Wisdom Teeth, Awake or not awake?

I'm a dentist.

It's completely up to you. Only you know what you can tolerate and what you cannot. Keep in mind, though, that the oral surgeon is not going to make you sleep. If you sleep, then you've had a bit to much anesthesia. What they provide is "conscious sedation", which alters your consciousness to the point where you are awake, able to breathe on your own and protect your own airway, respond to commands, and even answer questions to some extent. The medications she will give you will likely have amnestic properties, so you will remember very little of the procedure if anything at all.

In my office, I extract third molars very frequently, and I do not sedate patients. I do, however, provide nitrous oxide, and with few exceptions have very little trouble from patients being uncomfortable. But then again, I select patients whom I think are mentally stable enough to tolerate the surgery while awake.

It also depends on how "surgical" the teeth are. If they are full-bony, expect a lot of drilling, cracking noises as the lower third molars are split in half, and lots of force being applied to your jaws (no, your jaws are not breaking). If you are comfortable in the chair, you can have it awake. Otherwise, you should be sedated.

Sedation is generally a very nice thing to have. It's routine, and it's very safe. Oral surgeons get a lot of anesthesia training in their four- to six-year residency, and are fully qualified to handle any complications.

The downside to sedation is that you must prepare for it as if it were general anesthesia. Nothing to eat or drink for a minimum of six hours prior to the procedure, and you must have someone to drive you there and back home. No driving for 24 hours after. Finally, depending on the medications to be used, there may be some significant post-operative sleepiness and nausea. These are fairly rare, though.

Either way you go, you'll be just fine.

By all means let them put you to sleep. Make sure you have someone bring you in and pick you up...

Go to sleep as the surgeon will probably have to do some cutting on the gums as those wisdom teeth can be a bear!

But if you are a tuffy go for the shots or gas. either way have someone pick you up after-wards.

Good luck...

I was awake when mine were pulled out. They gave me a local, and some laughing gas. It made me a little loopy disconnected from reality, but I still knew what was going on. I asked the dentist to knock me out, but he said he did not have the facilities. If you have the option, go for being knocked out.

Not awake,,makes it easier on the dentist/oral surgeon and their assistants and you don't hear the sounds when asleep. OH,,and if you choose to be awake,,request music up very very loud with headphones.

Go for the not awake option. It is a incredibly painful procedure.

I had surgery where all 4 of mine was taken out and i was up all the time .

My dentist showed me everyone that came out. Didn't feel a thing until medication started to wore off and that i was looking for.

Well it really up yo u if u can't stand it or that scared be knocked out. If not be brave and do what i did. LOL

Everything will go well.

Definitely not awake. Then the worst part is just putting the Novocaine in. You don't feel anything at all.

Go ahead & be put to sleep for it. You'll be out of there much quicker than if you were awake.

go to sleep... that is some painfull stuff right there... and the sounds you just dont wanna be awake trust me

yeah, choose the non-awake option. it hurts.