Has anyone had their impacted wisdom teeth pulled without being put under?

[JadenLayne]

I have two wisdom teeth that are impacted, laying sideways actually. They will go months without bothering me and then they will really bother me for a week or so. They are bothering me now worse than they have in quite a long time.

Well I've been to the dentist, who recommended an oral surgeon, who told me he wanted to put me under anestisia to take them out.

Well I'll admit it, I'm scared to death of being put under because of a past experience of not wanting to come out of the anestisia. To be frank I'll just let them hurt before I go under.

My dentist says it's "possible" to have them out with just the numbing but the oral surgeon doesn't want to do it that way because it's easier for the person to be under.

I just want to know if anyone has had impacted wisdom teeth and had them taken out while just under the numbing meds and not being under. If I hear that it's possible I'm going to go to another surgeon until I find one who will do it this way.

 

[eclectics]

I've had oral surgery done without being put under. My doctor (oral surgeon) gave me a choice. I don't understand why yours would insist on knocking you out for it.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

I can't imagine wanting to be aware of what is going on during that procedure, but I understand the apprehension about going under. I was 17 when I had all mine pulled. I had each side done separately though. I was so uptight the first time that when I started counting backwards from 100, I got into the 80's before I finally went under. The surgeon told me later that I really faught it and they were at the point of stopping administering the iv. However, afterwards I thought that floaty feeling was so cool and when I went back for the other side, I was much more relaxed and actually looking forward to it. So of course I didn't make it to 98 before I passed out.

 

[JadenLayne]

They did insist. I had no choice. Thats what I wanted to hear. I need a second opinion from another oral surgeon. I can understand how it would probably be alot easier if I was out but that just isn't going to happen.

 

[Crankyshank]

I've had one out and am having another out on friday. Neither of them were impacted though.
I get to listen to a cd and the dr does a great job of numbing before the extraction. It's done very quickly so I don't really see the need to put me under.

 

[MareQ]

I had mine out fully awake. Just novocain and some laughing gas. He thought I was insane because they were impacted and he had to cut deep and crack each tooth several times to get it out - but I wanted to be awake so he allowed it. No problem for me.

 

[pjb_hockey_mom]

I had two removed, lower one was impacted, and opted for novicaine. I was given two choices and like you, prefer not to be put under.

 

[CathrynRose]

Well I'll admit it, I'm scared to death of being put under because of a past experience of not wanting to come out of the anestisia. To be frank I'll just let them hurt before I go under.

My dentist says it's "possible" to have them out with just the numbing but the oral surgeon doesn't want to do it that way because it's easier for the person to be under.

I just want to know if anyone has had impacted wisdom teeth and had them taken out while just under the numbing meds and not being under. If I hear that it's possible I'm going to go to another surgeon until I find one who will do it this way.

Yes, yes, yes I have....

Im also terrified of being under as well as 'laughing gas' - so i didnt have any of that, either. Just the shot of numbing stuff.

They had to do 2 at a time - one side, then 2 weeks later, the other side. It wasnt bad *at all*. Not at all. In fact I distinctly remember thinking, why do they have to knock people out for this?? It was done in literally minutes... I was looking at the clock, and it was like pop - pop. Swear to you....

Yeah - I had it done without being under OR any gas stuff.

Only mistake I made - not drugging up on something, before that numbing shot kicked out. Be sure you take something right when you get home.

 

[JadenLayne]

Mare was it bad?

I've had the two on the other side out from just my regular dentist. They weren't impacted and he just numbed them and out they came. I had no problems at all.

Both of these (both upper and lower on my left side) are laying flat and he did mention that he would probably have to break the teeth and take them out bit by bit. Also the upper one could possibly be into my sinus but he said that wasn't a problem that if it was I just wouldn't be able to hold air in mouth the same way or something weird like that.

 

[JadenLayne]

Cathryn were yours impacted?

 

[pjb_hockey_mom]

Yes, yes, yes I have....

Im also terrified of being under as well as 'laughing gas' - so i didnt have any of that, either. Just the shot of numbing stuff.

They had to do 2 at a time - one side, then 2 weeks later, the other side. It wasnt bad *at all*. Not at all. In fact I distinctly remember thinking, why do they have to knock people out for this?? It was done in literally minutes... I was looking at the clock, and it was like pop - pop. Swear to you....

Yeah - I had it done without being under OR any gas stuff.

Only mistake I made - not drugging up on something, before that numbing shot kicked out. Be sure you take something right when you get home.

No kidding - I did the same thing. Whatever you do, stay "ahead" of that pain.

 

[MareQ]

Mare was it bad?

I've had the two on the other side out from just my regular dentist. They weren't impacted and he just numbed them and out they came. I had no problems at all.

Both of these (both upper and lower on my left side) are laying flat and he did mention that he would probably have to break the teeth and take them out bit by bit. Also the upper one could possibly be into my sinus but he said that wasn't a problem that if it was I just wouldn't be able to hold air in mouth the same way or something weird like that.

My recovery was brutal but that has nothing to do with me being out or not - I had 3 out at once - 2 were laying sideways and one was a "bony" impaction(?)

The actual procedure was fine - I was pissed when he turned the laughing gas off because I was really enjoying myself till he turned into a buzz kill

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I had 2 of mine removed with just a valium and novocaine. I was absolutely terrified and it turned out OK. I didn't feel anything, but I could tell there was a lot going on in there (breaking, pulling, pushing). When I have to get my other one (there's one I never had) done, I won't want to go under for it either.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

I had all 4 removed in one procedure with just novocaine. One was impacted, and both bottom ones had to be broken to be removed.

Having said that, there may be additional reasons that your oral surgeon is recommending/insisting on a general rather than local.

 

[cheyita]

I was never put all the way out for wisdom teeth extraction.

I had a fully impacted top one removed and thought, "What's the big deal?"

When I had the other three removed and he seemed to hit the nerve doing the lower, I wished I had been out. He warned me, "You'll get a bit of a shock" or something to that extent. I wasn't prepared and almost shot right out of the seat!

But other than that moment, that procedure wasn't bad either.

 

[hydster]

I've had all of mine taken out without being put under and the top 2 were impacted. The dentist had me fill a script for valium that I took an hour before I went to his office and then another one at his office and then he used novacaine and laughing gas and I don't remember much of it although I do know I was awake enough to think how weird it was to hear my jaw/tooth cracking.

My dh had his out a couple of years ago and all of his were impacted and they gave him versed in the chair and he woke up in the middle and they had to give him another dose that could have probably killed an elephant.

Mine wasn't too bad UNTIL I got dry sockets and then watch out Nellie! Those things hurt! Make sure you do what the dentist/surgeon tells you to prevent dry sockets and really do keep up on your pain meds. Once that pain starts it is horrible!

Good luck......I HATE the dentist and anything having to do with the dentist.

 

[CathrynRose]

Cathryn were yours impacted?

2 of them were - one on each side, was.

If you can find a dentist to do this for you, then do it because if youre like me - just the thought of going underis going to make you panic and make it a much less "minor" surgery cuz you worked yourself up so much.

And FWIW - my dentist sent me to oral surgeon - oral surgeon also refused to do it with me awake. I refused to have it done asleep. I went back to dentist and told him "forget it - theyre staying in then" Dentist knew this was NOT in my best interest and he took them out, himself.

So, have you talked to your main dentist about it?

 

[ellyn2000]

My DS was told by the Army dentist on post that he needed his wisdom teeth removed because one was impacted. He got in the chair on the appointed day and asked the doctor how long he would be under----he was quite disappointed to learn he would not be "under" at all. They used a local anesthetic and sent him home with a few pain pills. He had a hard day the first day but he did well after that. I don't know if yours are much worse, but it may be possible that you can have a local and not have any problem.

 

[themarquis]

I had general anesthesia to get mine (all four impacted) out. I tried to lobby for them to do it with local, too, but for different reasons -- my dental insurance paid for the procedure, but not for the anesthesia (600.00). I wanted to be cheap and get them yanked out under a local! The doctor refused to do it that way -- here was his explanation: by the time you reach a certain age (maybe 19 or 20?) impacted wisdom teeth have grown into your jaw; therefore to take them out, they have to crush them into bits and pull out all the pieces (which supposedly would be very traumatic to undergo awake). They can't just pull them anymore. I don't know if this was true or B.S. but when I heard about the crushing part, I was like, where do you sign me up for that general anesthesia?

Like another poster, I also ended up with "dry socket". A very nasty complication and bar none, the most painful thing I've ever experienced in my life. I guess if you are not really careful (in my case, I ate semi-solid food a couple of days after the surgery), you knock out the "protective" blood clots covering the wounds, leaving the nerves raw and exposed. Please, please be very careful after surgery so this doesn't happen!

 

[minkydog]

I have two wisdom teeth that are impacted, laying sideways actually. They will go months without bothering me and then they will really bother me for a week or so. They are bothering me now worse than they have in quite a long time.

Well I've been to the dentist, who recommended an oral surgeon, who told me he wanted to put me under anestisia to take them out.

Well I'll admit it, I'm scared to death of being put under because of a past experience of not wanting to come out of the anestisia. To be frank I'll just let them hurt before I go under.

My dentist says it's "possible" to have them out with just the numbing but the oral surgeon doesn't want to do it that way because it's easier for the person to be under.
I just want to know if anyone has had impacted wisdom teeth and had them taken out while just under the numbing meds and not being under. If I hear that it's possible I'm going to go to another surgeon until I find one who will do it this way.

I guess it depends on your level of tolerance for dentistry. I need drugs to go in for cleanings so the thought of having oral surgery with nothing just about makes me sick You realize, don't you, that "putting you under" has nothing to do with general anesthesia? they give you IV drugs, like Valuim and Demerol(or some other combinations) and you go to sleep. You aren't completely unconscious, but you don't remember much, if anything. It sounds like your impacted wisdom teeth are going to be hard to get out and may require some diging around. Sure you want to be awake for all that?