Wisdom Teeth

[tbailey]

Originally Posted by Toc De Mac

Thanks for the suggestions, though I tend to stray from pharmaceutical treatments!

From what I've heard, it wasn't uncommon for our ancestors to lose a permanent tooth (specifically molars) every once in a while due to the much harsher diet they followed. Thus, kind of like the rows of teeth sharks have, wisdom teeth would drift forward and replace the lost tooth.

Though I'm no expert, so this could just be an urban myth.

oh - well maybe just ask for a couple pills from your dentist if the pain persists

i don't think i used more than a couple

as for your answer - yup that's what i've heard too although i'm not an expert either

Originally Posted by Deepwaters

That's one of the theories Toc de Mac, the other I've heard is that our pre-human ancestors (H. erectus) who invented the use of fire, evolved eating raw foods and so had larger jaws and more and bigger teeth. Over time after the invention of fire, these powerful chompers were lost in favor of a more mobile mouth better at speech, and wisdom teeth are a vestigial remnant of our evolutionary past.

hmm...never heard about this one

but seems to make some sense although wouldn't you think that if we evolved less powerful chompers we would have also evolved out of existence of wisdom teeth concurrently? But i'm not an expert so you could be right and i could be wrong

how about this question if you guys want to continue these type of evolutionary type questions:

why do we have goosebumps? what's the purpose?

[brad]

when i had mine out i didn't have hardly any pain. it just sucked having those holes in your mouth until they heal

[Tye]

I had mine cut out because they were impacted, and I was put to sleep during it. Yes, it was horribly painful after wards. I was given vicadin (sp), but chose not to take it cause it makes me feel awful, and I don't sleep when I take it. So I chose to endure the pain. The way my wisdom teeth were impacted made it hard to take them out, and once they were out it left to big of holes to leave uncovered. Once they were out they grafted skin from the inside of my cheeks, and put that over the holes where the teeth used to be. I had to keep cotton wads back there for a few days so that a clot would set up, and this got in the way of eating. Eating was bitch, because I couldn't let food get back there where my wisdom teeth used to be because it could cause infection. So I was eating soft foods for about three weeks. Anytime food got back there it felt like someone was sticking fire to the inside of my mouth. It was a horrible experience, but it had to be done.

[puffyrock2]

Originally Posted by Tye

I had mine cut out because they were impacted, and I was put to sleep during it. Yes, it was horribly painful after wards. I was given vicadin (sp), but chose not to take it cause it makes me feel awful, and I don't sleep when I take it. So I chose to endure the pain. The way my wisdom teeth were impacted made it hard to take them out, and once they were out it left to big of holes to leave uncovered. Once they were out they grafted skin from the inside of my cheeks, and put that over the holes where the teeth used to be. I had to keep cotton wads back there for a few days so that a clot would set up, and this got in the way of eating. Eating was bitch, because I couldn't let food get back there where my wisdom teeth used to be because it could cause infection. So I was eating soft foods for about three weeks. Anytime food got back there it felt like someone was sticking fire to the inside of my mouth. It was a horrible experience, but it had to be done.

I had the exact same experience. My teeth were buried under the gums so technically it was surgery. The memories of when I got home are fuzzy due to the drugs. I recall stumbling to the CD player, putting in The Cure's "Pornography" album and literally passing out. 'Twas trippy.

[Toc De Mac]

Well, I woke up today to the feeling of liquid on my lips and hand, and realized that I hadn't kept my head elevated last night, and that the liquid was blood.

Anyway, I still feel no pain (which is GREAT, considering I haven't since taken any painkillers), and only swelling persists.

[Amigo!]

Originally Posted by Toc De Mac

Well, I woke up today to the feeling of liquid on my lips and hand, and realized that I hadn't kept my head elevated last night, and that the liquid was blood.

Wow, I don't remember ever having that problem Just be careful not to get an infection back there.

[Toc De Mac]

Originally Posted by Amigo!

Wow, I don't remember ever having that problem Just be careful not to get an infection back there.

Yeah, that's really the only thing that worries me now. Is there anything I can do to prevent it other than brushing my teeth (which do hesitantly, for fear of disrupting something) and using the prescribed mouthwash?

[Amigo!]

Originally Posted by Toc De Mac

Yeah, that's really the only thing that worries me now. Is there anything I can do to prevent it other than brushing my teeth (which do hesitantly, for fear of disrupting something) and using the prescribed mouthwash?

Yeah you have to be really carefull when brushing, if you get any kind of food stuck in there, rinse a lot. Bottom line, just stay away from those areas until it fully heals. yeah I know it sucks, but you don't want them to have to go back in there if you get an infection.