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I lasted 53 years without being diagnosed with a cavity, until today. One of my wisdom teeth is finally succumbing to decay; the recommendation is to have them all removed so I don’t have to deal with wisdom teeth cavities at the age of 80.
I seriously wish I had these massive molars pulled when I was a teenager; curse my mouth for having enough “room” for them.
I’ve been told on and off for years that it might be best to have my wisdom teeth extracted, due to the difficulty in cleaning them and the potential aggravation of gum disease, but different dentists disagreed. My recent dentist didn’t see a need to touch them until today’s x-ray showed the hole forming in my tooth.
I’ve declined sedation. They wanted to give me something akin to Valium. I asked if it helped with the pain. No, that’s what the topical anesthesia is for. The sedation is to keep you relaxed, and also so you will “forget” part of the operation.
I told them I’ve had enough weird neurological reactions to drugs…including seizures…so if I don’t need it, I’d rather not take it. They still insist on having some nitrous oxide on hand “just in case.” I’m thinking maybe I’ll take some ashwagandha a few weeks before the procedure and leave it at that.
Ashwagandha is not an instant calming herb, but it does help mellow you out overall if you have anxiety. What about herbal sedatives? I looked into passion flower, but it has blood thinning properties. Valerian root can slow down liver processing of other drugs, which can be problematic. Never mind. I can tough it out.
I’m also going to have to take steroids, antibiotics, and ibuprofen following the procedure for a week or so. The dentist says I can still take my other herbs, but I need to double check…right now I’m on some complex herbal formulas, so I will ask my Ayurvedic Doctor. And…great, I’ll need to fix up my gut again after this latest assault on my gut microbiome. I tolerate amoxicillin just fine but it’s still not ideal.
How about you? Do you take sedation for procedures like this?
Great, My Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed
Good on you Stephanie! I had three root canals, numerous fillings and two wisdom teeth extracted with absolutely nothing, not even anaesthetic needle except for that second one, new dentist would not do it without local anaesthetic.
I prefer it that way I think of it as a personal challenge lol. I still have two left. I'm sixty eight, will see how long they'll last. In any case Stephanie
I'm sending you my best wishes for (relatively) painless experience.
Don’t get a dry socket. You’re not out of the woods for about 4 days afterward. Healing could seem just fine, no bleeding and then the jaw is on fire, needing curettage to clean out fake healing tissue and allow a new blood clot. That first clot of blood is your friend, dear patient, and it is very delicate. Leave it in there: no spitting, sucking pressures, etc.
knowedge is power. So you will do just fine.