Michael Fang's Weblog Miko's Weblog

While people were preparing to celebrate the Fourth of July with travel plans or other activities, I was planning to have wisdom tooth extraction. Not too fun for the holiday :(

I was a bit nervous, so I googled around to find out more about what to expect during the procedure and found the following page quite informative: http://www.animated-teeth.com/tooth_extractions/t4_oral_surgery.htm

I arrived the dental office on time, after a big meal to make up in advance for all those weight I anticipated to lose in the next few days :) I was immediately led to the dental chair. The assistant came and set up the X-ray slides on the light table and other things, the dentist came and chatted with me and reviewed the X-ray.

He administered local anesthesia in the proper location. Moving the needle around a little bit, but still not too uncomfortable. Then, he asked me to rinse and wait for a few minutes.

During the wait, the assistant explained to me about the post extraction care instructions. Changing the gauze every 20 to 30 minutes, and other standard things.

Now the nervous moment I have been waiting for... The dentist came back and asked if I feel the numbness. I said yes, I did. He then injected another liquid (not sure what it is) around the specific tooth, then started to work on the tooth with an "elevator" (looks like a flat screw driver). I felt some pressure but no pain. Then he changed to an "extraction forcep" (looks like a plier). I felt it turning and heard drilling sound. Then I felt he removed something from the mouth, felt more like removal of the old fillings.

Then he asked the assistant to prepare for suture. He began to sew within my mouth. I wasn't aware that the tooth has already been removed. I thought some other part of the mouth was bleeding or something. After a few minutes, he told me, all done! Hmm.. I didn't even realize the tooth has been removed. All was done and I was out of the door in less than 30 minutes.

It was quite a positive dental visit experience. The doctor asked me, what about the other (remaining) wisdom tooth? Hmm.. maybe next time when something becomes wrong with it.