Following on from the recent blog posts where I shared my pre-operative and recovery tips for wisdom tooth extractions, in this month’s post I want to share a more subjective experience of having my wisdom teeth removed.  When I was first told that I would have to have an infected wisdom tooth removed, I was very worried.  However, I was fortunate to find a website and forum called Dental Fear Central where people can share their dental stories.  On the forum is a thread devoted to successful wisdom tooth extractions, which made for very reassuring reading in the weeks before my first procedure.  I am sharing an account of my own wisdom tooth extractions here on our blog in the hope that people who are nervous about their own forthcoming tooth extractions might similarly derive comfort! 

Here is a timeline of my experiences. 

June 2023:  I got an infection around my lower left wisdom tooth.  My local NHS dentist prescribed antibiotics and referred me for an extraction. 

July 2023:  Having previously been told that my wisdom teeth were too close to the jaw nerves to be safely removed, I went to Lonsdale Dental Practice to get a special 3D-CBCT scan.  Additionally, I wanted sedation and PRGF for the extraction itself, both of which Lonsdale Dental Practice offers.  The 3D scan was easy and painless – I just had to rest my chin on a ledge and put a plastic thing in my mouth while some mechanical arms rotated around my head.  It only took a couple of minutes.  The dentist talked me through the images right away and we planned my treatment strategy from there. 

It was decided that I would have my lower left wisdom tooth out first.  This was the one that had become infected and it was also going to be the easiest to extract because it had the nicest roots.  I would go back to have my lower right wisdom tooth extracted at a later date.  The upper wisdom teeth would remain in situ unless they began to cause problems. 

July 2023:  A few weeks before the extraction, while on holiday, I got a second infection around the tooth and took a second course of antibiotics.   

August 2023, a few days before the procedure:  I began taking extra vitamin K2 to assist with blood clotting; extra vitamin C to help protect against infection; and stopped taking standalone vitamin E, which has anticoagulant properties.  I continued to take my multivitamins and other supplements.  None of this was specifically recommended by the dentist – it was just a plan I put together myself based on wisdom tooth extraction success stories.

20^th August 2023, afternoon:  I prepared some soft foods ready for the following day’s extraction. 

20^th August 2023, evening:  ate and drank as normal.  No alcohol or sleeping tablets allowed.  Unbelievably, since I am not a good sleeper at the best of times, I slept well! 

21^st August 2023, morning of the procedure:  did all my usual things and had breakfast at around 11.30am.  Thanks to all of the reassuring stories I had read on Dental Fear Central, especially with regards to IV sedation, I was not as nervous as I expected to be.  I was even looking forward to the sedation part! 

The extraction was booked for 3pm.  I live just over an hour from Lonsdale Dental Practice and we allowed extra time in case of traffic jams on the motorway.  You are obviously not allowed to drive after having IV sedation, so I was required to have a chaperone who would take me home and stay with me for 24 hours afterwards.  

21^st August 2023, 1.15pm:  I put on my Emla numbing cream so that I would not feel the needle going in for the IV sedation.  It was a little earlier than I would have liked, but I thought it would be easier than trying to put it on in the car.  It takes around 30 minutes to work, but the numbing effect does last a while once it is on. 

21^st August 2023, 2.30pm:  we arrived in Kirkby Lonsdale and went to Chocolat, the lovely chocolate shop across the road from Lonsdale Dental Practice.  We saw it on our first visit to the town and called in so we could buy chocolates to take home for various people! 

21^st August 2023, a little after 3pm:  I was called in for the procedure.  I felt quite calm until this point, but I began to get tearful once I was in the room, as I had never had any kind of surgical procedure before.  I didn’t want to see the blood draw for the PRGF or the IV line for the sedative, so a kind nurse was tasked with holding my hand and keeping my focus on her.  The dentist drew my blood very quickly and got the midazolam sedative into my vein pronto thereafter.  From blood draw to sedative took less than two minutes, I would say. 

Because I had to apply my Emla cream earlier than was ideal, I did feel the needle go in a bit, but definitely not as much as if there was no numbing cream at all.  I was in the process of asking, “Are you good at finding veins?” as the vein was found, first time.  The dentist used the vein in my right arm, if you’re interested, although I had numbed up both arms, hands and wrists just in case!    

I had never had IV sedation before, but I have had panic attacks before.  As the IV sedation took effect, I began to cry and hyperventilate, much like the start of a panic attack.  I had expected to feel extremely relaxed, but for a few moments I felt oddly sad.  The nurse who had my hand was very reassuring and said something about the IV line being in now, after which the dentist said something about the sedative starting to take effect.  After that, I don’t remember much, because the midazolam kicked in and it causes amnesia. 

The next thing I remember is Dentist Barry saying, “Do we have a tissue, please?”  I thought that I must have cried so much that he needed me to blow my nose and wipe my face before he could begin, but then I heard him say something along the lines of, “Or anything to put the tooth in.”  (I had asked if I could keep my tooth.)  I was stunned and said, “Is it out already?!”  Barry said that it was and that this was the third time I had asked that question.  I had no memory of any of the procedure, nor of asking the question before! 

I think I might have been given a bit more midazolam at that point, because I don’t remember anything else for a bit. 

I next remember feeling as if I was waking from a very, very deep sleep, except that I wasn’t, because I had been awake the whole time.  You remain conscious with IV sedation – it is just that you are woozy and your memory is affected.  The dentist was holding my arm as he removed the IV line.  I heard him ask for the rest of the numbing cream to be cleaned off my arms and hands, saying, “I don’t want her to go outside looking like this.”  Presumably it is not good for business if people leave the practice covered in dressings! 

The numbing cream was duly cleaned.  I felt very cosy and half asleep, as if my alarm clock had gone off too early on a winter’s morning.  For a minute or two it was like some strange hybrid of waking up and being born, because my mind was so empty of thoughts!  It was a lovely feeling of being very safe and relaxed, and I definitely didn’t want to move.   

I suddenly became more aware of my environment and realised that it was 3.55pm.  For some reason, I found this very upsetting and burst into tears!  I think I felt disorientated because I had ‘lost’ a chunk of time.  Everyone seemed a bit taken aback, so I am not sure how usual it is for people to react this way!  Mum was sent for and I was instructed not to try to stand up. 

After what felt like a much too short ‘waking up’ time (except to reiterate, I was never asleep), I was told to get up and was ushered out.  Astonishingly, I didn’t want to leave.  If anyone feels particularly worried about their own impending wisdom tooth removal, please take heart from that!  I just wanted to lie back down and go to sleep! 

Once I was actually on my feet, I was much more chatty and gregarious than usual.  People held me on all sides to make sure I didn’t fall as I walked to the car.  I got in the car, was strapped in like a child, asked about my handbag which had been carried out for me, and was waved off.  The dentist told my mum that I would probably sleep in the car on the way home. 

I did not sleep in the car on the way home.  I started crying again, so Mum pulled over in Booths carpark while I came round a bit more!  I said that I wasn’t sad, but just felt disorientated.  After a few minutes, we set off home.  I stayed awake the whole time, although I felt a bit spaced out for most of the journey. 

About 15 minutes from home, we had to pull over so that I could spit out some blood.  I was still bleeding slightly and had come around enough that I wanted to clean up a bit.  You are not allowed to swish water about near the extraction site, but I did manage to gently pour water onto part of my mouth.  I also managed to drink a little and take some Panadol.  I had been told to take painkillers as soon as I could, not wait until the anaesthetic wore off.  If you are squeamish and concerned about the blood, rest assured that I still felt quite relaxed from the sedative and I really wasn’t bothered about it. 

21^st August 2023, a little after 5.15pm:  we arrived home.  I walked independently into the house, albeit with Mum close at hand, and sat on the sofa for a bit chatting with my parents.  I was hungry, so I had a go at eating some of the stewed fruit that I had made the day before, but it felt like a lot of effort!  I spent the evening sat on my bed doing nothing at all.  I didn’t go to sleep, but I was still in too much of a stupor to do any reading or meaningful activities.   

21^st August 2023, evening:  I suddenly felt very upset again and cried.  I presume it was an effect of the sedative and/or anaesthetic.  I do get quite emotional and cry easily, so I don’t know that this happens to everyone.  Mum helped me make some tea (soft pork burger with roasted sweet potato) and I ate it incredibly carefully and slowly with my head tipped hard to one side!

22^nd August, 2023, early hours:  I went to bed and slept for five hours.  I then woke up uncomfortable from the pressure in my jaw.  I had more Panadol, ate a bit more stewed fruit, and went back to bed for a bit.  I spent the day doing not a lot, still in a bit of a stupor.  Eating anything took several times longer than usual and my jaw got tired quickly because it was so stiff.  A good portion of the day was therefore spent eating soft foods and feeling hungry, because I got weary of eating before I felt full!  I managed to clean a few teeth on the good side of my mouth.

23^rd August, 2023:  the worst day regarding discomfort.  I took Co-codamol instead of Panadol at one point and felt generally a bit under the weather.  I had a stiff jaw, a feeling of intense pressure in the jaw, I was cranky, and I couldn’t be bothered with much.  I began doing very gentle saline rinses, per the dentist’s aftercare instructions.  I also did some of the measures detailed in the last blog posts. 

24^th August, 2023:  felt much better.  I was well enough to leave the house to attend an appointment.  I still had to eat soft food and could still only clean some of teeth. 

25^th August, 2023:  first hair wash!  I felt much better again and only took Panadol at bedtime. 

28^th August, 2023:  I started to eat a few normal foods instead of soft everything!

4^th September, 2023:  I was allowed to use proper minty mouthwash again – hurrah!  

After this, things were more or less back to normal.  It was a while before I was confident to eat very crunchy foods on the extraction side of my mouth, but it happened gradually over a few weeks without me really noticing.  Teeth cleaning was the same; it took a while before I felt confident to clean my back teeth as vigorously as usual, but normal service was gradually resumed. 

I was originally scheduled to have my right lower wisdom tooth extracted in October 2023.  However, owing to a sudden death in the household, I postponed it until January 2024.  

The lead up to my second extraction was the same as before.  I again took extra vitamin K2 and vitamin C for a few days before the procedure, while also pausing my standalone vitamin E supplement.  I also prepared soft food the day before the procedure again. 

17^th January 2024, late evening:  had tea as usual and went to bed with no sleeping tablet, as instructed. 

18^th January, 2024, morning:  didn’t sleep as well as the night before the first procedure.  It didn’t matter as I wasn’t driving and I would be sleepy from the sedative later anyway!  I had my usual breakfast and did my usual morning activities.  

The procedure was scheduled for 4pm.  

18^th January 2024, 2.15pm:  applied Emla numbing cream and set off for Kirkby Lonsdale.  On arrival, we went to Chocolat as before.  They had a great selection of chocolates in – perhaps Thursday is restocking day! 

18^th January 2024, 4pm:  the dentist was running behind schedule.  The delay gave me extra time to become nervous and I was worried that my numbing cream had worn off.

18^th January 2024, 4.15pm-ish:  I was called in for my procedure.  As before, I said that I didn’t want to see the blood draw or IV line, so a nurse was again tasked with talking to me while it happened.  Just like the previous time, I became tearful and panicky as the sedative took effect, but it only lasted a few moments and then I was okay. 

I have more memories of the second procedure.  I am not sure if the sedative took longer to fully take effect than before, but the dentist said he would clean my teeth while we waited.  At Lonsdale Dental Practice, they do this with a special water jet instead of the traditional scale and polish.  Once again the midazolam seemed to make me very chatty and gregarious, similar to how people can get when they drink alcohol.  I remember declaring that the water jet was ‘much better than that little hook my normal dentist uses’ and also that he would be ‘well annoyed’ that I’d had it done, because he had told me to go for a scale and polish soon.  Mum said that at some point during my appointment everyone burst out laughing, so I presume I was quite the party animal.

In the immediate aftermath of my wisdom tooth extraction I couldn’t open my mouth widely enough to properly see the results of the cleaning, but when I looked a few days later, I was very impressed!  (Edit July 2025:  So impressed, that I recently returned to the practice to have it done again!)  If you find normal scale and polishes too harsh or scary, I definitely recommend the water jet method.  It doesn’t hurt – it’s just like a tiny pressure washer for your teeth.

The midazolam must have taken effect during the cleaning, because I don’t remember anything else until I got told off for talking.  I don’t remember the actual talking, but I do remember Barry telling me that I was making it impossible to work and that I had to be quiet.  I was surprised, because he said he’d already asked me a few times, but I don’t remember any of those occasions! 

I remember saying that the midazolam wasn’t working and that I wanted some more.  I said I could still feel things and that it didn’t feel black and sleepy like before.  Barry said that it definitely was working.  I protested again that I could feel things and he said, “Yes, you will be able to feel sensations, but can you feel pain?”  He then added, “Can you feel that?” to which I replied, “No.”  He said, “Good, cos it’s out!” and took the tooth of my mouth like a magician taking a rabbit out of a hat.  I was either stunned into silence or the sedative got a new lease of life, because I don’t remember anything else for a bit.  Obviously I couldn’t feel any pain – I had no idea that the tooth was on its way out until it was done, in spite of my protestations to the contrary. 

Much to my disappointment, there was no nice cosy feeling this time.  I also didn’t cry when I came around.  I just became suddenly more aware of my surroundings and said sorry for talking so much.  I sat up energetically enough to provoke a moment of panic lest I decide to stand.  Numbing cream was removed as before and I was ushered to the car.  I didn’t cry and I didn’t seem to need as many people to hang onto me as I walked.  I was still incredibly chatty, which seems a strange effect for a sedative to have really! 

18^th January 2024, 5pm-ish:  we drove home and, once again, I didn’t sleep.  I wasn’t bleeding this time, so there was no need to pull over to rinse my mouth.  I did take some Panadol before the anaesthetic wore off and I could tell from the pressure already building in my jaw that this recovery would be harder than the first. 

18^th January 2024, evening:  I just sat around in a stupor for most of the evening.  I cried later on, probably as the sedative and anaesthetic were wearing off.  Mum helped me to warm up soft foods, which again took ages to eat.  As before I tipped my head to the side while eating to protect the extraction site.  This was not so much a deliberate choice as a subconscious way of protecting the extraction site. 

The recovery timetable for my second extraction was almost identical to the first.  The deep pressure in my jaw was worse second time, perhaps because the roots of the tooth were not as nicely shaped.  I got less sleep, because the discomfort kept waking me, and I felt generally rougher than the first time.  However, the pattern was still the same in that the third day after the extraction was the most miserable and from there my recovery was quite quick.  I looked after the extraction site in the same ways as before; the only thing I changed was that I began using comfrey cream on my face right away, because it had been so helpful when I introduced it the first time. 

By the end of January, eating and teeth cleaning was pretty much back to normal and my mouth felt much nicer without two black teeth sat in it! 

In short, while having my wisdom teeth extracted was not my favourite way to spend time, the procedures themselves were fine.  There was no pain, no discomfort, and once the sedative was inside me, nothing scary.  The few sights and sounds that I can remember were not frightening, because as the dentist said, midazolam makes you not give a s**t what is happening!  For me, the recovery was worse than the procedures, but the tips that I shared in my last blog post helped to make it more comfortable.  By the fourth day after each extraction I was on the home straight and, all in all, the experience wasn’t too bad. 

I hope that this account of my extractions might provide comfort to someone!  Really the most reassuring thing I can say is that I am the most dreadful baby and even I was brave enough to go back for my second extraction having had the first.  If I can do it, anyone can! 

Wishing you a speedy wisdom tooth extraction recovery!

Tiny x

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