Ugh... wisdom teeth and nerve damage

lemur 6

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So I gets my surgery today to remove my lower wisdom teeth. Things go pretty smoothly and I'm in an out in 30 minutes, no nasty side effects from the anesthesia, barely any pain (actually feels pretty good sometimes, but dull pain other times), no swelling, can move my jaw around just fine, etc. Surgeon was even nice enough to stitch the holes closed so I don't get food stuck in there or get dry socket. But... I can't feel my tongue, lower teeth, chin, or my lower lips! Feels like a dead weight hanging off my face. I can't speak or taste apparently either. Surgeon told me to wait a day or so and see how it goes, but he said it could be gone by the morning or it might take months for the feeling to come back, or it might not come back at all


I wondering now what life would be like if I become permanently mute without being able to taste anything. Maybe I can use it as an excuse to get strange tattoos or piercings on my face
. And the worst thing is I haven't had any good chocolate in a while and I'm getting a mega chocolate craving right now.
 

catsknowme

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OH NO!! Sending mega prayers and vibes that you get over this rapidly
My daughter has a speech problem and she was sent to a maxillofacial orthodontic specialist to have her wisdom teeth removed because of the nerves being adjacent to the teeth roots. Until then, I didn't even realize that there was any real risk like that - my older daughter & I had ours removed with 0 probs.
Please keep us posted - that has got to be such an uncomfortable feeling at the very least!
Susan
 

carolpetunia

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My gosh, you're being incredibly brave about this! If I were you, I would go to another oral surgeon for a second opinion, first thing in the morning! Your surgeon may be absolutely right, but there's so much at stake -- I think you need some professional reassurance that there's nothing you ought to be doing right now.

Major healing energy for a quick and complete recovery!
 

theimp98

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If i helps, I had mine removed not to long ago.
and for 2 weeks, i had a problem opening my mouth(hmm something i am sure many people loved). but it did go back to normal.

Right now, everything is still sore and swollen. I would bet everything goes back to normal after a few days.

I really hope everything gets back to normal soon!!!
Bruce.
 

ckblv

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Try to get a good nights sleep, take a pill if he gave you any and it should be much better in the morning. If it isn't much better (maybe not gone, but better) go back in and DEMAND some answers.

One thing I have learned dealing with my elderly father's Parkinson's, you MUST demand good care and demand answers.

I'm shocked he said something like that to you, I would have been tempted to tell him I would see him in court if I end up with permenent paralysis.

You are in my prayers Lemur. Update us tomorrow, okay?
Cindy
 

laureen227

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oh, you poor thing
all 3 of my brothers had to have theirs removed, too - didn't sound at all fun [major understatement, i know]. i'll be sending you healing & calming & ASAP!
 

rosiemac

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Oh how awful for you
I know it's a horrible feeling if they numb you for a filling so goodness knows how you must be feeling


I hope it gets back to normal soon but heres some healing and let us know how you are later?
 

gailc

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Neil had a dental implant done in his lower jaw in the where the last molar was about 3 weeks ago. He still has no feeling in a small part of his lip and inside of his mouth. Perhaps the area is about an inch wide/long.
This week he bit into his inner lip without realizing it. He has been back to oral surgeon twice and talked with out dentist. There is a nerve that runs along the lower part of the jawbone. Both agreed that the implant look great and positioned great and that it may take several months for the feeling to come back in that area. Neil feels that perhaps the implant is set too low?? But he does have tingly feelings off and on in that area and when the oral surgeon poked those areas he did "feel" it.

Bottom line is that hopefully within a few days some feeling should start to come back but I would call the dentist Monday just in case. And be carefull eating!!
 
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lemur 6

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Hey everyone, thanks for your concerns. I woke up this morning with my face smushed into my pillow covered in drool, I hope this doesn't become a habit


I got some feeling back in my chin, like a burning tingling sensation and I think I got a little taste back. Still can't say anything understandable. I think the worst part actually is not being able to feel my lower lip, didn't realize how important of a function it had in keeping stuff in my mouth (can't drink anything without half of it ending up on my shirt). I had my room mate call the surgeon and he told her it might be a good idea to take some x-rays, guess it means I need to go over there again today. Haha, I getting zapped by x-rays extra much this year.
 

laureen227

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Originally Posted by Lemur 6

I think the worst part actually is not being able to feel my lower lip, didn't realize how important of a function it had in keeping stuff in my mouth (can't drink anything without half of it ending up on my shirt).
try using a straw - you can put it further back in your mouth. might help!
 

strange_wings

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^ I do believe that you're not supposed to use straws after having teeth removed, it makes the chance of dry socket more likely. Try something with a smaller rim, like a bottle.... or a kids sippy cup!


Originally Posted by Lemur 6

Hey everyone, thanks for your concerns. I woke up this morning with my face smushed into my pillow covered in drool, I hope this doesn't become a habit
Better than blood! When DH had his out his pillow was bloody from it.


In 2007 I had 4 separate sets of x-rays, 2 CTs, and 45-50 minutes worth of mri... No weird affects so far.

I hope your get the feeling back, though that means you'll feel pain too. They did give you something for that, right? Good luck that there's no permanent damage.
 

laureen227

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Originally Posted by strange_wings

^ I do believe that you're not supposed to use straws after having teeth removed, it makes the chance of dry socket more likely. Try something with a smaller rim, like a bottle.... or a kids sippy cup!
in that case, i also would recommend the sippy cup. i never had wisdom teeth, so never had to get any removed - so i was just trying to think of possible [& hopefully temporary] fixes.
 

lillekat

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I'm glad your surgery went well - I was quite lucky with mine because I was put right out to sleep first. I had three of my wisdom teeth removed, one bottom and both the upper - so I was on mashed bananas for a good few days! But there was no problem using a straw after having them removed - I hadn't had the wounds stitched either, which felt MEGA wierd! I had something done to nearly all of my teeth, so I was definitely under the weather for a while, mostly it was the wisdom teeth that bugged me a little. No pain, no problems.... it was just wierd to suddenly be four teeth down (I had a molar pulled as well at my own request). I don't think I had problems with numbness - is that purely nerve damage? And may I ask what dry socket is? I've never heard of that before.

I agree with the x-rays thing - get them done and keep us posted!! Hopefully the feeling will come back gradually; it's good that it's coming back in some places, but it'll be nice if you can get it all back again! Then you can REALLY enjoy chocolate!
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by LilleKat

And may I ask what dry socket is? I've never heard of that before.
Alveolar osteitis - bone inflammation. It happens when a blood clot in the healing site (hole) is disturbed. It can cause a lot of pain and there isn't really any treatment for it - you have to wait for it to pass...preferably with painkillers to help.

The suction from using a straw is one of the things that mess with the blood clot, obviously, and most dentists will warn you not to use one.
 
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