The Wisdom Tooth
I got my wisdom tooth removed today, and it was not pleasant. I feel bad for doctors that end up treating me. For one they have to watch me be embarrassingly babyish and then I’m going to be writing about them. So, I am sorry.
So, it started off around 9 am when I went in to the hospital with my mother. I was asked to come with someone in case I get faintish afterwards and I can’t handle taking myself home. The moment I entered the hospital I was filed with instant relief on not having to be considering one of those a workplace. There was a mental note of thanks to my 16 year old self that decided biology wasn’t something I wanted to be dealing with everyday, after seeing a video of an aeroplane manufacturing plant and realising I wouldn’t necessarily mind that. It was a pretty hasty decision but well, worked out fine. Guess who won’t ever apply for Environmental Engineering positions at hospitals? This girl right here 😌
Anyway, moving on to the dental, there were a lot of people waiting to get their teeth treated. None of them seemed terrified, so I figured it’ll be alright. If you’re living where I live and have ever been to one of these places you’ll know the procedure. But I’m going to spare you the details. I was taken in, along with my mother cause yes I’m turning 25 this year, but no I’m not going through a surgery alone. The nurses seemed very nice and one of them came and explained to me, how 1/1000 people that got the surgery done sometimes have one of their nerves damaged and lose feeling in their lower jaw ( Which is why I’m currently slightly touching my lower jaw and wondering if I have lost feeling, every time I remember to do it). Then, she asked me to sign my consent in wanting to get the surgery done, knowing the implications. I had half a mind not to, and my mother said “It almost never happens” and the nurse said “The way your teeth is located you’re anyway going to have to get this done at some point” so I just went ahead and signed. A voice in my head whispered “This is it, this is how it’s going to end🙂”.
So, after signing the consent form I sat. I usually carry out some background search before I get into ANYTHING. So I had already spoken to people who got it done. Some PEOPLE who knew I’d get scared and spared me details. But I knew a bit about what I was to be expecting. However, I received a live show of a lady in front of me who seemed to be having the same surgery done, who did not seem to enjoy it. The doctor seemed to use literally every kind of tool you’d see a construction worker using, only smaller and all the more terrifying since it’s being used on your body. I could already feel tears gathering up behind my eyes and one or two escaped my eyes and rolled down the sides. I was thankful my mother reminded I’m going to need a handkerchief before I left home. Seeing I was terrified she also made a point to lean in and point out to me how I’m a complete thug in general but is now scared of what’s going to be a 15 minute surgery that about 20 people seem to be getting done in a span of a few hours. But seriously, nothing was going to stop the tears. The voice in my head kept repeating “This is it”.
Finally the lady before me was done, and it was my turn. I tried to seem brave but who was I kidding. The doctor was super nice. I’m very bad at hiding facial expressions, so I must have been a sight. He said “Don’t be scared. It’s a small surgery. The lady before you had it a bit extra difficult. See that boy in that chair is also getting it done. It’s not always that bad” and boy did he not know what was coming 🙂. Anyways, he injected whatever was supposed to make my mouth go numb and I waited for it to take effect. He came over to asked me if my lips felt heavy. And I said yes. He also asked if my tongue felt heavy and honestly I can’t almost ever feel my tongue unless I’m eating something, how was I supposed to be feeling it being anything now? So all I had for him was a confused look. Anyway, after a while they got started. The doctor once again reassured me it’s gonna be alright although the voice in my head wasn’t so sure which is probably why the tears were now falling down the sides at an annoyingly fast rate. I kept my eyes closed the whole time cause I was sure seeing the tools wouldn’t really help me feel too better. A kind face would have helped but the doctor was wearing a mask so, I figured it wasn’t worth it 😂. The first thing he said to one of the nurses was “Give me a new blade” and I wish there was a way I could also close my ears. But there wasn’t. So I could hear a lot of sounds including the doctor saying “Open your mouth”, “Bite”, “Ugh that tooth is way too small”, “It’s leaning to the other tooth so much” and “If you’re uncomfortable or in pain let me know” to which I always nodded no cause he didn’t ask me if I was completely traumatised. Around 15 minutes into the surgery when the doctor seemed to be trying to take the tooth out, one of the other doctors decided to come over and entertain him with one of the latest pieces of gossip. Apparently, someone didn’t get through some viva because he couldn’t answer one of the easiest questions posed by one of the most easy going panelists which clearly showed how bad he was. Well, that was interesting. Anyway, I was still crying, at this point. If my mouth wasn’t open and being operated on, I would have totally been sobbing. I wasn’t even in pain but I think I was feeling sorry for myself for having to go through this trauma. I cry at Facebook videos of cats being rescued every once in a while so I suppose this was to be expected. Finally, the doctor was done, I think after about 20 minutes and he started stitching.
I saw the stitching being done on the lady before me and asked my mother if these were going to be those stitches that fade themselves away in a while. She nodded a confident yes. However, once the surgery was over, the doctor’s instructions included needing to get the stitches removed in a week and I did not feel betrayed at all.
The stitching itself was a little difficult caz the doctor kept asking me to open my mouth wider since he can’t see but after 20 minutes of continuous opening, my mouth wasn’t really listening to any of my brain’s commands asking it to stay open. What was I gonna do. But, he managed to get the stitches done, after some attempts and I’ve never been more thankful for how skilled these doctors are. Really, I am almost always a shitty patient, and this guy was still winging it.
Anyway, once it was done the nurse asked me to stand up and asked if I was feeling dizzy. I wasn’t, I was just traumatised. It wasn’t even painful. I managed to stand up and go sit with my mother again. I hoped I wasn’t looking as clueless and disoriented as the lady before me did. But I probably did, cause after giving the instructions the doctor stood for a few seconds observing me like I was someone that might disintegrate any moment now. I managed a “Thank you” after my mother, and a nurse gave me a shot of some painkiller. I was kind of proud cause, I didn’t struggle during the shot, although my mother 500% assumed I would 🙂.
Anyway, that was it and I was out. I think wisdom tooth surgery is pretty common. I’ve seen so many videos of people who get them done talking bonkers afterwards but I’m assuming it only happens in America, unless my friends think I was talking bonkers to them afterwards. Either way, it’s really not as bad as I make it sound like, specially given that I’m NO fan of any medical procedures. But every time I’ve had to get one done, the doctors and the nurses have been so kind. And for an absolute baby like me, hearing words of reassurance right before they cut and drill into my body parts really means the most. Whether it happens when I’m 15 or 25.
I’m also glad I have friends who keep information from me so I’m not too traumatised before hand, and reassure me that my amount of crying was TOTALLY justified afterwards. The only thing I’m not grateful for is the fact that, “you know who” has done such a great job that the supermarket isles don’t apparently have anything comfortable that I would like to binge on.
I know most people will tell you it’s not a big deal, and maybe it isn’t. But for one I really don’t care about what most people think or I won’t have a blog. Secondly, you’re allowed to make a big deal out of whatever the hell you want. If you ever feel bad about doing so I suggest following a friend obsessed with Football or a Sri Lankan cricket fan? Tbh, I had a half a mind not to write about this, but I can’t work, talk or fall asleep right now so I’m pretty much jobless and I figured why not.
Anyways, I’m glad I finally got this tooth removed, and I am wondering why it’s called the wisdom tooth? Now that I think about it, my brain is still a little foggy and slow. I even made mistakes in this article wayyyy more times than I usually do….
