h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think I must be in a minority... I had all four of my wisdom teeth out in one go, under local anaesthetic and a sedative, so I was awake but so blissed out that the dentist could have removed all my teeth and I wouldn't have known about it When the sedative wore off, I remember sitting in the dentists chair wondering when they were going to start... I went home, ate soup for a day or two and, er... that was it.

Of course, there was the incident a few weeks later when I had to have a small piece of bone removed from one of the sites of the ex-teeth... I survived the procedure (local anaesthetic, no sedative) quite well, made it downstairs and promptly fainted in reception due to blood loss and cracked my head on the wall . They get you coming and going, these dentists

Danny B - you give me hope! I have had problems with absesses around my wisdom tooth ... and I have a visit to the dentist tomorrow where he has promised (rather ominously) to "investigate" it. I fear I may have to get the offending tooth taken out .

I'm very very nervous about it - and I was a bit scared to read about having a wisdom tooth removed and how awful it could be. So at least reading your response proves it isn't always so bad. Will watch out for signs of fainting/dizziness after blood loss, anasthetics etc - I have been warned!

I'm glad to have helped

Don't read too much into the blood loss/fainting bit. It seems to be something about my body that doesn't like having blood taken from it - I've tried donating blood twice, and on both occasions have passed out before the bag was full...

I'm sure you'll be fine!

Didn't mean to worry you, how did it go SisterBluebird?

I was dreading my visit to the dentist as you know. And this is all that happened: there's still an infection around the tooth, so I've got yet another course of super-strong antibiotics to help clear it up.

Good news is that it looks as though he may be able to save the tooth after all. Thanks for asking

It was just one of my wisdom teeth that turned out nasty - first they got the easy one - and that was nothing!

Went back to the dentist today (tooth has been causing persistent pain). I was very brave and got the offending tooth taken out. Apart from nearly fainting and requiring a glucose drink to recover ... it went OK.

well done!

Yes, well done

Pity about the fainting bit but at least I'm not the only one (and I didn't get a glucose drink...)

Danny B.

i currently have two wisdom teeth, one of which came out nicely, the other one of which juts out at a peculiar 45 degrees. it's a pain when you're brushing your teeth, but having heard all the horror stories i've heard of wisdom tooth extraction, i'd sooner spend 5 minutes at the basin every day than get it removed. (had a friend who had his removed; the pain was so excruciating that he couldn't eat for two days... hmm, maybe i *would* recommend wisdom tooth extraction to those who want to go on a starvation diet...)

anyway, my dad's had his removed, and he told me not to follow his footsteps. apparently the removal of his wisdom teeth removed the support for his molars, which subsequently became somewhat loose...

i'm just terrible at handling pain and suffering, i guess

The pain before having my tooth removed was so bad, it spread up my head, and I had to go very strong pain-killers which made me into a zombie. If it gets that bad, have it removed, otherwise the pain just gets worse and worse.

Sorry, but its true!