Three words: Get them out. I'm talking about your teeth! Two years ago when the oral surgeon told me it was time for them to come out I heard him but I did not listen. I didn't buy into the whole wisdom tooth business. The surgeon took one peek in my mouth and said, "Yeah, these have to come out." I just find it so hard to believe that so many people actually need them out. At $600/tooth seems like a nice little racket for these dentists. Do we really need them out or is it a scam?
Well, I answered my own question this week. It's no scam and I'm an idiot. I woke up Monday morning with excruciating pain in the back of mouth and knew something wasn't right. I was reluctant to go to the dentist and was hoping that the pain would dissipate on its own. Mistake number two (not getting them out when told was clearly mistake number one), when in pain, deal with it, it will only get worst.
After two days of self-medicating (don't worry it was only Advil), I decided to suck it up and get my butt over to the dentist. With one glance and some tapping on my teeth with a little pointy tool he sent me right over to the oral surgeon. Once again the oral surgeon told me, "They MUST come out."
So, yesterday was the day. After a 12 hour fast, I sat in the surgeon's chair and let the cocktail of laughing gas, novocain and anesthesia take over! I'll admit, that part was kind of fun. What followed was not. I do not remember waking up, nor do I remember being shown all 4 wisdoms that the surgeon had pulled. I do however remember being surrounded by noodles in my bed two hours later feeling the pain once again. Word to the wise, when given Vicodin for the pain, take it!
If I haven't made myself clear, let me reiterate the importance of listening to your dentist. When he or she tells you to take em out, don't be a stubborn moron like me and "refuse to buy into the whole wisdom tooth nonsense." Yes, those were my original words on the matter. Just get them out.
There is a bright side. Prior to the pulling, all my girlfriends agreed on one important point: You can't eat so you lose a few pounds! Sounds good to me. Except, for some reason I don't think that's going to happen. I'm only a day in and I've been taking down peanut butter and banana smoothies and egg noodles soaked in butter. Can it be that I will be the only person in America who gains weight when they have their wisdom teeth taken out? It looks like it.
