<p>I was really concerned about the anesthesia issue. I questioned the surgeon carefully, but based on their teeth, he really recommended that they have general anesthesia. From what I remember, I don’t think they had an ET tube, so I wonder what the difference is between sedation and general anesthesia? I know he called it the latter, and that it was administered via IV, but he did not call it sedation. They also had locals. The kids had all kinds of monitors on them during the procedure. We talked about emergency response, and I was comfortable with his recommendation. He teaches at one of the schools in Boston, so I did trust him. I will admit to being VERY nervous in the waiting room, though!</p>
<p>“Our surgeon told my son that “if you think you can’t die in a dentist’s office you are wrong””</p>
<p>This is true, but you can die from nitrous too. Unless he’s offering novocaine by itself, which is a medieval way to get your teeth out IMHO, there is risk involved. The most recently publicized dental death was from nitrous alone.</p>
<p>Our kids’ experience a few years ago was similar to that of northeastmom’s son’s with nitrous and local. The only problem was dd’s reaction to her pain meds, which made her feel weepy (& that freaked her out.)</p>
<p>Years ago, dh was told that his wisdom teeth were so impacted that the oral surgeon would require him to have an overnight stay in the hospital, where dh’s jaw would be cracked under general anesthesia. I insisted on sending his x-rays to my childhood dentist in a nearby town. The next Friday, Dr. T did the extraction w/ just novacaine and a little nitrous, removing all four in only 45 minutes. Dh was back at work on Monday. Since he was in the middle of busy season, it made a huge difference to only lose one weekend rather than a whole week.</p>
<p>Even with nitrous oxide, the patient will be stoned at the time of the ride home. From the point of view of the family member who’s on amateur nurse duty, the situation is little different from that of IV sedation or general anesthesia. </p>
<p>For those who are planning for a wisdom tooth removal adventure (or any other kind of outpatient surgery, really), I think it’s a good idea to get the postoperative instructions handout in advance – along with the prescriptions. Doctors and dentists look at you as though you’re insane if you ask for this, but I think it’s really helpful. You can look through the instructions and see whether anything on there is going to be difficult for your family and whether you have all of the necessary supplies at home. </p>
<p>For those who like it, yogurt is a good food to have on hand after getting your wisdom teeth removed – but not the berry flavors. You have to avoid seeds, which could get stuck in the stitches. But not everyone has a hard time with eating. My daughter was able to eat macaroni and cheese and cooked vegetables about eight hours after her wisdom teeth were pulled; she just couldn’t chew meat.</p>
<p>Going to the eye doctor two days after the surgery is iffy. My daughter would have been able to do it; my son, who had a harder time after his wisdom teeth were removed, would not. One of the issues with contact lens appointments is that the eye doctor usually wants the patient to have worn the contact lenses for several hours before the appointment. This means getting up early and staying awake all morning. But two days after oral surgery is just around the time when the pain is beginning to diminish. It might be annoying to not be allowed to sleep when you finally feel well enough to do so.</p>
<p>My son has asthma and his former dentist recommended he never have gas. His current dentist says it’s OK. I didn’t know who to believe. That’s why he had an IV. Every kid is different. My teeth came through and all I needed was a numbing shot.</p>
<p>When I was young I had four baby teeth pulled. I had laughing gas and an IV. Before I was knocked out with the IV, I was just giggling my eight year old heart out. 
I felt fine when I woke up except a little dizzy when I first tried to get up. My mother was going to send me to school for the rest of the day! Thankfully, the dentist objected. </p>
<p>My sister was very sick after having her wisdom teeth pulled, but it may have been an effect of strong medication she had to take beforehand to help her blood clot. I’m getting mine taken out this summer, and I’ve been a little nervous after seeing how sick my sister was. Hopefully that won’t happen to me. I’ll keep this post in mind. Thanks.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the advice. CC is amazing!</p>
<p>S had his out 4 years ago. Can’t remember which kind of sedation he had. I just know he was woozy on the way and home and did not remember a thing about it. His main problem was that he broke the stitch the very first day (trying to spit blood/drool out) which left that spot pretty wide open and much more painful. Took a lot longer to heal up than the other 3. So be careful with the swishig/spitting.</p>
<p>My son’s dentist reports his wisdom teeth are coming in straight and he didn’t recommend removal. Question, should my son have them taken out anyway at his convenience this summer before beginning college? Do any people actually have their four wisdom teeth intact?</p>
<p>BoF, I’ve heard that even straight wisdom teeth will likely affect any orthodontic work that’s been done (and otherwise throw straight teeth out of whack) and could end up being painful. My dentist refers clients to another specialist to check out the x-rays, and they almost always recommend removal. There are obviously adults with their wisdom teeth, and I know some people who aren’t having theirs removed. I don’t think there’s too much harm in at least holding off the decision, especially since they don’t bother him.</p>
<p>My dentist wanted to take them out when I was 24. I still have them many many years later. So far so good.</p>
<p>I can’t remember what anesthesia my D had but she actually had her wisdoms out in the morning and went to school the same day. She said she felt well enough to do so and seemed fine. I think she felt it a lot more the next day and for a few days thereafter.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That’s what happens when the local anesthetic hasn’t worn off yet. The real pain doesn’t kick in for several hours.</p>
<p>I think it’s less than ideal to go to school, though, even if a person feels up to it. Being in school prevents you from using ice, and using ice is important to keep swelling down.</p>
<p>I spoke to my daughter since my earlier post. She is having three taken out (she does not have a fourth one) and they are NOT impacted. She told me she has a choice between novocaine and something else but she wasnt sure if it was ntirous oxide or general anaesthesia. Since she was told she will only be at the doctor’s office for a total of one hour, I am assuming she will not be knocked out. Since they are not impacted, I am hoping the recovery will not be too bad.</p>
<p>The dentist could be using sodium pentathol for the IV sedation.</p>
<p>I had the IV Sedation, and other than the difficulty the gentleman had getting the thing in my arm it went perfectly. I woke up a little groggy, went home, and was fine until I took the prescription pain meds. Those things made me absolutely miserable. Whenever I stood up I felt really dizzy and was overwhelmed by nausea. Once I went back to the plain old ibuprofen I was fine.</p>
<p>Another general recommendation is that you stock up on bags of frozen peas to use as ice packs. Buy at least four small bags so two can be in the freezer while the other two are on her cheeks. I had to nurse two daughters and my husband through wisdom teeth removal so I even made a padded cloth bag (with leftover quilting supplies) for the peas that could also be used with bags of dry beans that I heated in the microwave to use on their cheeks later on. I know that sounds kind of crazy but it worked great and I’ve since loaned them out to other kids. My kids also liked jello as a recovery food. Good luck.</p>
<p>Just to update, my daughter had the three wisdom teeth removed at 11:30 AM this morning under IV sedation and seems to be making a fantastic recovery. She was pretty much awake and making sense when we left the dentist’s office. She did not feel nauseous, have a headache, or bleed at home. She was told to do the ice every half hour for 5 hours only, which she did. She has only taken Tylenol, not the narcotic hydrocodone plus Tylenol prescribed, and felt well enough to go out for water ice at the mall and shop a little with a friend, and then to an art show at her old high school (where her friend’s brother had something being exhibited). I made chocolate chip pancakes and scrambled eggs with cheese for dinner for her and her friend, she ate well, and they are now watching a movie. Later, their other friend who works at Baskin Robbins will bring them free milkshakes when she is done at work. It doesn’t seem to have affected her ability to talk nonstop at rapid speed to her friends at all 
Not too bad a day considering she had three wisdom teeth removed! (I don’t think they were impacted…) And I was envisioning her being incapacitated for several days !!!</p>
<p>PS I was rereading some of the earlier posts. I guess my daughter got off really easy compared to what some others have gone through during recovery!!!</p>
<p>I’m glad she’s doing so well, MotherofTwo. Thanks for the update.</p>
<p>I’m very glad to hear that your daughter is doing well. Please be careful about the milkshake. No straws for 24 hours. That could cause the blood clot to loosen.</p>