny pinch, and then I was out like a light, literally.

It wasn't bad at all.


That's exactly what I asked for, and they told me they wouldn't do the gas first, the needle had to go first. :mad:

[Gracie]

I had gas, then an IV. I remember the doctor saying, "This one will do" (referring to the vein), and then it was all over. But I'm not nearly as scared of needles in my arm as in my mouth.

It's not an exciting experience, by any means, but I've had root canals that were worse. Don't let other people's scary stories worry you. The pain isn't that bad--I only took painkillers for the first day, then ibuprofen after that, and I'm a great big baby about pain. The worst part was that the anesthesia made me a little nauseated, but it was worth it.

I think I called around until I found someone I liked. Also my regular dentist had some recommendations. The bad part is, you can't go around asking people for recommendations without hearing their horror stories, and you sure don't need that, do you?

If your wisdom teeth need to come out, don't put it off. I ended up having to have a molar pulled because the wisdom tooth damaged it.

Sorry if this seems disjointed. I'm working while I post!

[Christy]

So, you are or aren't being put to sleep? (Bad phrase.) I had my two bottom wisdom teeth removed while awake. I think they gave me shots and possibly some gas to calm me. I couldn't afford to be put to sleep while it happened, even with the (crappy) insurance I had at the time.

If they're good, the shots can really be just pin pricks, and not that painful at all. It's all in the technique.

I remember crunching sounds as one of the teeth broke as they tried to remove it.

[ceryna]

Oh, and let me just add: My root canal was ten times worse. I would do the wisdom tooth removal thing again TWICE instead of having another root canal, if such a thing were possible.

Seriously.

[meatless]

Christy- I have no idea. I am trying to figure things out.

I do need to get them done sometime, I have been putting it off partly out of fear, and partly because there is no way in hell I can take the time off work unless my boss fills in for me. We work on 4 week cycles and that is non-negotiable, and I can't do the work that needs to be done in less than the allotted time.

I just wanted to make sure it IS possible to get the needle AFTER getting some of the gas... the a-holes I saw didn't want to discuss options, they said they only do it a certain way and too bad if I don't like it. I think they just expected I would go along with them.

[msbunnicula]

Everyone that I know had them taken out while they were awake, and all of them said that you don't notice or care about anything-you are so drugged that you're happy, happy, happy.


I'm going to be getting mine out really soon too. I have a consultation with a specialist next week.

[meatless]

It's probably ok to be awake. I just don't want to be aware of getting the needle.

[msbunnicula]

Yeah, I'm kind of with you on that, but look at the bright side, just when you start to worry about the needle that you just got, the drugs will kick in, and you'll be feeling a-ok.

[rabid_child]

I'm more afraid of gas than needles. I've been given nitrous before and it caused much vomiting. I would rather have a needle than throw up. (Dentists & Vomit are my two worst things, so put them together, and I'd rather be dead. Honestly)
I hate hate hate dentists so much. I had my first real cavity filled last year with this dentist I just started going to, and he first numbed my mouth with a topical anesthetic where the needle was to go in, and then did the needle, and the topical was the worst part!!! (it kinda dripped into my throat a little and I couldn't feel myself swallowing and i didn't like that) Just the same, it was painless after that. I've also had dental surgery on my front teeth where I got three injections of anesthetic, two in my gums and one in my pallet and it didn't dull the pain enough. My dentist said its all about technique.

Ask around and see if people have dentists they recommend. A friend of mine swore by this guy she'd been going to her whole life, and he's actually good!
Whats wrong with your wisdom teeth anyway? Did you have braces as a kid?

[meatless]

Braces...No I didn't... which is kind of the problem. I was supposed to but my parents couldn't afford it (well they could, but my mom was spending all the money on gambling and drugs but that's another story). The reason I was supposed to get them is overcrowding, not that my teeth are crooked (because they aren't). So in short, there simply is not enough room in my mouth for my wisdom teeth. The top two have already grown in, and the bottom left has started. Every few months or so the gum gets inflamed and it's kind of sore, but nothing unbearable... yet. It's like that right now, which is why I am thinking about this again.

The needle thing isnt what you call a rational fear. It is completely irrational, but it's how I feel and I have had many nightmares about needles and just thinking about them can make me feel like I'm suffocating. It's not like it's something i have decided to be afraid of or can just will myself to not be afraid of. :-/

The topical thing sounds horrible, rabid_child. :( As for vomiting, I am afraid of that as well, since I have not vomited in 18 years. I don't know what it's like, except I have a vague recollection of it being horrible.

[meatless]

I also want to add that I realize needles don't really hurt that much. Well, ones I got in my gums once were a real bitch, but overall it's not like it's the worst pain one could ever experience. It's the "concept" that paralyzes me with fear.

[rabid_child]

The topical thing was more annoying than anything. I'd say my throat regained feeling within 5 minutes.

I don't think that people who don't have the fear of vomiting can really understand how horrible and life consuming it gets. I think one of the reasons I hate the dentist so much is the associations with pain and vomiting. I agree that the concept of having a needle in your mouth is worse than the reality.

Fortunately, all my wisdom teeth grew in okay. Slowly, over the course of several years, but okay just the same. My two front teeth, however, are screwed up. Currently crowns, one that absesses all the time, and the dentist wants to pull them and put in dental implants. Since that would involve full sedation (probably more than once), and sedation = vomiting, I refuse. They don't hurt, they're fine. (at least thats what i've decided)

Would you be able to have a loved one in with you to hold your hand or something while the dentist did the needles? I have a rock that I take with me that feels quite interesting and I figit with it and keep my hands busy and it distracts me a bit until the icky bits are done.

[IamJen]

Well, my sis and I have both had ours out and she had the gas before the needle. She was still concious, but "spacey" when the did the needle - she doesn't remember it hardly at all. On mine, I had the option for the gas, but in the past it's made me :spew: big time, so we skipped it on this one.

If they won't do the gas, maybe Mr. Meatless will volunteer to slug ya. :)

[Wiccanveg]

I was put under for my wisdom teeth removal. It was a good thing too because I started to wake up, and I heard a doctor or someone say give her yadda more millegrams and then I was out again.

Frozen Peas! they work wonders if you use the bags as ice packs. Don't melt like ice either.

[Starblossom]

I wonder why they won't gas you first, that's pretty weird. I completely freak out over IV needles, so my oral surgeon gassed me before sticking it into my hand. So I'm not really sure what to suggest, but if you're worried about the actual process, it's no big deal. They had to cut out my teeth, so they put me on morphene and I was on cloud 9 the entire time. I can see how people can become addicted to that stuff!

[Blue Plastic Straw]

I'm not sure what the deal is with those oral surgeons, but if a person can get nitrous for a teeth cleaning, I don't see any reason they can't give you some before sticking you. I didn't want to be unconcious when I had my wisdom teeth out, so they just gassed me up and gave me lots of novicane. My whole head was numb, even the back of my scalp!

I would call around to a few dentists, especially those who specialize in "nervous clients". They can probably recommend someone good for you.

[Peter Parker]

I was numbed the dr pulled them right out, no problem!
Simple procedure, or so it seemed.