(no subject)

[oyceter]

I went, got drugged, left three teeth less.

Aka, I got my wisdom teeth removed (for some reason, I only have three instead of four. I'm not complaining!). The local anesthetic has yet to wear off and the Vicodin has yet to kick in, so hopefully I'm in a good place right now.

I chose to do laughing gas and local anesthetic instead of general anesthetic, mostly because I don't like the thought of being put under, but the place I went to usually does general anesthetic.

The procedure itself was ok -- much pain with the local anesthetic shots, nothing really but pressure when it came to the actual pulling/drilling/whatever was going on in my mouth. It's just the sounds that are incredibly disconcerting! I especially hate the high-pitched dentist drill (having it in your mouth also doesn't make the audio experience better) and the freaky cracking noises. It actually wasn't that unexpected though -- I had two teeth pulled in middle school for braces and it sounded roughly the same.

Alas, no interesting effects from the laughing gas, so no funny LJ entries for everyone.

Though the actual removal went well, there was much to be desired in terms of bedside manner. I was sort of put off the first time I visited because they were so abrupt -- she basically sort of said, "You should have gotten them removed when you had braces" in a very accusing fashion, like it was my fault that middle school me didn't ask for my wisdom teeth to be removed.

Maybe figured they'd be nicer later. So not the case!

I winced and tensed up when the dentist gave me the painkiller shots, and she basically yelled at me for moving and said I should have done the general anesthetic and that it would hurt like bejeezus. And when I was shaking because I dislike being yelled at, particularly when I am in a chair breathing in strange gas and having needles in my mouth, she pretty much just said, "You have to stay still! Or else we'll just put you under!" I got yelled at for pretty much everything.

Halfway through, the gas mask thing got pushed to the side, so I sort of made a noise and asked them to push it back. The reaction was, after pushing it back, "I'm working, don't distract me!"

She'd tell me to open my mouth a little, and I would, and then she'd yell at me for not opening it wide enough or opening it too wide. I mean, seriously, we've all gone to the dentist, right? Who knows exactly how much they mean when they say "Open your mouth a little" or "Tilt your head this way"?! And then afterward, I asked if I should brush my teeth day of -- they'd given me a sheet saying not to rinse, but I wasn't sure if that included brushing or flossing or what. She just snapped at me and said, "Not till the day after! It's all in the sheet" like I was stupid and hadn't read it.

That's how it felt the entire time. And when the assistant asked how old I was after (this is when my mouth is still numb and I have two giant lumps of gauze in there), I showed her on my fingers. And she snapped at me and told me that I had to talk to exercise my jaw muscles!

Ugh. Anyway. If you are in the Bay Area, for the love of god, don't go to Silicon Valley OMS! They are evil! And mean! I mean, I get that they do six bazillion wisdom teeth extractions a day, but this is obviously my first time. And jeez, they could at least ask me to do stuff nicely before berating me like I'm an idiot!

Ugh. Hate them. And have to go back one more time for a checkup too. Will never go back after that.

Comments

[slrose.livejournal.com]

After your checkup, I suggest you send them a letter explaining why you are not returning there and are recommending that everyone you know go somewhere else.

If you have an insurance company, send them a copy of the letter, too.

[knullabulla.livejournal.com]

I second this suggestion. There is NO excuse for you to be treated this way.


And for the record: I had a wisdom tooth pulled with ONLY local anesthetic (no insurance, so that's all I could afford). I was utterly terrified, but because the dentist was a sweetheart (my friend's dad) and talked me through everything and kept me calm and (somewhat) distracted, it wasn't too bad overall. There is no excuse for yelling at a patient--especially not a patient who is clearly in distress.

[hesychasm]

YOW. I haven't had to get my wisdom teeth out yet, and I live in total fear of it. I think I WILL do the general anesthesia if/when it happens, just from reading your description.

Those people sound like mean bitches. You should complain when you go back for the checkup -- or, I dunno, write them a letter if face-to-face confrontation is scary. I mean, you're paying them for the service (or your insurance is), and you deserve to be treated decently.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Sheesh! I shall hate them on your behalf.

I am, literally right now, creating a special LJ post just for you so you can listen to free music while you recover.

[fiveandfour.livejournal.com]

I've got one of these sessions to get scheduled myself...soon. But only of the drugs are plentiful and frequent and long-lasting, of course.

[angeyja.livejournal.com]

Last spring I told my dentist that we had pending layoffs, and I was likely one of the marked trees to be trimmed (ie no insurance,) and he said, and I quote,

"Well, whatever happens, just remember that your teeth are your priority."

*long hugs* I have had these done, and four other teeth.. Not hugely fun. Hope you are OK.

[knullabulla.livejournal.com]

Report her ass to the medical board. That was BEYOND unprofessional.

[minnow1212.livejournal.com]

Hey! That's totally not cool! :glares impotently in her direction:

I send you happy thoughts.

[hysteriachan.livejournal.com]

O_O Wow. That is possibly the worst bedside-manner story I've EVER heard. As if the procedure weren't bad enough . . .

Hope you have a fast recovery!

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Okay, it's not up to me, but I am really against your going back there even for a checkup. I realize talking to thousands of people is not optimal for the post-extraction mouth, but I would be calling other dentists and asking if they can check me up instead because the other people were complete assholes. But yes, a letter in any case, and sending a copy to your insurance company is a great idea.

[oracne.livejournal.com]

Yay, it's over!

Wow, a local. They knocked me out for mine. Possibly to do with that whole "geriatric for this procedure" thing.

[yhlee.livejournal.com]

Aww man. *hugs*

[canandagirl.livejournal.com]

You poor thing! Getting mauled in the mouth is no fun thing, but then have them yell at you? I don't know what their problem is. Actually, I'd go get your check-ups with someone else, and tell the bitches to screw themselves.

I actually don't have wisdom teeth (I'm either too smart or too dumb to have any), but I still have a baby tooth in the back, (yes, and I'm mature too). There is always someone who wants to yank out my baby for no good reason. If I have a good hygenist, I can sleep during the whole cleaning bit, but every once in awhile I get the hygenist, who is a decandant of Vikings and uses that scraper as an ice pick to carve out treasure. My gums gush out blood like a fountain, and then they have the nerve to tell me that I should floss more.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I apparently don't have wisdom teeth either, or else they never gave me any trouble. 32 is too late to get them, I assume.

I do have a tooth that never descended and is still clearly visible in X-Rays, root and all, embedded in the middle of my gums or whatever's above the teeth. (Courtesy of bad Indian dentistry-- the same botched procedure that was supposed to prevent that from happening not only didn't, but caused one of my teeth to come in sideways-- another thing I've never bothered to correct.) Every time I get a new dentist they show me the X-Ray and ask me if anyone's ever pointed it out to me before. However, since it's never caused any problems, I have no intention of trying to get it removed.

[canandagirl.livejournal.com]

I think as long as it doesn't give you any trouble, there's no need to go digging it out. James has a wisdom tooth that's sideways too, but since it's not trying to break through, he's ignoring it.

[canandagirl.livejournal.com]

Also, I agree with writing a letter of complaint, and letting all the important people know. A couple years ago, I had to see a specialist, who was a complete asshole. Fortunately, I was chosen to do a telephone survey, given by his office. I vented. I was happy.

yikes

[anleedruid.livejournal.com]

yes, do what slrose and knullabulla recommended. definitely unprofessional behavior on the healthcare provider's part.

btw, i only had 3 wisdom teeth, too. and i remember the creaking noises from when the dentist and his assistant were trying to get the teeth out. of course, i was one of those overly excited patients who WANTED to see her bloody teeth so i made the dentist hold up each tooth he extracted. i was so disappointed when he told me that i couldn't take home any of my pulled teeth. :(

[seajules]

If they can't administer a local without pain, not only are they rude, they're incompetent. I only had three, had all three taken out together, got local and happy gas, had no problems. I'd write a letter to them and to your insurance company, at the least. If you know the board to which they report, I'd write a letter there as well.

Since the paper might not have included it and they clearly didn't tell you, don't use straws until after your check-up. That will lead to dry-socket, which is not a fun thing at all and which they would doubtless yell at you about, even though they're the ones who didn't tell you about no straws. Suction is bad for healing wisdom tooth extractions.