Getting Wisdom Teeth Pulled?!

Getting Wisdom Teeth Pulled?

I'm 17 and recently got x-rays from my dentist showing my bottom right wisdom tooth growing straight toward my molars. It's not an immediate danger, but he said after a year or so, I'll probably need that one pulled.

My first question is: I've already had six teeth pulled in the past... Is my mouth just smaller than the norm? I thought all mouths were roughly the same size.

My second question: Why is getting your wisdom tooth pulled so much more of a hassle compared to getting a normal tooth pulled?

And my third question: To those of you who have gone through this procedure, did you get the option of getting shots or getting anesthesia? I'd really prefer to be awake, just so I could see everything that's going on. I hate that groggy feeling after anesthesia, so getting the shots would be preferable. Is it possible for me to do that, if it's only one tooth?

2 weeks ago
Thanks to those of you who answered so far.

I'm a little fuzzy on this. So not all anesthetics make you go to sleep? Is it only the gas that does that? Because I'd prefer to be awake, but numbed out. Is this rather painful compared to being completely asleep?

Yep, most wisdom tooth extractions are done under local anesthesia while you are wide awake (just a shot to numb up your jaw). The majority of the time that's all one needs. Some people are extra nervous and are willing to pay the (hefty) extra for intravenous sedation or general anesthesia, but most of the time it's not needed.

I got all four of my wisdoms taken out under just local anesthesia as well, and my bottom two were impacted (horizontally jammed against the molars in front of them). No pain while the extractions were being done, some soreness and swelling afterwards but was easy to manage with OTC analgesics (Motrin in my case).

Here's a tip: When you are getting the shots to numb your lower jaw, don't let the doctor start pulling until your lower lip on the side being worked on is numb. The nerve that gives your lower lip feeling is the same nerve that gives the lower wisdom feeling. If your lower lip isn't numb, your lower tooth isn't numb. I think that's where all the horror stories about pain during an extraction comes from.

Hope this helps, and good luck.