Hello Everyone,
Has anyone had their wisdom teeth out at hospital, I have been hearing lots of horror stories and wondered if their is any truth in them? I am being referred now, so will soon have to face the music
Thank you
Off topic - has anyone had wisdom teeth out at ... - Thyroid UK
Off topic - has anyone had wisdom teeth out at the hospital?
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Kitten-whiskers
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60 Replies
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K-W, yes, I've had one out. It wasn't impacted or growing around other teeth so no horror stories. They are big teeth and can be hard to pull which is why they use general anaesthetic which isn't often used outside of hospitals now. You may need a few days to a week off work because it can be quite swollen and painful for a few days.
Morning Clutter,
Glad yours story isn't a horrible one. My mum is saying I will have to stay in hospital a week, as my tooth is impacted and only part of it has grown, so they are not going to have to much to pull on, on one side, so I am told they have to cut the gums, then you have stitches ect.
I would be fibbing if i said I wasn't worried.
Best wishes
You'll be out of hospital in less than a day, not a week. I had four wisdom teeth removed, all of them impacted, 2 of the 4 completely invisible because they hadn't managed to get through the gum. Surgery was done late morning, and I was out by late afternoon. I had my gums cut and stitches too.
Seriously... It isn't major surgery! You might look like a chipmunk after it because of bruising and swelling, but the chances are good you will be well again within a week, with just a few fading bruises to show for it.
K-W, I honestly don't remember having stitches when the wisdom tooth was removed but I had two apersectomies on seperate occasions where the gums were cut to scrape abcesses from above some roots and these were also done as day surgery and I was home the same night. There was a lot of swelling of the mouth and face afterwards which was very painful but the stitched gums themselves weren't painful. Removing the stitches was uncomfortable but not very painful.
Bless you Clutter, thank you so much. I do worry unnessarilly - but you have all helped to put my mind at rest
Thank you
I had mine out in hospital under general anaesthetic. (This was decades ago!) It is hard to eat for about a week after the surgery. You have to do a kind of hamster nibble using your front teeth which is not easy. If you get any stitches in your gums and they have to be removed don't worry about them. Wet, slippery, slimy stitches slip out as easy as can be and you won't even know it happened.
The biggest and most important piece of advice I can give is...
After you come round from any anaesthetic you will probably want to rinse your mouth out immediately because of the metallic blood taste. DON'T DO IT! Wait for permission from the staff. There are likely to be holes in your gums from the tooth removal. You must wait for blood to clot in those holes. If you rinse you prevent that clotting from happening. And then you get something called "dry socket" - holes in the gum just waiting to be filled up with food particles and germs. If it happens to you anyway - the blood clots aren't foolproof - then make an urgent appointment with your dentist because otherwise you could be in trouble.
Please check out everything I've said with the hospital staff - I realise that procedures could have changed a lot since I had my wisdom teeth removed.
Good morning Humanbean,
It sounds pretty dreadful, I am a bit squeamish and hate all this sort of thing.
Maybe I should just put up with the pain/infections.
Thank you very much for all the info, I was hoping I would be able to stay awake. I do have a reaction to the general anaesthetic, last time I had that (many years ago) when I woke up I couldn't breath, luckily someone was sitting next to me and gave me oxygen, but they won't have the staff to have someone sitting their these days.
Best wishes
Tell the staff beforehand about your reaction to general anaesthetic. And please don't panic. I think you are building this up in your mind into something terrible, but it really isn't a big deal.
And no - you shouldn't put up with the pain and infections. That could have lots of far-reaching effects that you could only guess about, and ultimately would cause far more pain than getting the teeth removed would do.
Thank you Humanbean - I think you are right. I am a bit worked up over it
There is always the option of IV sedation with Midazalom, conscious sedation, but with an amnesic effect. Still have to have local anaesthesia. Pretty good option for those who are anxious but don't want a GA. You will be sore +swollen, maybe bruised, for around a week, plan to be off work for a week.
It'll be worth having it done to get rid of the recurrent pain+ infection. Not to be alarmist, but sometimes the infection is so severe-facial cellulitis- you need admitting to hospital as an emergency. Unusual, but can happen.
Thank you Rach67, it's good to know their are other options - I do not want a general anesthetic. You are of course right, I must have it done
I've had four wisdom teeth removed, two at a dentists and two in hospital. The dentist removed the lower ones years ago, a week apart, under local anaesthetic, but the right one wouldn't come out and he had to use such force that my jaw has clicked on that side ever since and I still have problems with the jaw getting tight. About 20 years ago I had the top two removed in an NHS hospital's orthodontic department. I was given intravenous valium and don't remember anything about it apart from some bruising on the right side afterwards. I was there for about 2 hours altogether and it was far less traumatic than having the first two out, and by the next day I was back to normal. I agree with humanbean - don't rinse your mouth out until you're told you can. The blood clot did come out of mine the first time and I had to go back to the dentist to have it all cleaned and then wait for it to clot again.
I'm very thankful I had mine removed because they caused awful pain, but I wish I'd had them all removed in hospital under valium.
Good luck!
Good morning Framboise,
The more I am hearing, the less keen I am. I did have the top two out at the dentist - no problem but this other one on the bottom is impacted but also not to much to grab on to one side, as it is still growing, sadly in the wrong direction, causing pain and infections - but I may just put up with that.
Thank you Framboise - he must have used some force, goodness me, poor you
Hi Kitten-whiskers, I think you'll be fine if it's done in hospital with the IV valium or something similar to completely relax you - this is the same as rach67 has suggested but I didn't know the name of the med she mentioned. You stay awake but don't realise it! I had no idea what was going on. Mine removed that way were still growing and difficult to get at, but they came out fine because the dentists there have the right equipment and the bruising only lasted for a day. I had to lie down in a sort of recovery room for about an hour after it was done and then went home but couldn't drive until the next day.
The reason the one removed by the dentist in his clinic caused such problems was because he didn't expect it to be so difficult, he was a friend of mine and told me what was going on, and I tensed completely so my jaw was tighter than ever. So I think being relaxed is the most important thing.
I suggest when you go for your appointment you ask lots of questions and see how confident you feel about the dentist. If it's a hospital orthodontic department it should be ok. I'd recommend the one I went to so will PM you where it is in case you're in the same area.
Hi Kitten Whiskers! Love your name! I'm cat mad!! To get back to the subject!! I'm a retired Dental Nurse and I've also had all my wisdom teeth out! My top ones were done under a local anaesthetic at my dentist and they were really easy as they tend to have short roots. I also had impacted lowers and I had no problems. A couple of stitches that were taken out a week later. Jaw aches a bit for a couple of days. Don't rinse on first day. Warm salt water mouth washes next day after meals. Plenty of ice cream!! Lol!!! You will be fine and so much more comfortable when you've healed!! Thinking of you!! Don't worry about a thing!! Xxx 
Morning Rufie,
Thank you, I am cat mad as well, my purr fect Josie will be celebrating her 20th Birthday on Sunday - I will pop to the chip shop and get her a big piece of fish or maybe a fish cake : >
Thank you for your advice, It really helps when you say it isn't to bad. I do worry over the stress because of my adrenals, I have been having a lot of pain in my other teeth, do you think that could be because of all the infections caused by the wisdom?
I am looking forward to having ice cream - even though it needs to be vegan and GF
Best wishes
My husband had his (impacted) wisdom teeth removed in hospital. He took arnica tablets for a week prior and continued for a week after and suffered no bruising at all. When I had mine out many years ago, I looked line I'd gone a round with Mike Tyson but I hadn't taken the arnica. So would recommend taking this. My son is due to have his wisdom teeth out soon & I've reminded him about the arnica too. Well worth taking it. Clemmie
Thank you Clemmie, it never would have occurred to me to take arnica - I will certainly do that : >
Best wishes
It really works! Good luck. Clemmie
I had all 4 out at the hospital, two at a time ( same side of my mouth, so I could eat on the other side each time). i only had local anaesthetic, and it was completely fine. I did hold the nurse's hand as i am quite anxious! It hurts when the anaesthetic wears off, and you need paracetomal, but it was nothing major. I remember going on a demonstration in London the next day. ( Can't remember what for though!)
Thank you Midnightblue, its good to know not everyone has a terrible time of it. Maybe the guys at work are just winding me up.
Best wishes
Hi I had mine - both impacted - removed whilst in hospital at the age of 19. That was a long time ago and before I started taking Thyroxine. I am now also taking Alendronic acid which, I believe, makes some dentists reluctant to extract any teeth although problems are, apparently, very rare.
Kitten-whiskers• in reply to
Thank you Jaygee, I barely have any meds, just lots of supplements, so all should be ok from that point : >
Best wishes
helvellaAdministrator
I had both lowers done, on separate occasions, in hospital.
I was offered a choice of local or general, chose local. (He asked a load of questions to check I was unlikely to flip while he was working.) The dental surgeon found mine to be very difficult to remove as they were hooked. Afterwards, said he would have found it easier under a general.
Not a fun operation but bearable. Uppers are supposed to be much easier.
Hello Rod,
Yes top ones are much easier, had both mine out at the dentist, no problem at all.
It is going to be difficult getting this lower one out, and I do think I would be the sort to panic and flip out, maybe I should have the general, and let them know I have a reaction to it. I think I need to get it into perspective more, as my mind is racing away
Best wishes
Had mine done under general at hospital. I second what humanbean says, follow all instructions exactly. After the op I felt extremely thirsty and drank water, despite nursing advice not to do so, and heaved up everything within an hour, not nice. I walked home after and was on soups for a while.
Thank you Leroi01, I will certainly follow all the great advice. I am suprised they let you walk home, goodness how things have changed
Best wishes
I had all four wisdom teeth out, two at the dentist, I don't remember any issues with these. The second two in hospital, again I don't remember any issues with the teeth. I remember being very tired afterwards and sleeping for ages, before I was diagnosed with autoimmunehypothyroidism so it may have been the wrong a ascetic?? I had lots of bruising on both sides, but definitely don't remember any other issues. Just lots of looks from people when out and about! They did inform me that in fact I'd only had 1.5 teeth removed, a root wouldn't come out. So I went back a few years later to have that removed when it started to ache. That was a private hospital, lovely experience, private room and bathroom, wine list etc etc.( I never got any wine, lol just more bruising).
Hello Starfish123,
Private hospital sounds lovely, sadly it's NHS for me, our local hospital doesn't have the greatest reputation., but then again, does any hospital.
Best wishes
No horror story from me..in fact they were amazed when I insisted on being fed soon after lol
Hello Jezebel69,
Sounds like a great plan to me : > - I do enjoy my food
I had 4 wisdom teeth out all at once and I was okay afterwards you need to take some one with you to bring you back home and to watch over you for a while as you will be very sleepy until the Anaesthetic wears off don't worry you be okay.hope this will put your mind at ease pat
Thank you DPktem7,
Yes it does, thank you. I think the guys at work are just winding me up
Best wishes
My neighbours daughter had hers out in hospital recently. she was fine, a bit of bruising but nothing much. I think it is important to rest properly afterwards, I had a back tooth removed recently and the patient after care leaflet stressed resting and definitely not doing anything strenuous, it also said not to rinse your mouth out for a certain period of time ( sorry, can't remember how long) not to have hot drinks, again can't remember how long for and it said to take vitamin C every day for a period of time to help with the healing - can't remember how long for as I was already taking Vit C anyway.
My neighbours daughter came home and stayed with her parents for a couple of days - only daughter, single, she got waited on hand and foot and was a bit sore but fine in a few days.
I had an apisectomy done in hospital - it was a local and I was SO nervous, I was terrified, I had put up with pain for years to avoid having anything done. In the end I had to so I put my iPod on and listened to that throughout the whole procedure so if you've got one take it with you and ask if you can do that, turned out that after years of worry and avoidance I was absolutely fine.
Hopefully they will give you a good after care leaflet and stick to everything they tell you. Just watch out for humanbean's dry socket - I remember googling and worrying ( needlessly) about that - but if you do everything exactly as they tell you, you'll be fine.
Good luck
Thank you fruitandnutcase for the great advice, now I know most people are fine, i will calm down, great idea about an ipod though : >
I do also take lots of vitamin C, so hopefully I will heal quickly. I will still book a few days of work, I think the stress will take its toll a bit as well.
Best wishes
Good luck Kitten, you've had loads of ideas and advice from everyone. Not surprised you are nervous. With both of the things I had done it turned out that I was suffering far more pain etc before they were fixed, after I'd had them done I couldn't believe I was so worried about it all.
It's normal to be stressed. Tell them all the things you are worried about and they'll put your mind at rest.
Have just realised you're having a general so you probably won't need the iPod - I had locals both times. In fact I couldn't believe I wasn't having a general for the apisectomy, it was such a major thing to me I couldn't believe they did things like that while you were awake. Turned out it wasn't major to anyone but me and they did do things like that without a general.😊
I think your very brave Fruitandnut - well done you : >
I was 19 when I had mine out in hospital decades ago. Only one was impacted but they removed the others that were not through. My face was swollen and couldn't eat for days. That was it. Good look
Sue
Thank you Suze, sounds like the hardest part will be not being able to eat : >
Had a lower wisdom removed two years ago at Guys Hospital, a very good experience. I was not given a general anaesthetic but was sedated which amazingly was so good I remembered nothing of the extraction until the Dentist called my name to get out of the chair. My only issue was they offered me a drink with a straw afterwards which I believe shifted the clot (I did not realise this but they should have known the risk) and hence I ended up with a painful dry socket which could have been avoided. I read somewhere to suck on a good probiotic to release good bacteria in the mouth, I did this and healed very quickly.
Thank you Joyla, you would have thought they would have known that, thankfully thanks to you all on this site I have advanced notice.
Sounds like a great idea about the probiotic - thank you
Best wishes
My son's partner is actually at the hospital today having all four wisdom teeth removed - when she gets back i'll post any relevant outcomes - I'm sure you'll be fine Kitten Whiskers - (she's 'ordered' some ice-cream for when she's home (good excuse!!) x
Thank you Jeanniex, that would be great : >
Good thinking about the ice cream - very on the ball
I had a tooth out at the hospital recently, not wisdom tooth, but it was a lovely experience and they are very aware of the patients feelings these days and avoiding both pain and fear.
Make sure you've planned lots of soft foods when you get out, because eating really is very difficult! I was in bed for a couple of days after mine, but I'm in bed a lot of the time anyway 
Thank you SilverAvocado, sounds like I need to stock up on GF soup.
I am hoping I will benefit from getting some sleep, as I am lucky if I get a couple of hours a night. I Really like the name you have choosen
Thank you, Kitten, you've you've got a lovely name, too
I really went for it it with butternut squash and root vegetable soup. Easy to make, absolutely delicious. And a little bit naughty - ready made mashed potato, yum yum!
Thank you SilverAvocado - I thought the name made me sound younger : > That soup sounds lovely and with mash - that's my idea of a yummy meal
Had mine out in Hospital and all ok. Yes-bruised/swollen for a while but really went well -stayed in for 3 days but just drowsy after G A so nothing to worry about at all.
The thought is worse than the event.
Thank you celticlady, is it normal procedure to stay in three days? I
I don't think so-they had to chip away a bit of jaw bone so maybe that complicated things-but it was all ok.
Thank you Celticlady
GA's do lower/destroy B12 - so ensure you have plenty afterwards to build stocks back up. It is the nitrous oxide that causes that problem I believe......
Hope all goes well....
x
Thank you Marz - I will be stocking up on vitamins
Hello Romulalupine,
Thank you for your advice, i will certainly have arnica - anything to help. It is probably best if I am a sleep, I know I will be so worked up, I already am and the appointment isn't through.
Well done on getting past the trauma - that is very impressive : >
Hello. I can only comment on my own treatment, i dreaded having my Wisdom tooth out in Hospital, i had an abscess for a year so in the end i couldn't wait to have it done in one way. I can honestly say i was put at ease by the fantastic staff who were so understanding, the procedure was over in what seemed seconds, i felt fine afterwards and was home in time to pick my daughter up from school.
I hope you hear soon when you can have it done, just think no more pain afterwards, good luck.
Thank you redpoppy59, that really helps put my mind at rest.
Best wishes
K-W, I also had bad reactions to GA in the past and would be suicidally depressed for a week after. I mentioned this when I was having hemi-lobectomy and thyroidectomy 3 years ago and was assured the GA today is far less brutal. They were right, I was absolutely fine afterwards both times.
How awful for you, Thank goodness they have changed things - That has been such a worry. Thank you so much Clutter
Hi,
I had all four taken out under general anaesthetic as they were all impacted. It is fine nothing to worry about. I would do it again in a heart beat, as your mouth and health somehow seem better for it and it's a straight forward process.
I was given pain killers for afterwards which seemed to make me cry alot so I changed to just ibuprofen and that did the trick for a couple of days after.
Your mouth heals so fast it's amazing. Buy some straws to help you take your food as you'll need soup, puréed stuff and milkshakes, as your mouth will be a bit as they say like a chipmunk! I got called hamster chops at work.
Don't worry, it's a straight forward dental procedure. All the best, Pampam.
Thats good to know, thank you Pampam - all this info really helps so much
Best wishes
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