Wisdom teeth removal advice?

[White Out 403]

This week I'm having all my wisdom teeth removed. Any advice on speeding up the recover and limiting swelling and pain?

[TheyCallMeBruce]

I just did this on Friday. Advice right now is not to eat anything that isn't soup. keep the mouth clean and make sure to use the mouth wash that was prescribed to you. Also, make sure you ice it. As icing is what's really helping me right now.

You should also take the ibuprofen dose as prescribed. I was also prescribed Tylenol 3 pills and they work in between doses.

[RyZ]

Depends on how you take it. I know someone that took 3 days off work getting their wisdom teeth removed and my wife asked me to go out for dinner and a movie the same evening after she got all four of hers removed and showed no ill signs at all.

It all depends on how you personally take it and how much pain you are in. You will likely want some T3s and a bottle of advil around though.

[YYC in LAX]

I had my left side removed first then two weeks later had the right side removed. It made chewing/eating food a lot easier. Sounds like that isn't an option for you.

[bigtmac19]

Definitely agree with icing. Make sure you follow the instructions for applying the cold packs it really will help with the swelling. Make sure you rinse as instructed. My son got an infection and was in a lot of pain.

[bizkitgto]

Do the salt rinse as prescribed - you'll recover fast. I got 'em all removed at once and spent the afternoon after surgery in a T3 haze......

[DownhillGoat]

If there's any advice I can give you, it's don't do all 4 at once.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

If there's any advice I can give you, it's don't do all 4 at once.

That's my recommendation too. Also, I'm assuming a dental surgeon is doing the job. Don't let a dentist try to do this in his office, especially if they're impacted.

[Machiavelli]

I had all 4 done at the same time and was perfectly fine.

[Francis's Hairpiece]

For the love of god be put out before the surgery. I got my 2 bottom ones removed while awake and I swear I felt like I was Braveheart being strapped down and tortured. I almost screamed Freedom while the guy was sawing through the jawbone.

To reduce swelling and help with the pain, try bags of peas. It helps a lot.

[keratosis]

Doesn't take long as long as you follow the post extraction instructions. Wife fell asleep before I got home and did not change pads enough. Ended up with dry sockets. Not pretty.
Had a tooth pulled a while back and must admit. Took about a month till it truly felt normal.

[Nage Waza]

Originally Posted by Francis's Hairpiece

For the love of god be put out before the surgery. I got my 2 bottom ones removed while awake and I swear I felt like I was Braveheart being strapped down and tortured. I almost screamed Freedom while the guy was sawing through the jawbone.

To reduce swelling and help with the pain, try bags of peas. It helps a lot.

Seriously? The process is not that bad for most people, but that can happen. Depends on a few factors.

Bring an ipod, listen to some music during the procedure. You may be prescribed codeine, that bungs you up, so make sure to be taking a stool softener. Codeine did nothing for my pain, literally, it was useless.

After a day or two like that, I was prescribed Percocet.

Percocet (oxy-cocet), which has less codeine, worked for me where codeine did nothing. Ibuprofen or alieve also help.

Whatever they tell you to do to avoid a dry socket, follow.

[keratosis]

Originally Posted by Nage Waza

Seriously? The process is not that bad for most people, but that can happen. Depends on a few factors.

Bring an ipod, listen to some music during the procedure. You may be prescribed codeine, that bungs you up, so make sure to be taking a stool softener. Codeine did nothing for my pain, literally, it was useless.

After a day or two like that, I was prescribed Percocet.

Percocet (oxy-cocet), which has less codeine, worked for me where codeine did nothing. Ibuprofen or alieve also help.

Whatever they tell you to do to avoid a dry socket, follow.

I want the name of your dentist. I got Tylenol 3, and had to ask for that. Then only got a prescription for 24. My mistake,12. Also when my wife had hers done, she said she was in a lot of pain and the dentist told me to apply clove oil. Which really worked.

[blankall]

Haven't had it done myself, but I think there is a lot of variation in terms of how intense the procedure is. I've had friends who have the teeth totally grown out, and the biggest challenge is keeping the holes clean afterwards. I've had friends who had the teeth wrapped around the jawbone, in which case it's much more intense. They came out looking like someone had taken a bat to the side of their face.

[PIMking]

When you get home you will be drowsy and will probably fall asleep. TAKE YOUR PAIN MEDS BEFORE YOU FALL ASLEEP. because when you wake up you will be in severe pain and that 40 mins until the pain meds kick in SUCK.

[CalgaryFan1988]

I had all 4 done at once, but I was fine afterwards. Drove to Ottawa right after actually, over an hour drive

I think they have a general idea if you're going to be good or not by the prep they give you. I wasn't sleeping or anything, pulled them like regular teeth. I heard every crunch.

[Northendzone]

My advice would be get them done by a board certified dentist.

If you are looking to save money, have it done in Mexico.......

[calumniate]

Avoid driving your car if you're on lots of the pain meds

[Wormius]

I had only 3 that had to be removed by a maxillofacial surgeon. Got put under, woke up feeling pretty okay. Back at work the next day.

I have heard bad things if they are extracted by a regular dentist and you have to endure the whole "kneeling on your chest, prying" technique.

[killer_carlson]

My experience wasn't bad. The pain meds they gave me were supposed to be taken with food. I didn't do so and had to go to emerg with pains from the pain meds?!?!?! THe teeth weren't too bad at all. Had all 4 done on a Wednesday, was functional by Friday afternoon and took the weekend normally. No straws or anything that might cause dry sockets for a while though.

x 2 on the salt rinse. Very soothing especially with warm/hot water.
Putting tea bags in my cheeks seemed to help - whether legitimately or through placebo. Note that the caffeine can make it hard to sleep though.

One other memory was that in the wakeup room, the girl on the cot across the room peed her pants. The meds made her all relaxed and she peed right there mid procedure. They tell you to pee before hand, and I guess that is why. I remember that part vividly because I wanted to sit up and see if I knew her, but the anaesthetic had me too relaxed to do anything but lift my head for about 30 minutes.