Wisdom Teeth Extraction Experience...

[TheBigDog]

Today, I just had all 4 of my wisdom teeth pulled. Two of them were horizontal impacted and two of them were fully developed. For those who don't know, horizontal impacted teeth usually invovles cutting away the soft tissue and the bone above the teeth in order for them to be removed successfully.

You may wonder...what does this have anything to do w/ ipod?

Well, here it goes...

The entire process took about an hour. I asked my doctor if I could listen to music during the operation and he said yes. Before I laid on the operation bed this afternoon, I clipped my ipod (15G) around my waist and hooked up the remote and the sony white MDR-EX70LP earphones. In order to reduce the wire exposed, I run it under my shirt so that it came up around my neck. The assistant started giving me Nitrous Oxide. I never had NO2 before and it did relaxe me a little bit. However, I was fully aware of my surroundings the entire time. I hit the play button on the remote and just relaxed.

I have included a great variety of music in the playlist. It included Eminem, Nelly, 50 cents, Matrix soundtrack, Norah Jones, American Idols stuff, Josh Groban, and etc.

The doctor started working on my teeth. Ocassionally he would ask me to widen my mouth or what not, but other than that, he was doing his thing and I was just "jamming away " with my own music. At times, when he is drilling and cutting my bones, I will turn up the volume w/ my remote and jump to a "harder" song so that I am not focus on the internal noise caused by the operation. It worked out perfectly. I don't think I can say I couldn't have done it w/o my new 15G ipod, however, it helped temendously. It made that one hour to go by easily. It was simply awesome.

An hour later, the doc was done with all 4 teeth and I put away my ipod and my friend drove me home.

I told my friend about my ipod experience and he thought that was the funniest thing. He got a kick out of it.

Well, that's all I got. I am now laying in bed, surfing the net and resting......

T

[tntracy]

Ouch.

I hope you got some good drugs for the pain...... :(

Cool story!

Tom

[zeroseven]

reading that was like Deja Vu.....

....except my story involved owning an ipod and trying to get apple to SORT IT OUT

[iamaustin]

bah i go for mine in 2 more days....

[WildTexas.com]

I'm jealous...I had to listen to the drill and the sound of my own teeth cracking into pieces when I got mine extracted (I'm 29; I had 2 removed when I was in my mid-teens and then I stupidly waited until the last 2 got infected and I was 28 years old -- bad move!)

Rest up, eat whatever's comfortable to eat and enjoy that iPod. Hopefully, you won't develop a "dry socket" -- I didn't when I was young, but the last 2 wisdom teeth I got extracted, I developed a nasty dry socket. It's as awful and painful as people tell you... direct nerve pain to the brain is enough to make you want to throw yourself in front of the nearest car... almost.

[TheBigDog]

Originally posted by WildTexas.com
I'm jealous...I had to listen to the drill and the sound of my own teeth cracking into pieces when I got mine extracted (I'm 29; I had 2 removed when I was in my mid-teens and then I stupidly waited until the last 2 got infected and I was 28 years old -- bad move!)

Rest up, eat whatever's comfortable to eat and enjoy that iPod. Hopefully, you won't develop a "dry socket" -- I didn't when I was young, but the last 2 wisdom teeth I got extracted, I developed a nasty dry socket. It's as awful and painful as people tell you... direct nerve pain to the brain is enough to make you want to throw yourself in front of the nearest car... almost.

yeah, I have read and heard all about Dry Socket. I am trying my best to avoid it. I think I am doing ok right now. Actually, I took pain killer last night (Maxidone) and haven't even take one today. As far as Dry Socket goes, do you immediatly feel the pain if the clot is lost for whatever reason? I am just trying to watch out for myself....

[i-Noize]

Lovely. I have to get mine pulled sometime soon. I'm hoping they will just knock me out. Nice story, btw.

[WildTexas.com]

It seemed to take about a week or so after the surgery before I realized the pain I felt was not normal and was actually getting worse. It first starts as a dull ache that you're probably already feeling now, and then turns into a very painful throbbing pain that affects most of your jaw. At its worst, you would swear you can feel the air directly on your exposed nerve and even drinking lukewarm tap water hurts. I felt the pain even with the prescription pain medications they had me on (for me, it was Vicodin).

Treatment is fairly simple. Return to the dentist/oral surgeon who will flush out the extraction site and repack it with some special stuff to 1) numb the nerve endings deep in the there and 2) help keep it moist and prevent infection. Dry sockets can last a short while or a long while. I ended up having to seen my dentist once a week for three weeks after the surgery to get the dressings repacked and then finally the pain was manageable at home by putting clove oil (I think that's what it was) near the site and flushing it nightly with water (with a plastic-tipped syringe the the dentist provides, or can be bought at a convenience store).

I had all the risk factors for a dry socket when I got my final 2 wisdom teeth removed, I just didn't realize it at the time. I was female, was getting the surgery after my teenage years and I drink a lot of caffeinated sodas (which I stayed off for 1.5 weeks after the surgery). If you're younger, male, don't smoke and follow the doctor's directions, generally, you won't have any problems except for maybe minor swelling and short-term discomfort.

[tntracy]

This thread is starting to make me dizzy...... :D

Tom

[TheBigDog]

Originally posted by WildTexas.com
It seemed to take about a week or so after the surgery before I realized the pain I felt was not normal and was actually getting worse. It first starts as a dull ache that you're probably already feeling now, and then turns into a very painful throbbing pain that affects most of your jaw. At its worst, you would swear you can feel the air directly on your exposed nerve and even drinking lukewarm tap water hurts. I felt the pain even with the prescription pain medications they had me on (for me, it was Vicodin).

Treatment is fairly simple. Return to the dentist/oral surgeon who will flush out the extraction site and repack it with some special stuff to 1) numb the nerve endings deep in the there and 2) help keep it moist and prevent infection. Dry sockets can last a short while or a long while. I ended up having to seen my dentist once a week for three weeks after the surgery to get the dressings repacked and then finally the pain was manageable at home by putting clove oil (I think that's what it was) near the site and flushing it nightly with water (with a plastic-tipped syringe the the dentist provides, or can be bought at a convenience store).

I had all the risk factors for a dry socket when I got my final 2 wisdom teeth removed, I just didn't realize it at the time. I was female, was getting the surgery after my teenage years and I drink a lot of caffeinated sodas (which I stayed off for 1.5 weeks after the surgery). If you're younger, male, don't smoke and follow the doctor's directions, generally, you won't have any problems except for maybe minor swelling and short-term discomfort.

thx for your info. I will keep all that in mind.

[WildTexas.com]

tntracy -- Yeah, this thread's giving me nasty flashbacks. I just remember how much pain it was and how little folks had told me about what to really expect, since my first wisdom tooth extraction experience was so easy (15 minutes of actual 'surgery', tops, and I had steak the night after the surgery -- no pain, no complications). Then I go back when I'm an "adult" and experience hell -- come to think of it, isn't that always the way? hehe

I've heard of interesting playlists, but this thread now adds "Playlists for Wisdom Tooth Extractions" to the list of unique iPod playlists. ;) I remember reading somewhere else where a pregnant woman enjoyed her iPod while in the delivery (or was it recovery?) room. Not a bad way to pass those hours, indeed.

[vkeks05]

Heh, I'm afraid that if I'd listen to some of the songs I enjoy, I'd be nodding my head up and down while the dentist would yell at me to stop moving. :p

[iamaustin]

Man i just the teeth taken out. Only one side hurts because it was burried next ot my jaw or something... but the doc said that there was a nerve under it and that i MIGHT lose feeling all together in my lower lip... well as it is now i cant feel it but could i just be the novicane? been about 6 hours.

[TheBigDog]

Originally posted by iamaustin
Man i just the teeth taken out. Only one side hurts because it was burried next ot my jaw or something... but the doc said that there was a nerve under it and that i MIGHT lose feeling all together in my lower lip... well as it is now i cant feel it but could i just be the novicane? been about 6 hours.

well, my doctor warned me about it also. Some people gain the sensation right away, some take a day or two, some take a few week, some take months, and some never get it back. I got mine back immediately after the novacane has worn off. Be patient and see how it goes. Give it time, don't panic as there is NOTHING you can do about it right now other than wait.

Good luck.

[iamaustin]

I have feeling back!!! Thanks TheBigDog

[stasyna]

wow.

drugs must've not been given. When i got 4 out, all of em too i was out for 3 days. I could even remember anything after the "operation."

Still a cool story, i wish i had an iPOD for that, LOL!
good read, thanks bud. :cool:

[loungelizard]

Originally posted by vkeks05
Heh, I'm afraid that if I'd listen to some of the songs I enjoy, I'd be nodding my head up and down while the dentist would yell at me to stop moving. :p

EXACTLY!! I dont think I could sit still. I tend to get into my music.

[TheBigDog]

Originally posted by loungelizard
EXACTLY!! I dont think I could sit still. I tend to get into my music.

me too normally, but when a doc is sholving a dremel into your mouth to cut your bone and stuff...you might feel differently. :)

[iamaustin]

bah its been like 4 weeks my jaw still hurts