GOODBYE WISDOM TOOTH

The most agitating part at some point in our twenties, for me at least, is waiting for our wisdom teeth to appear. Lucky enough for those people whose wisdom teeth don't show up at all, but unfortunate for those people who have them. Apparently, I am one of those "unfortunate souls" - according to Ursula from The Little Mermaid.

Our wisdom tooth appears at each of our 4 hindmost molar. They are our third and final set of molars. These teeth can be pleasing if they appear properly, but more often than not, they are misaligned and require removal.

I am in my early twenties and I'm a bit worried of my wisdom teeth. So I had a Panoramic X-ray at Lapid Dental Center in Robinsons Place Manila. The Panoramic X-ray shows the entire mouth, all the teeth in both upper and lower jaw. The x-ray detects the position of the teeth, can show any impacted teeth, and can help diagnose tumors.

Sexy huh?? Seeing the X-ray of my mouth. Ahahaha

Well, as you can see I have one wisdom tooth found at the top left side of my mouth. The bad thing was, it impacted against my other tooth. This means that instead of the tooth coming out upright, the same growth as my other teeth, it's coming out sideways, pushing my other tooth, which then pushes on my next tooth. This is so very bad. Why is this happening to me?!?!?!

My mom and dad convinced me to have it removed, they said that I may not appreciate it now, but it will benefit me a lot in the future. Well, I guess I knew that, but the scariest part is not really the operation of extraction, but...... the anesthesia that they have to inject!!!! Yes, let me hear it, I'm a big BABY!!! I just don't like injections, or any sharp objects sticking me....

I knew better, so even if it was against my will, I said yes.

And so it happened, the judgement day at Rubencia Dental Clinic. If you are also thinking of doing the operation, be sure to have a heavy breakfast, lunch or dinner before the operation.

Pre-operation regimen:

So there I was sitting nervously at the dental chair, thinking "Please chair, eat me alive", laughing at the dentist's joke, covering my attempt to cry like a baby.

The dentist first did a skin test of the anesthesia on my arm to check if I was allergic to it. I did not bother to ask "what if I am allergic?" because I'm afraid of her answer "then we have to proceed the operation without it". The chances for it to happen was low, but why risk it right? hahaha.

After 5 minutes or so, the result of the skin test is successful. I'm not allergic, so we'll proceed. If only you can hear the words built on my head, all of them are curses.

Operation Proper:

Holy guacamole, this is it!!!! I was freaking nervous, I kept on asking the dentist what she's going to do first, what's next, and so on... I didn't really care if she's irritated, my life depends on it!!

She first placed some cotton inside my upper mouth, then she put some topical numbing cream so I won't feel the needle when injected. I told the dentist "Doc, put some more, be generous", she laughed and said, "maybe you should gargle it instead". On top of my head, that was funny, but not a bad idea. After the numbing cream, I peeked a little on her side table, she's already holding the injection "OHH LOORDDD", I intensely shut my eyes so I don't have to see it.

She injected the needle on the gum where my wisdom was located for 6 to 7 times. The sting of the needle felt more like little pinches, and it wasn't painful as I've thought it would be. She let the anesthesia sink in for about 10-15 minutes, so while waiting the upper side of my mouth was becoming numb and swollen, and whenever I talked, I felt that the left side of my mouth was paralyzed. hahaha

After 10 to 15 minutes, it's operation time. The doctor told me, "if you feel any pain, just let me know so I can add more anesthesia", so I replied, "can you add more right now, so I can totally feel nothing", then she laughed, but in my head "Ohh, I'm not joking, just please do it".

I wasn't able to witness the operation, but I have a working knowledge on how it will pursue. Since my wisdom tooth wasn't visible, because it's growing underneath my gums, the doctor has to sliced open my gums for her to see the tooth and pull it out. So that's going to happen.

As bad as cutting open my gums sounded like, I didn't feel a thing. I just lay there with my mouth open. The doctor's assistant asked if she has already seen my tooth, I heard her say no because my tooth grew a bit too deep in my gums. A few minutes passed, she then said, "finally I've seen it". Then she used another dental tool to remove it.

When she finally remove my tooth, it wasn't painful, but I did felt that something hard came out of me, and there I saw my cute and disgusting tooth. hahahaha

The doctor told me to keep and place it in a container filled with Zonrox to keep it clean and white as my remembrance.

She then cleaned the part where she removed the tooth to make sure that no follicles were left as this could cause infection and, since she cut open my gums with an L-shape, she sewed it back with 3 stiches.

The operation took on around more 2 hours, and cost us PHP7,500, which was not bad at all.

I still couldn't believe I've survived it, the nightmare was over.

Post-operation regimen:

The doctor prescribed me mefanamic acid (for the pain) to take in every 6 hours for 2 days, or as long as necessary, and antibiotics to take in every 3 hours for 7 days. Then I have to return to the clinic after 1 week so she can remove the thread sewed on my gums.

Other reminders also include:

- Eat on the opposite area to avoid food from entering the extracted site

- Take cold beverages

- Avoid eating spicy and seafood

- Do not use straw and avoid gargling

- Do not smoke and drink alcoholic beverages

- Avoid the wounded area when brushing your teeth

- Avoid strenuous activities

- Place cold compress every 20 minutes to minimize swelling for 48 hours

- Should there be an abnormal bleeding, bite firmly on a wet teabag for five minutes.

Though the operation wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, and everything was all in my head, I will definitely DO NOT WANT FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN!! hahahaha

Goodbye tooth!! Goodbye pain!!