a little less wisdom

I went to Core Dental a couple months ago to get my teeth cleaned. I figured I might as well use as much of the benefits that I still had as a student before the insurance company figured out I'm not a student anymore. I think they'll figure that out in September.

So I got my teeth cleaned and everything went well, then the dentist told me that I should probably get my wisdom teeth out before I turned 24. Having a few siblings who have never had theirs out, I had hoped that mine would either never grow in or my mouth would be big enough to have all 32 teeth fit nicely inside. Not the case for me. All four were visible in the X-ray and my mouth ain't big enough for the 32 of them.

Dr. Orth referred me to some dentist so I called, but it was very disappointing. They didn't deal with insurance and the consultation alone was $90. I figured I should look somewhere else. I went to a house party a few weeks later and I talked to a friend from my ward. He recommended Brisbois Dentistry. It was close to my house so I gave them a call. I was discouraged on the phone, but the receptionist tried so hard to make it work for me, so I felt a lot better about it.

I went in for my consultation on July 14th and I had to get another pan X-ray. The dentist gave me 30% off because he understood that I can't really afford much. They asked if I wanted to be sedated for the operation. Of course I did! But alas, I am a poor student and we decided it would be best if I was awake for the procedure. Sedation costs $200 and insurance doesn't help with that. I then made my appointment for Thursday July 26. Only two weeks away!

While I was sitting in the chair realizing that I would be awake for the whole thing, I just imaged it all and I was so scared!!! I kind of teared up but I held myself together. That is, until I started driving home. I just burst into tears because I was so scared. I quickly pulled over and called Burns. I was fortunate enough to catch him when he wasn't at a job and he was able to comfort me. To make matters worse, whenever I told someone I was about to get my wisdom teeth out, they would tell me their horror stories. Remind me not to do that to anyone.

On the morning of the extraction I packed up a few things to stay a couple nights at Denise's house. I went over there, we visited for a little bit, then she drove me to the office. I took a Tylenol 3 right when I got there and Denise waited with me. We waited for about a half an hour before someone took us to the little room where my imagined torture would take place. Thankfully Denise was allowed to come and watch the whole thing and be there with me.

I was really nervous. I was scared of the needle and I was scared of the uncomfortable pressure I knew I was about to experience. Dr. Tung came in and asked if I wanted a little laughing gas. As this would cost a little extra, I refused. He froze me up real good and the needle barely hurt at all! I think I was just imagining the pain from when I was in elementary school. Everything seems a lot more painful and traumatic when you're that young. It was totally fine. I was completely frozen with a double round of freezing, but I was still nervous. All I could think of was him cutting my gums open and trying to pull an entire tooth out in one go. That's not how it works.

He stuck a wedge in my teeth to keep my mouth open and cut my bottom left gum first. It was such a strange experience knowing he was cutting me open and I couldn't feel any pain. I saw the blood being sucked up through the vacuum. That was a little disturbing at first. He cut the gums and I knew he was cutting until he hit my wisdom tooth. My tooth which I had never seen in my entire life and he was cutting to expose it. He then drilled a few holes in it, stuck a screw driver looking tool in it, and said, "Okay, you're going to hear some cracking." Then he broke it up and took the little pieces out one by one. He stitched it up and then moved on to my bottom right tooth. Same experience.

I had wondered how he would get to the top two. No wedge was even required for them, but they turned out a lot easier and faster to take out. Apparently the gums are much softer up top than on the bottom. He stitched the last one up, said thanks, and that was that.

The receptionist had given me a sheet with post operative instructions, and the dental assistant went over a couple things with me before I went to pay. I was once more surprised. The procedure ended up costing $300 less than what I had expected! Overall it was a heck of a lot better than what I had imagined.

Denise getting her blood pressure checked at Safeway.

We were waiting for my prescription of Tylenol 3. 

I felt totally fine after we got out. I knew that wouldn't last very long because I was still completely frozen. I had a pretty good night even with the unthawing of my face and Lita came to visit me. She brought me ice cream :D We had a good visit and she left at around midnight. Then I went to the bathroom and threw up. The next morning I took another Tylenol and threw up 2 minutes after. I haven't taken one since, and a normal Advil helps with the pain just fine. However, I my face is completely swollen and I look so funny.

This was the first night with gauze in my mouth:

The next morning I was a little puffy but not too bad:

And it progressively got worse:

I'm so swollen! Bryanne and Trajan came for a visit yesterday and they brought me more ice cream :D And they told me the story of how they got engaged (they got engaged on Wednesday night).

The left side of my bottom lip is numb right now because I'm so swollen. This morning was not very fun for me. I was just so swollen and there was blood in my mouth and I couldn't get a hold of Burns and woe is me and blah blah blah.

I'm fine now. I'm so thankful that Denise was able to offer her home and food to me. I really would be quite miserable without all her help.

To sum up, it was just fine. No horror stories from me. And I'm actually glad I wasn't sedated. I like knowing what's going on and not feeling groggy.

The end.