How long did it take you or family members to recovor from wisdom teeth removeall

[mjkacmom]

Three weeks - I got a dry socket, and had to have it packed daily for at least two weeks (lost 15 pounds, and I wasn't overweight to start with - I still remember the nurse saying I reminded her of Lynette from Desperate Housewives!). Don't use a straw. I pray I never experience that pain ever again!

 

[SideshowBob]

To above poster: My parents work in the dental industry and say it's normal practice to break them into pieces because it's easier to remove

I got them done in college- went home on a Friday, got all 4 (deeply impacted) removed and went back to school that Sunday. A couple months later we realized that they had cracked one of the molars and never told me and it was all infected... eww! That one had to be pulled too and it was covered in puss

Kinda' similar here... had all four removed the day before I started college... so had to recover FAST!

 

[perdidobay]

At the age of 29 I had very crooked teeth due to a very small jaw.
So a orthodontist and oral surgeon planned together which teeth I needed to lose. In one surgery I had 4 impacked wisdom teeth removed along with 2 front upper teeth and 2 bottom teeth.
I don't remember much about the first two days due to pain meds.
It took about one week to get back to normal painwise. And 3 years of braces to move all the remaining teeth together.

 

[Rora]

I was 16. They weren't impacted but I did have all 4 out at once. The surgery went normal and everything was fine.

That being said, it took me about a full week to feel "right". I was swollen pretty bad for 3-4 days and felt sick to my stomach because of the pain meds.

In addition, it was very hard to eat without drooling on myself since I was so numb/swollen.

 

[tzolkin]

It really depends on the teeth and how they have to take them out.

DH had his removed and went directly to work from the dentist.

Mine were all impacted and I was put out to have them removed. I don't think I was in a lot of pain but I bled heavily for two days (I have a bleeding disorder, so I don't know if bleeding is normal for everyone). My face was still lightly bruised 3 weeks later, but I really felt fine about two days after the procedure. The only real issue I had was the anesthesia (I basically just slept for two days) which I had to have 1. because it was a more involved procedure and 2. because I was terrified after seeing my mom get hers removed when I was a kid...

My mom had her jaw broken, her entire face was swollen, and she was bruised all the way down her chest. She looked like that for weeks and really couldn't eat. It was pretty disturbing for a kid, but I have never known anyone else who had this experience.

 

[LoveDopey]

Don't wait until your 40's to get them out like I did. I had two impacted wisdom teeth removed at 44 and let me tell you it was the most hideous experience of my life. I was literally off work for 6 weeks. Your roots continue to grow and one of mine was already in the jaw -- enough said. Even thinking about it now it brings tears to my eyes.

 

[dizluvah]

I was 35 - was totally knocked out for removal. All four were supposed to be removed at once, but due to impaction only 3 were removed that time. It took me about 4 days of heavy pain medications before I was back to a normal routine. Although for several weeks after I had to rinse with prescription mouthwash and use a syringe of water to clean out the empty sockets.

The following year I had the remaining wisdom tooth removed; I was awake and I would not recommend anyone opting to be conscious for removal. The dentist typically says it will "pop" right out - but in my case that wasn't so - it was jaw wrenching and the crunching sound alone is enough to give you nightmares.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

I had four impacted ones removed at the same time and I would rather have another c-section than get that done again!! The teeth being taken out was the worst pain I was ever in my whole life (including 4 other surgeries!). I was in pain over a week and couldn't open my mouth more than 1/2 for about a month....I was 23 when I had it done. I am not a pain wimp either- day after coming home from the hospital from a c-section I was in the mall shopping...but the wisdom teeth---yuk...I don't even like to remember that!!

did they not numb you up or give you any pain meds!?!? because if they numb you up enough during surgery you won't feel a thing and if you take the pain meds prescribed you should be fine, too. *shrugs*

 

[MouseketeerOvaHere]

Mine= 3 of 4 impacted. Gauze, oxycontin, rinse and couch for 2 days. I felt better 3rd day to move around more. Oh, I was 24.

btw, I was sedated when I had mine removed. That gas works wonders.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Ohhhh - don't ask! My son had all four taken out on Aug. 13th, and we are still dealing with it. Actually I was searching this board and googling in a panic when he first came home. Much more blood than I expected and more pain. I couldn' get him to eat, but was told to get some food in him before the Vicodin.

He was on the pain med's for 10 days straight - got dry socket, and then an infection that went "undetected" for a month. I could write a novel on that one. I asked the DR. specifically what to look for, and he said you couldn't miss it. You'd be swelled up on one side of your face, and in great pain. Neither happened, so my son just brushed gingerly around that area for a long time. It was only at a dentist appt. where the dentist said, "Wow - hmmmm this doesn't look right. Oh and by the way, he now has two cavities on his back two lower teeth because he wasn't brushing properly." Back to the Oral Sugeon who got a piece of my mind, and we left with a perscription for the infection. He is having the fillings done next week.

I am so mad because we went to a nice, upscale type oral surgeon with tons of recommendations. I also asked all the right questions, and didn't get the right answers which may have helped us avoid more pain and trouble. If you have any problems or concerns, be proactive, and down right demanding!

 

[minnie56]

My DD23 had hers out this past Spring..all 4 were impacted. She was out and on her way home in about 90 mins...incl recovery. We began icing and pain meds as soon as we were home. Tylenol 3 I beleive..we iced about 20 mins every hour for the first 24 hours except for nightime and she had NO swelling at all. NONE. Within 3 days she ws back at University..eating soups, puddings etc..mostly because of the stitches and it really was very uneventful! Amazing..

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

Ohhhh - don't ask! My son had all four taken out on Aug. 13th, and we are still dealing with it. Actually I was searching this board and googling in a panic when he first came home. Much more blood than I expected and more pain. I couldn' get him to eat, but was told to get some food in him before the Vicodin.

He was on the pain med's for 10 days straight - got dry socket, and then an infection that went "undetected" for a month. I could write a novel on that one. I asked the DR. specifically what to look for, and he said you couldn't miss it. You'd be swelled up on one side of your face, and in great pain. Neither happened, so my son just brushed gingerly around that area for a long time. It was only at a dentist appt. where the dentist said, "Wow - hmmmm this doesn't look right. Oh and by the way, he now has two cavities on his back two lower teeth because he wasn't brushing properly." Back to the Oral Sugeon who got a piece of my mind, and we left with a perscription for the infection. He is having the fillings done next week.

I am so mad because we went to a nice, upscale type oral surgeon with tons of recommendations. I also asked all the right questions, and didn't get the right answers which may have helped us avoid more pain and trouble. If you have any problems or concerns, be proactive, and down right demanding!

dry socket isn't something that the oral surgeon can control, neither is your son getting cavities because of improper brushing, so giving the surgeon " a piece of your mind" wasn't really necessary.

everyone's bodies are different and they react different when getting things done like surgery. doesn't matter how "upscale" the place is or not.

OP, i know you're reading all of these horror stories, but honestly? if you don't get it done, it'll just cause you more pain in the long run. your teeth will start to crowd and you'll feel constant pain. i lived with it for a few years before i got mine taken care of. and my teeth used to be straight before my wisdom teeth started pushing them around, and unfortuntaly now i don't have $$ to get that fixed at the moment.

 

[aprilgail2]

did they not numb you up or give you any pain meds!?!? because if they numb you up enough during surgery you won't feel a thing and if you take the pain meds prescribed you should be fine, too. *shrugs*

I was knocked out for it- pain wasnt during the procedure, it was after-- I took pain meds for a few days but I am not a big pill person and don't like the feeling of being on pain meds so I was not going to take them the entire time-plus I work at a place where we can't even take nyquil the night before and go to work the next day, take it and you need to take off the next day from work... It was the fact that I couldn't open my mouth for months and the pain of trying to open it more.

 

[golfgal]

I was 25, 4 impacted teeth, all removed under sedation (knocked out). I WOKE UP from the anesthesia when they were pulling one tooth out . The worst part was feeling woozy from the anesthesia after the surgery. I don't remember much pain but I was good about taking my pain meds as prescribed for the first couple days and then I was fine.

 

[Snowysmom]

Both my kids had their wisdom teeth out when they were 18. Both had impacted teeth and the bottom ones were sideways. (They have always been overachievers!) Both had the procedure one in the oral surgeon's office under sedation and neither remember a thing. My older DS had a rough first day but got better quickly. He ate soft foods for 4-5 days and then was fine. Younger DS did fine from the start. He was eating soft foods for about a day and then just watched what he ate to be sure he didn't eat things with sharp edges. His girlfriend told me the other day he was eating skittles on the 2nd day. Not a good idea! They only needed the prescription pain meds for the first day and then Tylenol or Ibuprofen for the next couple of days.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I had mine done in 3 separate surgeries (first was all I could afford, and 2nd and 3rd were to be one, but one tooth was so painful that I did it earlier and it was all they had time for).

Surgery 1, I took an entire weekend due to unusual circumstances. Teeth out at 3pm Friday--I was so nervous I did not eat all day and the painkillers were too strong on an empty stomach. Post surgery, I couldn't eat enough to make up for it and at midnight when I went to go get ice, I passed out and was taken to the ER. When I pass out like that, it takes me a while to resume to normal. I was fine for classes on Monday. Had nitrous. I was 18.

Surgery 2, non-impacted extraction (the tooth had cut through). I think I went back to work the next day. No nitrous I was 23

Surgery 3, impacted extraction--pregnant so couldn't have laughing gas. Took an extra day to recover emotionally--but otherwise, I was good to go except for the puffy cheek. Months later, the site of the oral surgeon at my church would put me in a panic. Odd as I usually don't have issue with dentists or anything. So on a do over, I would have done nitrous if permitted. Also age 23.

My toughest part of recovery--remembering that I couldn't use straws until after the stitches had dissolved. Seriously.

I didn't have any issues with dry socket that I was aware. I wouldn't hesitate to keep my decisions the same and have the teeth removed if I had to do it over. The only thing I would change is making sure I had adequate nutrition for the first time.

 

[PatsMom]

My daughter had her four impacted wisdom teeth removed this summer before leaving for college. She had one surgery and knew nothing after they administered the anesthetic. I retrieved her, stopped at the pharmacy to pick up pain medication and decadron (to help with swelling). Got home and fed her a little orange sherbert to have something in her stomach and gave her the Vicodin. She'd never had narcotic pain relievers before and it knocked her right out. I used a theraband stretchie to tie gel ice packs to her cheeks and replaced them every hour or so for the first 10 hours. Somewhere in there she got more sherbert and pain meds.

She took the next two days off work but by the second day was taking very little pain medication - mostly Tylenol by then. She had no dry sockets and healed very well. She also had minimal swelling.

I had mine removed when I was around 19 by an Air Force dentist. They were severely impacted. In fact I ran into the dentist three years later at another base and when he saw my X-rays he said that he sure remembered those wisdom teeth they were such a challenge. The surgery went OK I was asleep. Then I was sent home with a friend (because I lived in the barracks alone the other option would have been overnight in the hospital). My friend's family was great and brought me soft food and reminded me to take my pain medication. Unfortunately I broke the rules and I smoked which led to dry sockets. Two of them. The most excruciating pain I've ever felt.

So its was lots of trips back to the dental clinic to have the sockets packed and to make sure there was no infection. I was on the pain medication for a week or so, then just toughed it out. I had to go back to work on the second day because that was the Air Force way. I survived but it was not a pleasant experience by any means.

 

[Stitchfans]

I was 19 when I had all four removed. Four hours later I was outside having a snowball fight with my now ex husband. At the time he was my fiance. Can not go by me though cause I have an extremely high pain tolerance and I heal very quick.

 

[Maridw]

Mine were impacted, but my mom had already been through it with my sister and so it wasn't so bad. My DD's weren't too bad, but she also had to tooth buds behind her front teeth removed.

The main things to remember are:
1. Don't rush your healing time
2. Alternate heat and ice
3. Replace gauze with dampened teabags - this helps promote healing and also helps prevent dry socket.

Told my ex-husband about it when he had his removed and he had no problems. In fact the dentist asked him what he had done and found that tea has healing qualities.

 

[JoBird]

Everyone's different, OP.

I was 18 when I had all of them removed at once- three were impacted. They knocked me out for it and the only thing that gave me trouble was the anesthesia after I woke up (it makes me sick to my stomach). I never swelled at all.

By that night, I was eating pizza. Shocking, I know, but my Dr was phenomenal.

My parents were astounded b/c I never had any trouble and so many people have such an awful time with them.

Good luck.