Top two wisdom teeth are coming in, so I'm getting them taken out Wednesday. This is my first time going under the knife, so what can I expect? Also, my father is coming down this weekend, and I was looking forward to smoking with him. Will I not be able to so soon after surgery?

Ask your dentist/surgeon, but I'm pretty sure the smoking idea is a bad one so soon after surgery.

As far as what to expect, I'd say grogginess/wonkiness from the anesthetic for the first day and some fairly significant pain from the extractions for a couple days. I don't envy you. I still have all my wisdom teeth at 50 years old and don't relish the thought of having to get them out (hopefully it won't ever be necessary).

For the surgery what you can expect depends on whether you opt of local or general anesthetic. If you go for local while there shouldn't be any pain you'll still feel any pressure or vibrations from the surgery, along with hearing any sounds from it (sometimes they need to break the tooth into multiple pieces to get it out). If you go for general then they'll put in the IV, then you'll suddenly find yourself waking up and the surgery will be done (this is what I opted for when I had my wisdom teeth removed).

Afterwards you'll have some gauze stuffed in you mouth for a while to stop the bleeding (the dentist will tell you how long to leave it in); there will still often be a little bleeding after you take out the gauze, but just keep in mind that a little blood plus a lot of saliva looks like a lot of blood when you spit it out. Pain after the surgery usually peaks around 2 days after the surgery, then tends to disappear pretty quick (you should also get some pain meds, although it's a good idea to only use them if the pain is problematic, not just because). Just make sure you don't do anything to increase your chances of getting dry sockets (this includes smoking or drinkings things through a straw- the dentist will give you a full list); if you do get dry sockets then you're in for a lot more hurt. Also be prepared for a mostly liquid diet for the first day or two after the surgery; also take care to not let food get stuck in the sockets, as this will slow the healing process.

The operation isn't so bad but you're going to be tasting blood for the next week or two.

Wait, do they actually cut them out? I thought they pulled them out.


As for the smoking, you can, but they'll tell you not to, as it can cause further bleeding. On a side note: my dad had all of his teeth pulled out and was smoking later that day, he was okay.

It's really not that bad at all as long as your dentist doesn't suck.

In my case I had to have full surgery to remove the wisdom teeth. Something about how my jaw was set up with the teeth that prevented easy removal. I dunno how it's normally done but in my case they had to open me up and then break off the pieces to remove them. I don't remember much from the surgery or afterwards. I THINK I tried to get on Skype with a friend and play Civilization 5 a few hours afterwards with stuff still in my mouth. I think they gave me some goooooood stuff.

What sucked for me was the things they put in my mouth post-surgery to help the wound close. These dis-solvable strip things, not sure what they're called. Those were no fun. I was constantly freaking out about them.

Be careful with the pain pills they give you though. I'm severely depressive, but back then I hadn't gotten help for it. They gave me Vicodin, which I discovered along with the pain going away it made the depression go away. So I nearly became a prescription pill addict before I pulled it all together.

I won't go into detail on mine cause it varies a bit depending on how bad they are, mine were no big deal.
The bad part about smoking is the sucking action, it can loosen the blood clot that protect the nerves until things heal a bit.
If you MUST smoke go easy. ;)

I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth out in hospital a few years ago, under general anesthetic. The operation was fine, just make sure you get some strong pain relief pills + antibiotics when you leave because you once the anesthetic starts wearing off they will start to hurt like hell.

I am getting four teeth pulled Wednesday to make room for my wisdom teeth to come in and then be taken out as well =D, or something like that moral of the story I will be missing four teeth soon and 8 later

Had mine out a few years ago under general anaesthetic, by the time I'd left the place any grogginess was gone. Pain afterwards wasn't too bad, what was there after the local wore off could be handled pretty easily with some ibuprofen or similar.

Worst parts were easily the mouth washes I had to use (some nasty minty stuff and salty water) and later dissolving stitches (yuck).

I got the advice to get them all out at the same time, and I had no problems. I was given some drug during the procedure where the doctor said I would be awake, but wouldn't remember a damn thing. Awake to assist him in moving my tongue, opening my mouth, etc. Afterwards, I was groggy, laid on my couch drifting in and out of consciousness, because the doctor gave me Hillbilly Heroin.
I have no idea what pleasure people find in that drug, but I couldn't stand the grogginess and for me Tylenol/Ibuprofen was fine after the first dose of that stuff wore off. After a few hours I was told I could remove the gauze and watch for excessive bleeding. Occasionally, I would feel some throbbing pains from not taking the heavy stuff, but nothing I couldn't put up with. The stitches could be a pain, because they will start to loosen and you will feel them when drinking or eating. But they eventually dissolve or you remove them after it has healed. And I had phantom throbbing pains for about six months afterwards that were not that bad just a little five minute reminder.

My roommate had dry socket when he got his out. He smoked and drank from a straw. His girlfriend babied him, it was a hilarious time in my life and I got lots of lectures from his little, domineering girlfriend.

Also, if the dentist doesn't give you a pamphlet make sure to bring a friend that has a good memory. To remember all those questions you will want to know later, How long to leave the gauze in, how often to gargle, how long the stitches take, how much is too much blood.

Wisdom teeth are a curse on mankind. Fuck all wisdom teeth in the ass.

I've got room for all my wisdom teeth, so never a problem for me, aside from adult teething pains. THOSE I'll give you empathy for. My last one is still coming in, in spurts. >.>

Don't worry, it's not bad or scary at all. I had mine taken out a few years ago and it was really easy. It took around 15 minutes to have all four taken out. They put me under so I don't remember anything, but they did have to cut the gums since my wisdom teeth hadn't erupted yet. The pain wasn't even that bad, it wasn't great feeling, but it wasn't horrible either and they give you pain medication if you need it. They also gave me an ice pack that I could either freeze or warm if I needed to. Just make sure you have a good oral surgeon or dentist doing your surgery. I know it's hard not to be nervous the day or so before the surgery, but I really mean it when I say it's not scary at all. I wouldn't recommend smoking so soon after though, it seems like that would irritate your mouth, but you can always ask your dentist.

Don't worry about it. Take it as it comes - it varies somewhat from person to person. I had 5 removed in the morning. For me it felt like I went into a deep and very pleasant sleep - when I woke up I remember that I was extremely talkative with the nurses for some reason. Also, I ate mac and cheese that same night :)