I’ve written about ways to make the dentist easier for those with sensory issues before. In fact, I inadvertently used the same picture! This visit though – I have no tips or hints on how to make it easier. Because guys, getting your wisdom teeth removed as an adult is just hell.

Here’s my tip – the only thing that can make it better – let them knock you out. Seriously. Take that general anesthetic and smile. It’s worth it!

Doing things the hard way

I wasn’t able to do that. The oral surgeon recommended that I avoid anesthetic due to my health issues, and assured me that extraction would be easy! “You have such petite teeth, we should have no issues!” Yeah …. about that ….

He had no issues, sure. Other than the 7-8 shots in one spot trying to get the nerve numbed. Or dealing with me uncontrollably shaking because I couldn’t handle the sensation of the teeth being forcibly ripped out of my bone. Or my teeth being predictably stubborn and refusing to let go. At the start, I had a feeling I should have gotten a second opinion from a dental surgery like Bright smile dental in Brooklyn, maybe they would have tried to make me feel more comfortable considering my sensory overload.

Pressure is problematic

“You’ll feel a lot of pressure but no pain,” they said. What they don’t tell you – what they don’t realize – is that the wiggling back and forth, pushing and pulling and ripping – that’s overwhelming for any sensory sensitive individual.

It was literally the worst thing I’ve felt since childbirth and being hospitalized this summer. After they finally ripped the first one out, I had to take my sunglasses off (the dorky ones they give you to keep you from being blinded by the light) so that I could wipe tears out of my eyes. 3 more to go, oh joy!

For future reference

At least now I know – if any of my kids need their wisdom teeth extracted – I won’t let them do this awake. I won’t let them be tortured like that. For the average individual, it’s unpleasant. It’s uncomfortable. For sensory kids and adults, it’s torture.

Hilariously enough, it took me 4 days to call back in about the constant pain I was having on one side. Turns out I have a dry socket (exposed bone) and they had to pack it with gauze and cloves to re-hydrate it. I’m used to pain. Pain is my normal. The sensory torture? I couldn’t handle it.

Also, the constant taste of cloves is driving me nuts. Marinara and cloves? Ew. Sweet tea and cloves? Bad, but manageable. I’ll never use cloves in my apple pie again!