Sunday 28 July 2013

Wisdom Tooth Extraction or Better Living Through Chemistry



A bit of one of my wisdom teeth cracked off a while ago and I went to see my dentist. She said I'd have to go to hospital to have it removed, which was a bit of a shock because I was expecting her to make a crown or something. But no, she was insistent.

I was shitting it.

This went on for a couple of months. I had to have a pre-assessment. They warned me that I might lose all the feeling in my jaw, they made me sign a waiver absolving them of blame if they accidentally drilled right through into my quivering brain. They (quite diplomatically) refused my abject, repeated and teary pleas to "just be knocked the fuck out" and said that they recommended "sedation". When I asked what, exactly, this meant they said that I would be aware and awake whilst they extracted the tooth but just very relaxed about it. I doubted this.

My family were great. My wife cheerily informed me that "you're going to look a right mess after this". And my 3 1/2 year old son loudly exclaimed "you're not even going to be able to eat BREAD!".

In a panic I called the person that every manly man would call in this situation, his mum. My mum, listened, she sympathised and then, glory of glories, she agreed to bring up 120 codeine tablets. Halle-fuckin-luia.

The big day arrived. I picked out a t-shirt that I didn't mind getting covered in blood. I removed all the loose coins from my pockets and i got on to the train with my responsible adult. I was not happy, I wondered if blood in your mouth is arterial, would there be a spurt as they yanked out the offending tooth? I wondered if the doctor would look like Steve Martin in Little Shop of Horrors. That train journey was horrible.

Welcome to my nightmares
Anyway, we arrived at King's and went up to the Oral Surgery department. It was like a scene from the Walking Dead. We saw a man being led out by his mum. He was shambling, there is no other word for it. Dead eyes, shuffleshuffle - I waved at him but there was no response.

They called my name. I left my escort outside and went in. My doctor introduced himself. I asked lots of questions. He said the sedative would feel like being really drunk, aware but unable to do anything. He said I would lose my memory of everything, possibly even that chat. He sat me down and said he was going to start the sedatives. I could hear the Fresh Prince over the radio "I walked up to the house about 7 or 8 and i yelled to the cabbie, yo homie, smell ya later!". I thought I could see everything going hazy, I could feel myself drifting off, I felt good, maybe this was going to be alright.

Nope, he hadn't even found a vein yet.

He apologised and tried again.  I could feel him sticking a plaster on to my hand to hold the needle in and so I knew this time he had been successful.  He asked me what I did for a living.... I have a vague memory of asking him if that was it and him saying yes. I was apparently loudly proclaiming the merits of benzos to the nurse as she wheeled me out and saying I might fuck up another tooth just to do it again. I kept taking the heart monitor off and repeated everything about 30 times. I have a big hole in my gum and a big tooth in a tissue but I remember nothing else.

When I got home I went to bed and slept for four hours. Yes I might not be able to eat an apple at the moment and I can't sign a legal document until 1pm this afternoon but it was actually almost a pleasant experience.

So.. what I am trying to say to you is that having a wisdom tooth out isn't as bad as all that, and that prescription drugs are the effing bomb. I don't know if some of you out there are like I was yesterday; shaking, sweating and embarrassing yourselves in public - you don't need to be.

It'll all be fine.

9 comments:

  1. Hi, I really appreciate your blog. Great!!!!!!!!!! This blog is really instructive. I would like to know more about this.

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  2. Wisdom Tooth Extraction is now provided in every dental clinic. Before and After going through this surgery patients have to take proper precautions and consult doctor on time to time basis. You can take advice from Dentist in Guelph, which will help you in future surgery.

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  3. I had three of my wisdom teeth taken out a long time ago. I think the other one is finally coming down and needs to be removed. Last time I wasn't put under for the operation, should I be this time?
    Claudia Rosenburg | http://www.alldentdental.net/extractions/

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  4. It wasn’t as bad as you thought, right? I think it’s actually the fear that almost paralyzed you and led you to the point of 'shaking, sweating and embarrassing yourselves in public'. I’m glad you realized that it didn’t have to be that way. Kudos to your newly found courage!

    Warren Fitzgerald @ Brockington Dental

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tooth extraction is recommended only in the most extreme of cases where another method of saving the tooth is not available.
    Tooth Extraction Orangeville

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  6. Before removing a wisdom tooth, your dentist will give you a local anesthetic to numb the area where the tooth will be removed. A general anesthetic may be used, especially if several or all of your wisdom teeth will be removed at the same time.
    Tooth Extraction Hyattsville

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  7. Wisdom teeth can be problematic if they fail to “erupt” properly. This can cause discomfort, infection, and even cysts. Wisdom teeth are also harder to clean, increasing the chances of eventually developing cavities and decay. Our dentists in Montreal and Maxillofacial surgeons may suggest either extracting wisdom teeth or re-evaluating them on a yearly basis.

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  8. Wisdom teeth can be problematic if they fail to “erupt” properly. This can happen when they develop crooked, underneath your gum lines, or push up against other teeth. Our dentist perform wisdom teeth removal in Montreal, with quality treatment a professional X-ray can expose the health of your wisdom teeth.

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  9. In the event that wisdom tooth rot is found late, the extraction method may turn into somewhat agonizing. This is on account of the gums underneath the tooth might as of now be aroused. Likewise, discharge might as of now be available. The vicinity of discharge will make anesthesia insufficient. learn here Wisdom teeth removal

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