<p>MyLB - I guess I would say my anxiety is coming more from not remembering what I’d heard about tops vs. bottoms and I was truly hoping that it was the top ones that would be easier. The other part of the equation is that I typically work a half day on Fridays, so I was trying to figure out how this recovery might be in comparison to the first two. If they were going to be worse than those, I’d definitely take the day off; if they’re going to be easier, I’ll probably bring her home, get her settled, then be gone for a couple of hours while she sleeps it all off. Also, I go on-call that Friday at 5PM for the weekend (until Monday morning at 8:30AM), so I’m also trying to figure out if I should try to reschedule part of that to accommodate her recovery. H will be home on the weekend, and now I have hopes of this procedure going better than the last, so I will probably keep the on-call.</p>
<p>When I explained the whole consultation thing happening three days prior to the procedure with the caveat of canceling if the surgeon feels it’s not necessary at this point, she was fine with it all. At least at her last procedure, she had the valium, then they gave her nitrous oxide, then sedated her (not general), so she really has no recollection of the incident in the office. Obviously, she needs something to settle her down more than an hour prior to the procedure, though!</p>
<p>I understand, but I really had never heard there was much difference between uppers and lowers. Re: time off of work, I’m not much of a hoverer but never considered not kind of hanging with them the rest of the day after the surgery. I don’t think it matters so much if the surgery will be slightly better or worse than last time–anesthesia/what-not makes me nervous, so I found excuses to be in the room with them until they were up and eating (I think by dinner time following the surgery). There was the one of mine who ended up puking a few times. Another one appeared to be awake and interactive but doesn’t remember anything that happened for several hours after we got home. I do think taking Friday off to be with her, observe, offer liquids, remind her about the ice, fuss a little, is a good idea. I don’t think my kids necessarily slept much afterwards. I think on-call for the weekend is fine–fathers should get opportunities to play mother hen every now and then.</p>
<p>It’s hard to tell but I don’t see why 8 days would be a problem. </p>
<p>In October I had 6 teeth pulled, two lower impacted wisdom teeth and four other teeth needed for my braces. Before the doctor even put me to sleep I was crying. The recovery was shaky but after a week the swelling had gone down, I was ready to eat regular food and there was no residual pain.</p>
<p>On Friday I had my last two top wisdom teeth removed and once again, cried before the procedure out of fear. Surprisingly enough, I feel completely fine two days later and was even okay enough to go out Saturday night. For someone with a low threshold for pain, taking my medicine on schedule and icing my face for the first 24 hours has helped me recover extremely quickly.</p>
<p>If your daughter is careful and her oral surgeon is good, she should be fine.</p>
<p>Son has a 10:00am appointment to have his wisdom teeth pulled today (all 4 of them unless the surgeon feels differently. He’s going to take a panoramic xray beforehand). Son is not happy about this. I’m not happy either—we don’t have dental insurance. $$$$</p>
<p>I have a question for those with impacted teeth removed. Why ? If the teeth is completely impacted why would it pose any danger and have to be removed ?</p>
<p>An impacted tooth is more prone to infection. It’s also easier to extract impacted teeth when you’re still young before the bone hardens around them.</p>
<p>They can cause quite a bit of damage back there. Food gets trapped in the gum flap (if they are impacted and raise the gum in the back of the mouth) which causes infections. They can also cause tooth decay and nerve damage to the nearby teeth. They also cause pressure on the other teeth which can cause the teeth to shift. In other words, straight teeth can become very crooked.</p>
<p>It’s preferable to take them out before complications and while the patient is on the younger side (while the bones and roots are a bit softer).</p>
<p>Some people have enough room in their mouths for their wisdom teeth to come in straight and not put pressure on their other teeth. More people don’t have enough room for them.</p>
<p>I get twinges of guilt every time that I look at this thread. S’s dentist told us during Spring appointment that he should have his 3 wisdom teeth out. This summer, before his senior year, should have been the optimum time when he won’t miss school or sport practice. However, I did not realize that our dental insurance expired June 30 after my husband’s retirement. I am waiting now for our new coverage to begin.</p>
<p>I have been fighting with my dentist for 20 years about my wisdom which are impacted. At the age of 60, I figure I have survived this long without problems, they are just going to stay there.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies about impacted wisdom teeth. I am racked with guilt because I/we did not have a impacted taken out for my son. Now the oral surgeon said it is sitting too close to the nerve and it is abutting the last tooth and they may have fused together. </p>
<p>The surgeon did say it should not cause him any problems - he had patients in their sixties with teeth like that, no problem. Surgeon said we should not take out that tooth at all now. The tooth is completely impacted, no bump on the gums, son said there was slight pressure two years back ? But there is no discomfort at all after that. But now and then I still think I should get a second opinion and do something about it. :(</p>
<p>if the teeth are close to the nerves you can do a coronectomy, where the roots are left in and only the tooth is taken out. Not a ton of oral surgeons do it-- but find one that does (and that has done a decent number of them). The only possibly side effect is that the root can get infected, but when that happens it usually moves up from the nerve, making it easier to remove at that time.</p>
<p>Problematic wisdom teeth cause more problems as we age because the roots get longer, increasing chances for infection, nerve damage and cyst development. It is best to get them out in the late teens or early 20s before the roots mature. As more research is done on inflammation being the root of many autoimmune diseases, bacteria in the mouth is being examined as a culprit. Anything that reduces bacteria in the mouth, thus reducing inflammation is a good thing for overall health. There is also a link between gum disease, oral bacteria, heart disease and stroke. With research continuing to demonstrate a link between oral health and overall health, it makes less sense to leave wisdom teeth in unless there is adequate room for them. Unfortunately, it is more likely that there is not room. It seems clear that impacted ones should definitely be removed.</p>
<p>Thank you ec ! If I remember right his tooth grew sideways, it was the tooth itself that is close to the nerve. The oral surgeon said there is a possibility (not surety) of nerve damage during the removal and because it was touching the other tooth he said there may be fusing of the two. This was last summer so I am slightly hazy. What I took from the surgeon was that the benefit/ risk analysis is not good enough to remove that tooth. </p>
<p>It did occur to me that 1. He is not very skilled (The Diplomas on his wall said he graduated/trained at top colleges though) 2. The process is more complicated and involved and he does not need this in his work. After all he is established and has a super busy practice.</p>
<p>I am slightly skeptical of these professionals now because I had the experience of being told I need an implant. The decay was too far below the gum line. Two dentists and one oral surgeon said it. I moved and had a new dentist and he said HE could put a crown on what I had. He said he could put a crown on up to 3 mm below gum line, mine was 1 mm. The shadow at the root tip all the others said could be an infection he judged to be an irritation from the original root canal. He said there are lots of ways to built up an underlying tooth structure to support a crown. So instead of spending $3000-$4000, I only need to spend $800. </p>
<p>By typing all that out I think I just convinced myself to seek a second opinion for my son. I was feeling really bad about my son’s situation - I feel I let him down.</p>
<p>I think that the oral surgeon definitely matters-- mine was way more cautious than many of my friends-- which I really liked since I was nervous about the whole procedure. He seemed really aware of what was going on in the field-- and both my dentist who I trust and my mom’s periodontist sent their kids to him to get their wisdom teeth out. </p>
<p>The tooth would have to be growing at some really weird angle to be close to the nerves, as they run along the bottom of the jaw. I would definitely get a second opinion and see what they say</p>
<p>Well, son is now home after having all 4 wisdom teeth pulled. He’s faithfully biting down on guaze pads for 1 hour while icing. According to him, the bottom teeth were a tougher–needed some drilling with the pulling. He had novecaine (?spelling) along with a little gas to ease the procedure. Right now, he’s skyping his girlfriend and she’s laughing hysterically on the other end. She’s having hers out on Thursday.</p>
<p>well, i hope your son will get better soon. I had all four of mine taken out about 2 years ago and i was completely put under. I woke up, and was being wheeled to the waiting room and the stupid nurse ran me into the wall (on accident, she was going to fast in my opinion). Just remember liquids and pain meds are your friend. :D</p>
<p>My kids were out for it with the “light sedation” deal. Both had their wisdom teeth out at age 15, while the teeth were still “buds” and almost rootless. It was easy for the dentist to pop them out. They were fully recovered in about 3 days, but back on their feet after one.</p>
<p>nysmile:
Why did it cost so much? We have dental insurance ($34 per month for family coverage). The cost of surgery was less than $100 ( I don’t have the exact figure to hand). Antibiotics and painkiller 1 refill) cost $15.
Si is not gingerly eating semi-solid food. The top gums are fine, the bottom gums still a bit tender.</p>
<p>^We are self employed (own a small business). Our Health Insurance costs us almost $1500/month. We can’t afford additional costs for Dental coverage. It costs about $415/easy wisdom tooth and $450/more difficult wisdom tooth, plus about $80 for panoramic xray before pulling the teeth, plus a little for the gas. Son’s girlfriend is having hers out later in the week. She lives a good 3 hour drive from us and her cost is going to be $2000 for 4 wisdom teeth. </p>
<p>You have dental insurance—probably through your employer. That is why it’s not costing you much money.</p>