Wisdom Teeth

This morning I got three wisdom teeth removed. For many years I have been told by dentists to "do something" about them. About 10 years ago, after my brother had his wisdom teeth taken out, I succumbed to my dentists pleadings to go to an oral surgeon for a consultation. The oral surgeon took x-rays and went on and on about the possible complications from having your wisdom teeth removed. He didn't need to try and scare me, because seeing Bob after his surgery already did that. Anyhow, he went on about how the precarious positioning of one of my wisdom teeth right next to a major nerve, could result in severe nerve damage. I might never be able to feel sensation in part of my lower face or tongue again. Then he finishes with this one question, "So would you like to go ahead and schedule it?" I will never forget when he asked that. It was so easy. So obvious. The only sane person would say, "No thanks" And so I walked out. Since then, about twice each year Dr. Yankowskas (my dentist) has been telling me that they should really go. So, earlier this year my dentist suggested I go in for another oral consultation with a surgeon that he highly recommends. I said, what the heck, a consultation can't hurt, right? Dr. Beanland (my oral surgeon) took x-rays and told me that the evil lower left wisdom tooth has gone out of control. It has put pressure against my jaw and was wearing away at it. But, what is worse than that, it caused a cyst to form. Bad cyst. Cyst definitely bad. So, now is the time to act. He told me if I didn't "do something" then the wisdom tooth and the pressure from the cyst would eventually fracture my jaw, and that is no good. I do not want that. "So would you like to go ahead and schedule the surgery?" August 17th 9am I sat in his chair. He put on the oxygen mask with nitrous, which incidentally made the IV the easiest IV ever - I don't even think I felt the pinch. Then I was out. The next thing I remember was getting support while walking to the recovery room. Mary soon arrived and that made me feel a lot better. I was surprised how well I actually felt afterwards. We went to CVS and got antibiotics, ibuprofin and pain killers. Here is one of my old wisdom teeth.