Conference turris::womannotes-v1

    Depends on what you're having done. I had a root canal this summer.
    I took regular Ibuprofen for a day after the first procedure. It
    took about 30 minutes. It was much less worse than getting a cavity
    filled. I had one shot of Novocaine for each of the two drilling
    procedures and none for the crown fitting.
    
    But when I had two wisdom teeth taken out, they put me to sleep
    and I was in agony for a good two days and couldn't eat solids for
    about a week.
    
    Tamzen

    When I had my wisdom teeth taken out, the dentist used a local
    anesthetic which was much better than Novocaine -- there was zero
    pain during the extraction.  He prescribed a pain killer and once
    the anesthetic wore off I took maybe a pill a day for a few days.
    It ached a little, and you won't want to eat on that side until
    things heal up for a week or two.  It's not a big deal (except for
    the terror aspect.)  
    
    Or, are you talking gum work?  That involves being packed up with
    gauze for awhile afterwards and the dressings come off in a week
    or two (my recollection is fuzzy).  It is a genuine nuisance and
    there is noticeable discomfort (but not _real_pain_) for a couple
    of weeks. Lots of aspirin were consumed.
    
    I wonder why dentists don't use this super local anesthetic normally
    when they're filling cavities?
     

    Re: .1
    
    Tamzen, did your dentist prescribe any kind of a pain killer for
    you to take after your wisdom teeth were taken out? Did you
    have to tough it out with nothing?
    

    Wisdom teeth may have erupted, or may not.  They may be impacted,
    or they may not.  I was sent to a hospital to have my four impacted,
    unerupted wisdom teeth removed while under general anaesthetic.
    I had pain killers, which (I suppose) did something, I reduced ice
    bags to warm water in a matter of hours, I was in for a day, a night,
    and half-a-day *after* my surgery (I think), then I spent nearly a
    week in bed with more pain killers.
    
    My mother had hers out under local anaesthetic in the dentist's
    office, then took the bus home.
    
    							Ann B.

    Was the non-Novocaine anesthetic Xylocaine, Karen?
    
    I will never willingly have oral surgery.  I know people who had
    the wisdom teeth out and bicycled home.  Me, I came to, realized
    the funny sound was me throwing myself against the wall, then decided
    to stop.   Even Novocaine makes me shaky and tense for a couple of
    hours.  Whatever kind of anesthesia you have, make sure either
    you have someone else drive you, or you have a backup in case you
    need it.
    
    Watch it on the aspirin.  Destroys the bloods clotting ability,
    takes a week for you to get 50% platelet count normality.
    
    And, you may be on a liquid diet for a couple of days, if there's
    stitches.  Stock up on jello and tea and chicken broth.

    Re: .5
    Yes, Xylocaine (sp?).  I'm under the impression that general anesthesia
    frequently causes nausea.  I hypothesize (without any facts to back
    it up, what else is new) that if you can get away  with local
    anesthesia, you are better off because of that and also, I suspect
    that since the total deadening from the Xylocaine lasts for several
    hours after the procedure that it gets you over the initial discomfort
    better than waking up cold turkey from the general anesthetic.
    
    Is it the Novocaine that makes you shaky, or the pain?  I'm not
    kidding about Xylocaine resulting in a painfree extraction -- you
    feel absolutely zip.
    

    I would like more specific information about gum reduction work.
   
     I've had root canals and extractions and tons of fillings, and the
    experience is quite dependent on the dentist's skill and ability
    to get me to relax and sensitivity to my comfort.  I know what to expect
    from dental work in general, but I don't know what to expect from
    having perio (gum) work done.
                                                    
    Thanks, Holly
    
    

    Re: .7
    
    My recollection of this is quite fuzzy, since it's been several
    years.  Here goes:  because the mechanics are different from tooth
    work, you have different problems to deal with.  You'll probably
    have much more stitching.  You'll have much more of a tendency to
    bleed.  You'll be packed up with gauze, because of the bleeding,
    and as I recollect, they cover the gauze with aluminum foil.  Imagine
    walking around with a medium sized wad of gauze and aluminum foil
    in your mouth, and you'll see what I mean by the nuisance factor.
    
    I think I went directly home to bed for the rest of the day, and
    back to work the next day.  As I recall, it ached quite a bit for
    several days.  I think the stitching came out in a week(?).  I think
    the basic problem with this type of work is that the traumatized
    area that's exposed is quite a bit bigger than with work on a tooth.
    
    I don't remember if the actual procedure itself hurt.  Not as much
    as the nuisance of the aftermath, anyway.

    Are the stitches big fuzzy cotton things, or the little plastic
    (?) ones that eventually dissolve themselves?
    
    How many years before you feel like flossing your teeth again...?

    I appreciate these responses, and I'd be happy to hear from anyone
    else either here or by mail.
    
    My biggest complaint with even the nicest and most capable medical
    people is that they tend to use the euphemism "some discomfort" to cover
    everything from pulling a bandaid off to having a baby.
                                
    I can deal with, but don't like, things I've had done before like
    root canal work.  I have a lot of trouble with the unknown, and
    it seems to be getting harder to deal with the unknown each year.

    I had oral surgery, twice...and stitches.  The stitches are very
    small and they don't dissolve, at least the ones I had didn't. 
    My dentist put "packing" over all of this....packing looked like
    pink bubble gum and he smooshed it all over my wounds and then on
    top of that he put foil, yes, foil!  I guess it was a surgical version
    of alumnimum foil...to keep all the packing in place. 
    
    When the anesthesia wore off, I was in a *LOT* of discomfort...PAIN!
    But my dentist prescribed pain killers.  After a few days and after
    the stitches were removed, I was able to brush and floss with no
    discomfort. 

    Good luck and try to relax....I know it isn't easy.
    
    -Dotti.

    Did the pain killers get you back to a state of tolerable discomfort?
    How long did you need to take them?
    
    Holly

    Well,
    
    The first time I was in hospital for 3 days,off work 3 weeks,
    tooks years to eat crunchy food.
    
    That was in the early 70's. Had big black cootn stiches with the
    pink goo and foil.
    
    Three tears ago I had to have more gum surgery to repair what was
    done before as "they" found that the surgery I had made things worse.
    This time was only one day in hospital thanks to JH but a friend
    stayed and nursed me for three days at home. Again three weeks off,
    I had better results eating though-only tooks six months.
    
    I would never have it done again-I also feel that a lot of the
    gum hysteria today is somewhat like braces was 20 years ago.
    Get a second opinion!
    

    Holly,
    
    I took the pain killers, on a "as-needed-basis".  I remember having
    to take antibiotics, too.  For about a week you just can't eat too
    much....especially spicy food, (which I like), and cold and hot
    is much more noticeable....it hurts.
    
    Really, the day of the surgery and the next day are the worst. 
    After that it's not too bad and I'm sure you could tolerate it.
    My packing fell off after 3 days and I left it off (tell your dentist
    if it happens to you, though), that was a little uncomfortable,
    but less of a nuisance.
    
    I really didn't like the whole process, YUCK, but it was much better than
    the alternatative.  

    Let us know how you make out if you get it done.  Good Luck!  And
    keep smiling (I couldn't resist!)
    
    -Dotti.

    
    Holly,
    
    I've never had any periodontal work done, yet, but I've got a sister
    without dental insurance who's got a red-line to her
    dentist/periodontist team, so I've heard a lot about it.  I don't
    understand what you mean, though, by gum reduction.  What is the
    reason for the surgery?
    
    If it's periodontal disease (is this a generic term?), there may in 
    fact be a viable non-surgical alternative.  My sister's dentist (my 
    former dentist, but she's got "heavy hands") practices and promotes 
    this non-surgical method.  I don't remember the details, but my 
    philosophy is "the less cutting the better".  If you're interested, 
    the dentist's name is Dr. Valentina Pasquantonio and she's located in 
    Maynard, MA.  I'm sure she'd be willing to talk to anyone about
    it.  She also used to give talks open-to-the-public on the subject,
    so maybe there's one scheduled soon.
    
    Good luck!
    
    CQ

    I feel comfortable with the opinions I got.  I got two this time.
    It was also suggested to me about 3 years ago that I would probably
    need this by another dentist.  
                  
    I have the classic symptom of bleeding, somewhat puffy gums where I
    have crowns.  Flossing almost always makes them bleed, even when I do
    it often. 
    
    This condition was partly caused by incompetent dentistry, though. I
    have crowns all the way across the front on top, and they were done
    hastily a few years back by someone whom I am not real impressed with in
    retrospect.  The margins (tops) of the crowns were left rough, and they
    irritated the gum from the inside and contributed to the bleeding. My
    dentist wants to replace the crowns next year, but she is not willing
    to do so until my gums are healthier and will better fit around the new
    crowns.  It is only around the crowns that I need this work done.
                                    
    The good news is that JH will cover all except $220 of the $950
    fee.                                                        
    
    I have appreciated these responses and all the phone calls I got.
    The opportunity to talk with a number of people has been very valuable,
    and has greatly reduced my anxiety about the unknown!
    
    Holly
                  

    I have had gum work done (oral surgery)... under a local...
    didn't hurt much during the process... but afterwards with
    three stiches later... it kind of hurt for a while.  More
    so when laughing and my brother just loved to make me laugh.
    
    Could eat anything I wanted after the surgery alongs I chewed
    in the opposite side.. after 10 days the stiches came out and
    all was well.
    
    As for the pain... took asprin's... couldn't take painkiller's
    it knocked me out.
    
    Good luck on your procedure.
    
    

    The procedure wasn't bad.  I would describe it as stressful but not
    painful other than the initial pinch of the novocaine. The dentist was
    very good and very attentive to my comfort, which always helps.  I was
    not prepared for feeling as enervated as I did all weekend...since mine
    was all across the front on top, I also didn't realize that laughing or
    smiling the first couple of days would be very painful. 

    Details follow the form feed for anyone who is interested...
                                                                      
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    (The only thing I didn't realize before I had it done is that they
    would do it both in front and in back of the front teeth on the roof of
    my mouth.) 

    It was bloody, so I kept my eyes shut, but not painful. They used
    nitrous oxide which made a tremendous difference.  The dentist said I
    was "easy to work on".  Being stoned out of one's mind on nitrous never
    hurts...and it didn't hurt, and I was prepared.  I would make sure I
    got nitrous oxide if I ever had it done again. 

    I'm still eating yogurt, etc.  I can eat muffins and soft bread if I
    break them up with my fingers and chew them in back. I took
    Tylenol/codeine on Friday, twice.  It was quite sore and throbbed some.
    Saturday I didn't need any painkillers, but yesterday it must have
    started to heal because all I could feel all day was a pulling,
    throbbing feeling which wears on me after a while. I took some
    painkillers, although the feeling wasn't so much pain as constant sore
    pulling.  Today it doesn't hurt, although I do have a headache (which
    may or may not be related). 

    I sound like I have a minor speech defect.  I have a kind of clear
    putty over the stitches in my mouth rather than foil.  I have to eat
    soft stuff for 10 days, which kind of screws up Christmas, oh well,
    I'll freeze anything I can't stand to miss! I'm glad the initial part
    is over, although I am a little self-conscious about talking to
    someone.  (I look like I haven't brushed my teeth in a year because of
    this putty-like stuff. It was originally clear, but has gotten a bit
    gray.) 

    It sure helped to have done some research and gone there knowing what
    to expect.  Thanks for all the information. 

    If anyone else out there is a chicken like me, I'd say not to be too
    worried if you need to have this done.  It's stressful, and a hassle,
    but I haven't encountered any genuine pain! 
                                               
    Holly
                                       

    The dentist's name, in case anyone needs a periodontist in the 
    495 area of Massachusetts:
    
    Dr. Paul Courant
    18 North Rd.
    Chelmsford, MA 01824
    
    256-3301

    I have just had my second Gingevectomy (gum surgery) in 6 years.
    This all came about when I changed dentists after seeing one for
    4 years and telling him my gums bleed when brushing all he said
    was rinse with perioxide. Well the new highly recommende dentist
    took one look and said I should see a periodontist right away. Well
    to make along story short, I had 40% bone loss already. Our family
    was never educated on the *importance* of flossing. 
    
    So my surgery was done in two parts the upper and lower. It was
    done in the surgeons office. I was connected to an IV of demerol
    and valium.  I felt no pain whatsoever and the surgery was 1 1/2
    hours. I was given pain medication to take at home. I had quite
    a bit of discomfort as the sutures covered the entire gum in front
    of the teeth and in back. The sutures are covered with flesh colored
    packing that is like silly puddy.(clay) It sometimes falls off by
    itself. But you can remove it after 5 days. THe sutures are removed
    after a week to 10 days.  Hot and Cold foods and drinks make you
    very sensitive to them.
    
    I floss faithfully and have my teeth cleaned every 3 months.  My
    daughter is a dental hygienist and works for a periodontist in
    Lowell Mass. But I still needed surgery last month despite my 
    good care.  But it wasn't extensive like 6 years ago. Just 3 small
    areas.Everyone has different tolerance to pain.  I have heard people
    say they never had any pain at all.   Good luck with the surgery
    because it is worth not losing your teeth and having dentures.
    
    Barbara