Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with wisdomteeth and oralsurgery

Words for Wisdoms

arveale — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:51:20 -0800

I am having my top two wisdom teeth out on wednesday without general or "twilight" anesthesia. What should I expect? I am having my dentist extract my two top wisdom teeth that are nearly fully erupted. They are causing trouble with my gums and get infected occasionally so I opted to have them yanked.

The dentist said he could refer me to an oral surgeon, but he could do it himself, if I preferred. I like the guy and can stand a bit of discomfort, so I went with him.

Some folks I have talked to say that the top teeth are no big deal. I am likely to only have novocaine for the procedure. Does anyone have a similar story?

Should I set these wisdom teeth clots free?

miniminimarket — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 09:52:40 -0800

WisdomTeethFilter: I had my bottom two out yesterday afternoon. After changing the gauze the first time, I noticed I had little stringy, thin tissues hanging from each hole. I called my surgeon, who said losing these initial clots was normal and not dry socket. Problem is, they haven't dissolved or broken off like I hoped. I'm worried they'll end up pulling up my real clots out. So, should I cut them? Pull them? Leave 'em be? They're long enough to sort of feel curling below my gums or in my cheek. Also, they don't taste great. Has anyone else had this? I will do pretty much anything to avoid dry socket.

Why are my wisdom teeth brown?

puffin — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 05:45:39 -0800

Satisfy my curiosity: why are my (extracted) wisdom teeth multi-colored? I just got my wisdom teeth taken out on Friday. I was expected them to be off white, or at least off white and reddish from blood. But instead they are a most peculiar mix of colors. The very bottom is normal tooth color, the top is grayish brown, and the middle is dark caramel brown. See here, here and here. Why is this?

I have done a Google image search and not come up with any extracted teeth that look quite like mine. I've seen my friend's teeth and they also looked normal and white.

If it makes a difference, all four of my teeth were still under the gum before the operation The other two looked the same as the ones shown, but they were broken in half so I didn't bother taking a picture.

Dentist/Oral surgeon recommendations in the Buffalo area?

Verdandi — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 11:29:47 -0800

I need to get my wisdom teeth out this year. Can you recommend me a good dentist/oral surgeon/whatever somewhere in Western New York? I'm looking for a dentist in the Buffalo/Amherst area, preferably, but I'm willing to travel to Lewiston, Wheatfield, or Niagara Falls if necessary.

A few things regarding my dental history: My wisdom teeth are impacted and need to be cut out rather than pulled out (this much I know for sure), so I'd prefer an oral surgeon who is open to having me put completely under, i.e. unconscious for the procedure.

The last dentist I went to was pretty unreceptive to the fact that novacane didn't work very well on me and I still felt pain, so bonus points for a place that's good with pain management.

TIA!