Wednesday 16th September, is the day I have my wisdom teeth extracted. I was both nervous, excited (excited??) and shit scared to have them removed, especially the whole stigma of being at a dentist as a whole. Yes it was D-day for me, as I couldn’t turn back and refuse to have it done. Prior to my removal my dentist did give me options whether to have them removed under local or general anaesthetics, day surgery, under an oral max-face-surgeon or just him (and giving a hint of price wise)...I said that he can remove my wisdom teeth.
So it was indeed D-day for me..., I was just ‘quietly’ nervous. Mum drove me to the dentist, wishing me “Good Luck,” I go to the reception, surprisingly they are waiting for me!!! “Vivian is it?” “Yes,” I say. So I sit down waiting, patiently for my turn. I think about the patients at work to get the ‘nervousness’ out of my mind, how they get all the drain in all different parts of the body and then think at the same time, “what could be worse?” The dentist greets me and puts numbing cream where he will remove my wisdom teeth then heads back to finishing with his patient, before I head in. I think “oh good just numbing cream...wondering if he will use more anaesthetic via syringe; and realise that is what I am shit-scared about...needles in the mouth argh! I start to panic, then take deep breaths & then relax again.
“Vivian, come in,” GAH! My turn! Can’t run now. So I lie on the dentist chair. Patiently.... he checks my x-ray and ask me if I had read my info sheet and know the risks and consequences etc....I say “yes” and also wanted to say “over & over”...nope just leave it to just ‘yes’. I gave him my signed consent and a little now that I need a dental certificate. He asks me if my corners of my mouth are feeling numb, “yes,” I say and then go “so there is no needles” was kind of ignorant what I just said obviously he was still going to inject me with more anaesthesia “oh god!” however it wasn’t all that bad, because all I felt was just a jab, no prick or stinging of the needle going in; and some pressure of the anaesthesia fluid travelling into my gums.
Several minutes I can feel my gums, mouth and lips numb, then he starts “OMG OMG!!!!” He starts on my bottom right wisdom tooth. Scalpel, suction here and there, and other dental instrument used, he was having trouble with removing it (and I’m thinking get out you bloody tooth!) All I feel is pressure, tugging but no pain...finally he yanks it out...one down, 3 to go. I see at the end of that tooth was a 2 little hooks; crazy little tooth didn’t want to come out did it? He then works on my top right one....”Some are easier than others,” he says. Out less than a minute, a break then moves on the bottom left one.
Now this was the trickiest one of all, he had to remove it in probably (from what I can see) was 3 parts. Another break, while this was going on, my knees were shaking because of being so nervous of them taken out. Ironically he goes “you’re very calm.” I guess I was but feeling my knees shaking I don’t think I was calm, unless he was meaning I’m not screaming in pain etc. Finally, my last tooth was the top left one, similar as the 2nd tooth it was out in less than a minute, despite how awkwardly it was located. WOW that quick! Probably took him 50mins. He estimates it would take him 1hr and 30minutes to remove. Well done Dr Dentist. I was already puffed up like one of Alvin and the Chipmunk’s cousin on my left side. The dentist & his assistant put some cotton ball things in the side of my mouth, to put pressure on the wounds he stitched & excess blood what was still oozing (and I can taste despite my mouth still numb). Paid for my wisdom extraction (and phew it was less than $1000!) and waited for Mum to pick me up. I only waited for 2mins then Mum turned up. I could feel the puffiness of my cheeks and partially drowsy (don’t know if there is any sedative in local anaesthesia) guess it’s just the tiredness from having my mouth open for 50mins. Got home, walked slowly upstairs, went to the fridge, got the coldpak then sat in front of the television, where I would spend 3 days while resting it up (in between FaceBook) sipping on soup, drinking water, coffee juice via straw and eating ice cream, jelly and yoghurt (such a healthy diet!). The past days I love my pain killers (ha!). Dozing off & on in front of the telly, watching documentaries, food, travel & more food (of all channels I had to watch something with food in it, even though I was limited to what I was eating).
The numbness was slowly wearing off while the puffiness was slowly increasing. The dentist rang up asking how I was and if I had any problem that I could go back. What a nice dentist to ring up how I was going. That’s nice. No matter how scared I was, I am happy that my wisdom teeth are removed as least they will not cause me pain and grief as they did last year and the year before. Now am waiting for my blowfish/chipmunk cheeks to go down...!
