Wednesday 18 May 2011 A Little Less Wisdom
Daily Life 
Me yesterday afternoon, hanging out with my new friend Mr. Icepack (there snuggling up against my face)
So I went to the dentist yesterday to get my bottom wisdom teeth out. I've had 7 teeth extracted before, four of them being at the same time (small mouth + braces!) so I was OK with the idea. Then the dentist, who luckily spoke great English, came in and started to explain the procedure to me. He said he'd do one tooth first, then see how I'm going after that and see if we want to carry on with the other, as they usually did them one at a time. I just assumed both would come out on the same day, as in NZ I know people who get all four out at the same time. But I said, OK, cool, thinking we'd totally do them both that day....
Then he said something I didn't know actually happened with wisdom teeth removal. "OK, so first we remove the bone there." Um, what? Bone? Aren't you just taking the tooth out?! What's with the bone?! Apparently, some wisdom teeth are covered by a bit of bone at the back, and mine were too. Um, no-one told me that!
OK *Nod* Be brave. Here comes the injections. Nothing I haven't handled before. Heart starts to race super hard and I feel like I'm gunna pass out in the chair, but I'm the queen of fainting so I can sometimes talk myself out of it. He leaves for 5 minutes for the anaesthetic to kick in, I watch the curtains because I can't read the German magazines available.
And you can guess the rest, except there are a few gory details I didn't realise went into it. Stop reading now if you get grossed out easily! I do too, don't worry. I thought it would be a matter of cutting the gum and then yoink! out comes the tooth. That's what my sister had last week. Lucky biarch. But no.... I'll keep it simple. So the gum was cut, the bone in the way was sawed out, the top of the tooth was sawn off the roots, and the roots pulled out one by one. Not. Cool! Especially showing me all the bits straight after..... I really don't care to see that stuff Mr. Dentist man, please!
He then asks, do you want to carry on with the other side? I say, Yeah, might as well while I'm here, I've had friends get all four out at once so I think I can handle two. He says, Yes, but we've cut quite a large piece of bone out and theres quite a hole now, I think it would be better for you to come back for the next one.
Please stop saying 'bone' and 'cut' and 'hole' in the same sentence.... do you want me to turn into unconscious jelly in your chair? (OH! I just remembered I bought jelly crystals for this occasion! Must make some after!) Anyway, we decide that I'll go back in 3 weeks for the next one. I have an appointment to check on it tomorrow, then an appointment next week to take the stitches out.
It's not too bad but whoa, it takes it out of you! Even just one little tooth and his bony friend coming out has made me so tired today and it's hard to focus. I woke up this morning and got such a fright, it looks like I have a gobstopper in the side of my mouth! I've been icing it on and off all day so hopefully it'll go away soon. In the meantime, I'm living on stewed rhubarb and apples, vanilla ice-cream, mashed potatoes, blended fruit cups and now I think I'll go make some jelly......
Have you had your wisdom teeth out? Was it simple like my sisters or did it involve BAD dentist tools like saws? *shudder*
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Reader Comments (10)
Oh my, poor girl. I had all four wisdom teeth removed (two at a time) and it was very easy and fast, because they were all showing already and were pulled out "just like other teeth. I wasn't in too much pain either. Luckily, there were no other tools (like saws *gasp*) involved.
Hope you'll be healing quickly!
oh my gosh you poor thing! that sounds horrific! i've never had my wisdom teeth out, but like you i thought it was an easy procedure. hope you feel better soon
xx
AAAAAAAAAAAAAGH. I'm dying to get mine out, as you know from Twitter, but I'm so scared.
Omg. That sounds like such a nightmare! I'm sorry, Zoe :( My experience was pretty quick and painless I got both of mine out on the same visit. Feel better dearie!! xo
Oh usually I am not one to be afraid of blood and gore but your descriptions make me shudder. The descriptions are already hard to bear in English and you have to hear it in German no less (learning German right now). I have never been so thankful to have a big mouth other than the ability to stuff more in mouth as I don't have to get any of my wisdom teeth removed according to the x-ray. Rest up until the next procedure, get well soon!
Wow ... that sounds pretty terrible! Sounds like you did great, though ... I probably would have puked on the dentist! haha
I guess I should thank my lucky stars that my wisdom teeth removal went smoothly. I'll send all the good vibes I can your way for a quick recovery!
Aww, you poor thing! I had four of my wisdom teeth out when I was 19, and it was pretty terrible for me. I totally looked like Elmer Fudd for almost two weeks afterward, my cheeks were so swollen. All that bone cutting can really do ya in! I hope you have a speedy recovery...ice cream heals all wounds. :)
*Sending hugs your way
xo. Amy
oh Zoe! That's horrific. I had one of mine removed last month, and this made me realize how lucky I am that it was such a piece of cake. I'm so sorry it was so gosh darn awful for you! Yikes. :( Poor thing.
Oh you guys are making me feel better, so sweet! Thanks for your messages :) I went back for a check-up today and it's healing well so Amy, you're right, ice-cream does heal all! xo
OH MY GOSH. When I got my wisdom teeth out (all four at once), they gave me an IV and knocked me out. I can't believe you were awake the whole time! Hope you're doing better now!