Monday, November 02, 2009
Fantastic
Recently, I was whining about my wisdom tooth coming in. I had stated that for the past 6 or 7 years, about once a year or so I would feel something going on. I stated that in my 20s, my dentist took x-rays and told me I had no wisdom teeth in my bottom row and that the top row was still so far up that they would check them again in about 5 years.
Sigh.
It’s time. One of them is in. The one that has been causing annual pain for so long...it’s finally in and it’s causing more pain. And that means I’ll probably have to go to the dentist and get it taken out. Have I mentioned how much I hate going to the dentist? Have I mentioned how much I hate needles? Have I mentioned how much I hate pain? Have I mentioned that these three things make me act like a big baby?
And have I mentioned that I find this highly annoying to be happening to me at this stage of my life? According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons,
Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last teeth to erupt in your mouth. This generally occurs between the ages of 17 and 25, a time of life that has been called the “Age of Wisdom."
I’m well passed that number. Well passed. (The first one of youse to make a joke about wisdom and my youth, gets banned.) I’m not supposed to be worrying about things that happen to children, I’m supposed to be worried about keeping my teeth.
Most wisdom tooth extractions are performed in the oral and maxillofacial surgery office under local anesthesia, intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Your oral and maxillofacial surgeon will discuss the anesthetic option that is right for you.
Following surgery, you may experience some swelling and mild discomfort, which are part of the normal healing process. Cold compresses may help decrease the swelling, and medication prescribed by your Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon can help manage the discomfort. You may be instructed to modify your diet following surgery and later progress to more normal foods.
Oh goody, I can hardly wait. I’ll be stabbed with needles, get sick from anesthesia, (does anyone remember my broken ankle surgery back in 2004?), be in horrifying pain, (literal translation of “mild discomfort") and I get to starve. Well sign me up!
This was supposed to be performed when I was younger...when one can’t remember anything that happened in their early years.
Well, I guess I better get this done before St. Hope and Change takes over our health care system. The whole thing is going to be bad enough as it is.
