The Ins and Outs of Wisdom Teeth Removal

I had all four wisdom teeth removed two years ago and thought I would post about my experience so those considering the procedure would know what to expect. It is not the most pleasant procedure in terms of recovery, but if you were like me you didn't have much choice because the wisdom teeth were creating problem areas around neighboring teeth.

Consultation
My dentist had determined it was time for the wisdom teeth to come out. X-rays indicated some decay in a neighboring molar because the erupted teeth on the bottom were causing food to become trapped in an area where brushing and flossing couldn't easily reach. I suffered from impacted wisdom teeth that resided just under the surface would have to be surgically extracted. I met with an oral surgeon for my consultation and he agreed the teeth needed to be removed. He told me to schedule the surgery with the front desk and be sure to arrange to have someone bring me to and from my appointment.

The Day of Surgery
The usual rules for pre-operation applied - nothing after midnight the night before surgery and no food or water that morning. The day I woke up for surgery my mouth was as dry as a popcorn fart, and not having a drink of water or OJ was torture. My wife accompanied me for the surgery and was told in the waiting room the procedure would last about 45 minutes. I was called back to the room and got comfortable in an oversized dental chair. In a few minutes a nurse came in to start an IV in my left hand. I was told this is where the anesthesia would be injected when the time came. The surgeon came in and took a look in my mouth and told the nurse he was ready. I remember joking with the nurse that I was supposed to count backwards from 100.

The next thing I remember was being asked to move from the dentist chair to a wheelchair. My wife was in the room and helped as she listened to the surgeon's advice on post-operative care. My mouth was stuffed with gauze and I couldn't say much. I didn't feel intense pain at this point, just a dull ache all around my jaw. I was ready to get home and get comfortable in my own bed.

Post-Op
We dropped off my pain prescription at a local Eckerd's pharmacy and went home. By the time we got home I was in intense pain. I took two pain pills (Percocet) and tried to lie down. The Percocet made me extremely nauseated and I remembered thinking what a mess I would be in if I threw up with all this junk in my mouth. I tried to lie still and eventually the feeling passed. Later I found taking the pain medicine with a little soft food helped.

I was sent home with a contraption that wrapped around my head and under my chin. Ice packs were inserted into pockets on either side and I was to wear that for twenty minutes every hour. I was also supposed to rinse with warm, salt water and was given an irrigation syringe to squirt on the extraction sites. The stitches would eventually dissolve and the holes in my gum would close up in a few months.

The biggest mistake I made was returning to work too soon. If you are preparing for the surgery, try to plan at least a week off to allow for a full recovery. You will be swollen for a few days after the surgery and will closely resemble a chipmunk. Avoid drinking from a straw or trying to suck anything as you could develop an extremely painful condition known as dry-socket. I was fortunate to avoid this, but have read it is a very painful condition that accompanies some wisdom teeth extractions.