{"id":144,"date":"2008-07-03T16:53:07","date_gmt":"2008-07-03T08:53:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.janleow.com\/life\/?p=144"},"modified":"2014-07-15T16:42:59","modified_gmt":"2014-07-15T08:42:59","slug":"getting-my-wisdom-tooth-pulled-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.janleow.com\/life\/getting-my-wisdom-tooth-pulled-out.html","title":{"rendered":"Getting my wisdom tooth pulled out"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nobody likes to get their wisdom tooth pulled out. But if it gives trouble eventually it has to come out. I have put off this procedure for a very long time. However every so often my wisdom tooth always caused problem whenever food get stuck in the crevice between my bottom right wisdom tooth and gum leading to an inflamed gum every once in awhile.<\/p>\n

So it was decided that to solve the problem once and for all, it would be best to extract the problematic wisdom tooth. Fortunately my other wisdom teeth didn’t bother me, so there was no necessity to touch those. Only the bottom right has to be removed. The appointment date was fixed and now here I was in the dentist clinic feeling somewhat apprehensive of the procedure. I never did like pain but the dentist assured me with the anesthetic I wouldn’t feel a thing except for the feeling of vibration during the extraction.<\/p>\n

First thing first, the anesthetic, a few jabs here and there plus one which I didn’t know why, a poke at the nerve causing me to jump a little. As the anesthetic begin to take effect, my right cheek was getting numb and so was my lower lip and the right part of my tongue.<\/p>\n

Next was to get the x-ray done to determine the exact location of the wisdom tooth. Off I go to the radiography room and an x-ray shot was taken. The machinery here is often operated by someone who went to x ray technician schools. Back to the dental chair, we waited while the x-ray was developing at the same time my anesthetic was taking its full effect. Some antibiotics and pain killers were prescribed in preparation of the procedure. The clink-clank of dentistry tools were readied by the nurse as I rubbed my hands at my cheek to make sure it stayed numbed and tried to relax a little.<\/p>\n

Finally the x-ray photos were ready and the dentist explained to me that my wisdom tooth looked rather complicated, though we knew from the beginning that it was growing at a slant, the x-ray provided some new revelation. It showed that there was a hook like protrusion anchoring to the bone. That wasn’t the only complication; the root of the wisdom tooth was touching a nerve. That’s where it got interesting, if the nerve was hurt during the procedure my right cheek and lower lip may become numb for a few weeks. And if the wisdom tooth broke during the extraction, it would be best to leave the root behind as it would be too risky to remove it and to avoid injuring the nerve. Leaving it behind would not be a problem as the gum would grow over it. Besides in another ten years or so it might somehow push its way out by itself.<\/p>\n

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