I had my wisdom teeth taken out 5 years ago. I was a BASKET case! I am completely scared of needles. Here's a tip for you: make the dentist give you the nitrogen gas before giving you the IV... it makes life MUCH better. It almost feels like you've had a few too many glasses of wine. Also, freeze some cookie dough to gnaw on after the procedure- cold things feel really good on your mouth and any excuse to eat cookie dough is a good one! Good luck!

I had mine out years ago and it didn't hurt anywhere near what people said it would - yes, the nitrogen gas is a GREAT idea! I took a few days off work but was up doing stuff the next day. Also, please ask your purse to quit calling me late at night and freaking me out. :)

Oh, poor Alesia. I hadn't even thought about the time difference.

For those of you who are wondering, I forgot to lock the keys of my cell phone and threw it my purse. Then I tucked my purse under my arm and apparently my armpit managed to hit all the right buttons to call Alesia and leave her an extended message of me dropping off spaghetti for the freshman football team.

I'm reprogramming you so you're not the first person in my phone book. At least then Cowboy will be the one my various body parts call.

LC Eileen

Well, it sounds like yours will be a piece of cake. I will spare you the details about mine, which were growing in horizontally, but here are a couple of key terms that may give you an idea:

dislocate jaw
break bone
excise

Yeah. Plucking 'em out sounds a lot better.

Cate the Whiner

Valium. I highly recommend valium!

When I had my wisdom teeth cut out, I wanted to be put completely under and my dentist didn't do that. So he sent me to another dentist who wouldn't do it either because I am an overweight smoker. So that guy cave me a prescription for valium. I had to have someone drive to the office as I took 2 valium before I left the house. I remember getting the shots of novacaine and then they woke me up and told me to go home.

And the pain kind of sucks, but I had percocets for that so I mostly slept for 2 days and then it wasn't too bad.

Mmmm. Good drugs. They scare me a little. I've only had percocet once and I really liked it. I threw them out because I didn't want to be tempted.

LC Eileen

I just had my wisdom teeth out in September. I was deathly afraid because I have only ever had one cavity so yanking teeth out seemed to be the worst possible torture ever.

However, everything went fine. They stuck me with an IV and then injected in whatever it was that knocked me out. I was out like a light. Apparently the extraction only took about 15 minutes (and I had to have all 4 removed). I was disoriented afterwards and slept a bit, but otherwise not bad. The back of my mouth was a bit sensitive but no real pain. I even started eating solid foods the next day, I just had to make sure that I chewed with my front teeth. The only annoying part is getting food stuck in the craters that are left behind. They're still closing up so I keep a supply of toothpicks around to help keep them food-free.

Had the happy gas, never felt anything but pressure. They gave me tylenol with codiene. I went to work the next day just fine. I have small teeth too, it was a breeze! You'll do fine.
berni

I had a sadistic dentist like that when I was little, and it forever colored my attitude toward dental work. He'd only do Novacaine for major stuff like extractions but never for fillings, even deep ones.

Nowadays, I have a wonderful dentist, who has all the latest gadgets to make teeth cleaning and other procedures as painless as possible. He's had to replace several of Dr. Sadistic's old fillings, and he did such a good job last time that I didn't even need nitrous to get through it.

Good luck! It sounds like you have a good, caring dentist who'll make things as easy as she can for you.

I am one of those people who just doesn't mind going to the dentist. When I got my first job I decided to go to a dentist close to work. What a hoot! He replaced fillings without using any anaesthetic on me. Instead he used it on him--he was always half shot.
Scared little kid thing is seeing the syringe or having blood taken. I do recall running around the doctors desk to escape an injection. I was only 28 at the time.

I was lucky enough to have an uncle who was a dentist. I refused to go to anyone after he retired when I was about 15. I finally had to go when I was in my 30's because apparently fillings wear out eventually--who knew? He was the nicest guy! He told me he would give me as much Novacaine as I wanted so it wouldn't hurt--did I mention that Novacaine doesn't do much for me?!! I also have wisdom teeth that should be taken out--something about impacted and cutting the tooth out--I don't want to hear about it, thank you very much!!

And if someone can tell me how to get my 15 year old to the dentist, I am all ears! She got that protective coating put on her back teeth when she was about 7, and she accidently touched her tongue to the stuff before it was dry. Well, the short story is that the assistant, myself, and her younger sister all had to hold her down so he could finish the procedure! Since then she flat refuses to go to the dentist. I can't take her. I need the Valium just to go with her she is so awful! She cries if I even MENTION the dentist! So I feel for you, Eileen. I really do...

I have a long standing dentist phobia. I highly recommend heavy medications. I'm thinking I should get one of those tanks for around the house.

I'm with Terri - get thee some Valium. Just had a root canal on just a half tab. At one point the endo-doc asked what I said and I answered that I thought I had snored.

Makes it all possible.

Oh, yargh, sweetie. But I totally love your dentist's turkey button analogy. Of course, she's lying like a bastard because that's what dentists do...

Oh. I'm sorry. I'm not being supportive, am I? A thousand pardons. Obviously, I have some dental issues of my own.

And, as long as we're chatting - my Achille's heel has been waiting on a call from your big toe. No pressure or nothin'.

Two things that have helped me with the pain after extraction are oil of cloves and rinsing my mouth with warm salt water.

Try not to be too afraid, hon, we're all rooting (sorry, couldn't resist that pun) for you!