It's All About Teeth, Teeth, Teeth

[shake_the_stars]

I went to the dentist today. Due to first a long spell of no insurance, and then a spell of bad insurance that did not cover a dental visit (and the fact that when you have to work shitty retail due to the economy, $80 out of pocket is like a ten-hour shift at your shitty job), I hadn't been in a couple of years

Comments

[mssithy]

Wait what at number 2. Are you saying that in the US people get general anaesthesia for just wisdom teeth? D: Holy...It is not done here, just like in Denmark, because the risks are not worth it, unless the patient has a massive phobia or something and can't keep still. I had noticed most of my American friends got general for their wisdom teeth extractions, I figured it was coincidence, I did not know it would actually be hard to find a surgeon who'd use local O.o

I had three wisdom teeth pulled at once, local, I was in and out within 10 minutes and on my merry way home after 15 minutes. I've had multiple jaw surgeries (I had a small incident as a child :p) and only for a bone transplant did they offer me general...which I refused.
General scares me too much. Local is unpleasant at times, sure, but I am awake and can chat with the surgeon and all. For some reason it is less scary for me when I can hear, feel and see them work. They tell in advance what they are doing and it just makes me feel more safe.

I hope you can get them removed soon. Don't worry too much about the horror stories. It's not pleasant but it didn't bother me too much, same for most people I know. (Granted I'd had the bone transplant before then but still) I had heavier painkillers for a day (Ibuprofen 600) as I have an odd reaction to both the local sedative and the stitches, day 2 I had an Ibuprofen 400 before going to bed.

<3 you'll be fine I know it!

[shake_the_stars]

Yes, I am indeed saying that the use of general anaesthesia for wisdom tooth extractions is widespread here. My dentist was all, "They'll put you to sleep," and I think he was trying to be reassuring, and I was all, "NO THEY WILL NOT." I have an easy out by virtue of the fact that my insurance won't pay for general anaesthesia unless it is medically necessary, and since I don't have a phobia (other than of general anaesthesia), it's not medically necessary :D I'm not sure if it will be hard to find someone who will use local only or not, but I looked at a couple of surgeons' websites yesterday and general anaesthesia was prominently advertised, which I suspect may be more consumer-driven than anything else.

Yeah, I kind of share the feeling that it's better if you can see what's being done (I admit I may not be 100% conscious and present, but I don't trust people to do what they're supposed to be doing, so I definitely don't want them doing it while I'm under).

I hear it's not that much fun as far as spending your afternoon goes, but who wouldn't rather go to work than to have their wisdom teeth pulled ;D It probably won't be that bad once I'm actually there, but since I've never had surgery I don't have any frame of reference for this and I react by going all tense and fight-or-flight. (Fight usually wins.)

Why are they even allowed to market ibuprofen as a painkiller? Maybe y'all have better ibuprofen than we do, I don't know, but I have taken it before when I was in agony and it didn't do dick even at prescription strength.

[mssithy]

About Ibuprofen, I have been told we generally get less prescribed painkillers and so Ibuprofen 600 and 800 will cut it for us without a hitch. Ibuprofen 600 makes me drowsy and really works for me. I am not sure if this is true, I can only judge from my US friends obviously...I have noticed they generally get painkillers that make me go O.o I guess it's a matter of what you are used to....or we are a nation of pain lovers, I'm not quite sure ;)

[shake_the_stars]

I have never had painkillers prescribed to me, so I have no idea (they generally aren't unless you have serious chronic pain problems or you've just had surgery or been in an accident). OTC acetaminophen works just fine for me when I'm so hurty I can't function.

I think y'all might be less culturally hung up on discomfort than we are--a lot of people are. XD