Morning all. I'm currently sitting at the station, on the way to King's College Hospital, to get all four wisdom teeth removed under general anesthetic...eek!

I'd be very grateful for any post op advice on what to do to aid recovery, or what to avoid for that matter!

Please no horror stories. I've heard enough of those already!!!

Thanks in advance one and all.

X

There's loads of previous threads in advice if you can find them which might be of help. I had all my four taken out in hospital back in 1991. All I can say is you will be bruised and swollen along your jawline probably, and in quite a bit of pain. You'll definitely need to be off work for a bit to recover, and let your mouth heal. You might not manage to eat much or feel like doing so, but that's obvious really. All I got given in hospital was melon at first, and even that was a struggle. Get some good painkillers and just take the post op advice of the doctors on board.

Edit : Forgot to say good luck !

Thank you.

Unfortunately my search function never seems to work!

No advice apart from invest in painkillers in case they are sore, and follow advice re: healing. If you're a smoker, DEFINITELY don't smoke.

GOOD LUCK!

I had both lower ones taken out under a general anaesthetic. For about 3 days after the op, I couldn't open my mouth more than half an inch because of pain in my jaw, the actual site of the removals didn't hurt too badly. Was advised to stock up on pain killers, not smoke, not drink through a straw or eat hard food until my gums had healed over. Soft food without lumps- like soup are perfect. Hopefully, you'll get a sheet explaining what you can and can't do before you leave.

Good luck, I'd read the horror stories but following the advice I was given it was fine. It took about 3 weeks for the swelling to totally go down though so don't be surprised if you're still slightly hamster-ish at Christmas (I was)

I'll second that - I was a smoker when I had my wisdom teeth out, and didn't take the warnings seriously. I've never known pain like it.

I had about six teeth removed when I was ten years old. No decay.

My mother was told it was 'to make way for other teeth.'

Never saw the real point in it, but I remember it was very painful.

I've had mine out under local and had no pain afterwards. I bleed like nobody's business for 30 minutes afterwards but tend to heal quickly. After two days I was back eating solid food (carefully though). Jaw ached for a bit but nothing else.

Hi Safi,

1st off my heart goes out to you, not pleasant.

Hopefully by the time you are reading the response to your thread, while it won't a past memory, you will be dealing with any post operative pain.

I had all my wisdom teeth extracted a long time ago under local anaesthetic.

I remember for 2-3 days afterwards the taste of blood which was a little unpleasant and on that note, don't for the next few days sleep on your favourite pillow or at least wrap it up.

I remember being told to gargle with a saline solution.

Your jaw bone may ache for a day or so, to be expected, fair amount of pulling and pushing to remove the critters and you may have stiches.

Try to keep yourself occupied and you will be given advise as to pain management.

On that subject and applying common sense,---whatever it takes for a few days to control any pain.

If you have stiches, they can drive you near distraction they will come loose or break, don't panic, so long as there is no fresh bleeding, it is unlikely they will be replaced.

Pain management and soft food is the name of the game here, you have the weekend upon you and hopefully by Monday-Tuesday any serious pain,--if any--will have subsided but the wounds may take up to 4 weeks to fully heal.

Hiya,

Thanks for your good wishes.

I'm at my mum and dad's now, getting some much needed tlc. Just had home made chicken soup and ice cream...bliss.

You're right about the bleeding, not nice. My throats is killing me and it is very painful to swallow. I think it just be from the tube they put down there.

The stitches are dissolvable so hopefully no worries there.

It's good to get such clear advice from everyone, especially non conflicting!

Thank you again

Hiya everyone.

Sadmuppet and Deb, I'm glad to say I'm not a smoker and so that won't be a problem!

Sesmo I'm well and truly hamsterish at the mo, but lopsidedly so!!! Oh the joys.

Elliecat it seems you were lucky!

Thanks everyone for taking time to reply. Drug time and bed time now. I've been up since 4.30am! X

I sent her flowers in case anybody was wondering..

They certainly cheered me up! Xxx

You have had your orders..

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzx

Blimey! That sounds like an ordeal.

I had my 3 removed with a shot of valium at the dentist's at lunch-time, some tugs and they were out - no stitches, was walked home by my brother, back at work the next day! Salt/water washes for a week and back to the dentist for a quick look the week after.

Safi - I hope you feel better soon xx

Blimey you must be hardcore muggins! In feeling very sorry for myself and I wasn't awake during the procedure! RESPECT!!!

I have got stitches in all four though, so feeling justified in lolling about! Plus my face seems to be expanding almost by the minute at the moment! Scary look!!!!

Take care xx

I chose to have mine out under local as I didn't like the thought of the GA.
I also think they have to be slightly gentler with you if you aren't asleep - although the dentist did almost have his foot on my chest at one point!

When I had my tonsils out (had to have GA for that! ) someone came in to have 2 wisdom teeth out under GA and they ended up in intensive care!!!

I think the level of pain after wisdom teeth removal is just down to luck of the draw.
I didn't have all four out at once, I had two out and then a couple of months later the other two.
I stopped smoking when I had the 1st two removed and was in absolute agony for weeks.
The 2nd time I carried on smoking and didn't have any pain at all.

I would certainly recommend getting some extra strong painkillers ready for anyone that is having wisdom teeth removed, the pain can be unbelievable bad.

Good luck, I hope you will be feeling more yourself in a day or three.
I had an open Hernia done a month ago, it was sore for a time afterwards - but a lot better now. The Scar is still tender.

True - but you're more likely to get a dry socket if you're a smoker, and that's not fun.

And smoking can delay the general healing process as well, so probably better to avoid it if possible!

Hopefully Safs face isn't expanding too much... And I ate the Lindor chocs as you can't eat
.

Sorry x

Tough job, but someone had to do it!

More than likely it's because that's all that was on offer back when nobody paid for dental treatment Now they charge you they are happy for you to have expensive treatment

Four out at once your a real soldier!! i had two vertical impacted lower's so i prefered to get one side done then a couple of months later the other side, as at least that way you can get em out with just a local plus you can then eat on the opposite side while recovering post op