Wisdom teeth extraction is oftentimes the first surgery we as teenagers or young adults undergo, and that can be a unique and anxious experience. I just had mine pulled as well, so let me assuage some fears and confirm some suspicions regarding a procedure that you might be about to undergo yourself.
While you do not have to go under the powerful and immediate effects of anesthesia for a wisdom teeth (or tooth) extraction, there are many instances where that may be the best option for you. All four of my hidden molars were impacted, meaning that they would cause spacing and hygiene problems in the future if left unattended inside my jaw. Such an in-depth procedure was going to require twelve numbing shots into my jaw, so I fittingly elected to go the anesthetic route instead of endure the discomfort and extra pain of those dental needles.
After my doctors stuck a different needle into my arm (twice to actually hit the vein mind you) and the IV was all hooked up, I remembered very little until I was out cold. I saw the drug being injected into my system, and then before I knew what to think, I was reawakening to the loopy feelings of lingering anesthesia and everyone telling me the surgery was a success with four less teeth in my mouth.
All in all with that wonderful drug to help me out through it, the procedure itself was really nothing to endure. The loopy feeling however was something that really endured long after my operation, in lessening increments of my wacky musings and actions as time passed.
From what I can recall or caught on video, I was at least forming meaningful sentences but in the silliest and loudest ways possible at times. When I asked for the time, I rotated my arms in a clock-like motion instead of reiterating myself. I could barely walk at first and clapped in joy at my surgery being over. I remembered gradually getting saner. I wished that loopy feeling would have lasted through the pain of the day though because that definitely proved to be the worst part of the experience.
Pain pills, saltwater rinses and icepacks to the face that made me feel like a much less cool Bane from The Dark Knight Rises worked eventually, but not immediately as I just had to power through the gnawing and stinging feelings where my four extra teeth had been just that morning. My gums proved sore for hours until the treatments started settling in. This was also coupled with the numbness that lasted much longer than the typical feeling does after a filling or other less severe dental procedure.
For at least a whole day, my menu decidedly did not contain anything other than applesauce, soup, yogurt, Jell-O, pudding and ice cream, which really was not all that bad. As far as I can tell at this point, the whole wisdom teeth thing is not anything to get worked up over regardless of whether deep surgery is needed or not. Whatever way your extra molar situation goes though, it is pretty cool to either say that you get to keep them or you endured the experience of getting them extracted. Either way, enjoy your new adult mouth!
