Wisdom Teeth

[shinytuba7]

Hey, I was wondering if there has been anyone that has had their wisdom teeth out. I'm hoping that everything will work out, but I am a little worried about the recovery period. Anyone wanna make me feel better?

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Sure, I'll give it a go.

Mine (all four) were pulled just like any other teeth with local anesthetic. I could play almost immediately.

YMMV

[tubatom91]

I had no adverse affects on my playing. I had an odd recovery and surgical experience that are fairly uncommon, I was knocked out for the surgery and then I woke up in the middle of it and of course heard the drill running smoothly . After the surgery one of my gums on one side swelled over my molar and did not subside for two weeks, meaning I couldn't close my jaw fully for two weeks, furthermore ruling out solid food for that time period. The one thing that brought the swelling down was playing tuba, even though I was all doped up on Vicodin for the pain I barrelled through Stars and Stripes and various other bombastic tunes with no ill-affect. I ate a Steak and Shake burger on the way home from the gig....best burger I ever ate

Don't worry about it, go through with it before the problems set in.

[Rev Rob]

I had three of four wisdom teeth pulled. I was working night shift at the local canning factory at the time and had them pulled right after I got off work. I then went home and slept. I bleed all over my pillow. I guess it beats crying into it.

[Rick F]

This has been discussed before on TubeNet. See this thread for some cautionary tales:

Wisdom teeth pulled!

[TubaCoopa]

While some people can play right after surgery without any adverse effects, it is not uncommon to blow your stitches or get "dry socket," which basically means that the hole won't fill itself back in. Personally, I had to wait about 3 weeks before I was back to normal playing. While I started back up after 2 weeks, it hurt right in the incisions, and I had to work through the pain. Basically, I wouldn't risk playing at all, except for a few experimental notes every once in a while. You should be able to feel when things are right again. besides, a few weeks off never hurt anyone

[shinytuba7]

Alright, thanks for the input. I'll probably go through with it to get it over with.

[iiipopes]

Over twenty-five years ago, I not only had my wisdom teeth out, but the bottom teeth impacted so badly I had to have the 12th year molars on the bottom out as well: 6 teeth total, over two sessions. It was so intense my oral surgeon (not just a dentist) would not do them all at once, but scheduled two sessions about a month apart. It was hell, because the impaction impinged upon a jaw nerve, so they had to come out. Pain, dry sockets, etc., with the necessity of good prescription medication to keep the pain down.

But it was so worth it. I could have lost feeling in my jaw. The rest of the teeth could have been forced out of alignment, causing cavities and other extensive dental problems.

Yes, it is not pleasant (understatement of the day). But necessary. Good luck!

[runelk]

I had all four of my wisdom teeth pulled last June. I was put completely under, don't remember any of it. Was an outpatient thing. Was given Motrin and some REAL good stuff for pain And a type of mouth wash. All I needed was the Motrin. Was told by a Doc that to prevent "dry socket" you need to stay hydrated. After about a week, went back to work, stopped taking Mortin about 1.5 weeks later. Have not had any problems playing the tuba.
Had them pulled because I'd been hearing the same talk every year I would go to the dentist. Told my self that the only way I'd get them pulled would be to have a specfic orthodontist, who worked in another building, see my records, as luck would have it he walked in the exam room looking for the dentist recognized me and started talking and asked what I was there for. I told him and he asked if he could look at the x-rays, he saw them and recommended that I get them pulled. He said that it was better to have them pulled while I'm younger and they are not bothering me that to have to have them pulled because they are infected. His final words were" It's not if they are going to start hurting but when they are going to start hurting."

[shinytuba7]

Yeah, its just that I'm very busy and only have so much time to recover. Whatever happens, happens. I'm just hoping it goes really well.