I called a friend a few days ago who lives in Alabama. She had just gotten her wisdom teeth out, and she said her face was all swollen and bruised like she'd taken a pretty good beating. I told her it was a shame she wasn't married so she could blame it on her husband, but I suppose that would be wrong or mean somehow. Anyway, we talked about when I had my wisdom teeth out. This was back when I was 15. Unlike my friend, I got to stay awake during the ordeal even though two of my wisdom teeth had not broken through my gums yet. It was a great experience, though. (I hope this isn't one of those stories that I've blogged before. If so, I'll just have to look senile because I love talking about this so very much.) Also, for those who get grossed out by talk of blood, you may want to sit this one out.
After they had deadened my mouth and had gotten me nice and drugged up, I began to feel like I was floating. I'd almost reached the ceiling when the nurse/dental hygienist said my name and I came crashing down. They had nice ceilings, too. I remember Prince's song, "Kiss" was playing on the radio, and for some reason I thought that he wanted my teeth. I can't remember if I asked why he wanted my teeth or not, but I was sure thinking it. As the dentist cut through my gums and pulled my teeth, I remember saying, "This medicine tastes awful!" To which they replied, "Oops!" and used the sucker machine to suck up a good bit of blood. After it was over, I tried my best to smile, but as numb as my face was, I wasn't able to manage anything that didn't make me look at least partially handicapped. My mom drove us home (it was a 45 minute drive) and on the way I began to notice people staring as they drove by. The gauze they had put in my mouth had failed to stop the blood, and I was drooling blood down my chin. Lovely. Once home, my sister came in my room to check on me, and laughed at me a bit before explaining that I looked like a chipmunk with my swollen cheeks. But with the help of gauze and strong pain pills, my mouth healed just fine. I can't imagine having the procedure done while you're unconcious. You miss so much of the fun that way.
After they had deadened my mouth and had gotten me nice and drugged up, I began to feel like I was floating. I'd almost reached the ceiling when the nurse/dental hygienist said my name and I came crashing down. They had nice ceilings, too. I remember Prince's song, "Kiss" was playing on the radio, and for some reason I thought that he wanted my teeth. I can't remember if I asked why he wanted my teeth or not, but I was sure thinking it. As the dentist cut through my gums and pulled my teeth, I remember saying, "This medicine tastes awful!" To which they replied, "Oops!" and used the sucker machine to suck up a good bit of blood. After it was over, I tried my best to smile, but as numb as my face was, I wasn't able to manage anything that didn't make me look at least partially handicapped. My mom drove us home (it was a 45 minute drive) and on the way I began to notice people staring as they drove by. The gauze they had put in my mouth had failed to stop the blood, and I was drooling blood down my chin. Lovely. Once home, my sister came in my room to check on me, and laughed at me a bit before explaining that I looked like a chipmunk with my swollen cheeks. But with the help of gauze and strong pain pills, my mouth healed just fine. I can't imagine having the procedure done while you're unconcious. You miss so much of the fun that way.
