Wisdom tooth extraction surgery in the United States

I pulled out my bottom two wisdom teeth. In the United States, general anesthesia surgery is the mainstream for pulling wisdom teeth. (In Japan, partial anesthesia is the mainstream. The top two were extracted in Japan a few years ago.)

The flow and cost of tooth extraction surgery are summarized below.

The day before

・No eating or drinking (even water) eight hours before surgery, so I didn't have anything after dinner

On the day

12:15 Went to oral surgery clinic by husband's car

Pickup is required for general anesthesia

12:30 Arrived Clinic, reception & confirmation of what to do today

（My tongue band was a little short so I would also choose muscle incision surgery, but I didn't do it this time because I can speak fine and I didn't want to get more pain another than wisdom teeth pain.）

→I am glad that I didn't do it at the same time. The pain of wisdom teeth is painful.

13:00 To the operating room

The doctor came and greeted and confirmed that what we do today, and injected an anesthetic into my arm. I lost consciousness.

15:00 Wake up

When I woke up, the surgery was over. My consciousness was lost and I didn't remember much. It took about 2 hours. (Maybe the surgery itself is over early)

My face is swollen.

16:00 Return home, strong sleepiness, sleep

18:00 Husband went to CVS pharmacy with prescription to get medicine (I took antibiotics and painkiller)

Showers can be taken in normally

20:00 Dinner (soup made the day before)

22:00 Take medicine, strong sleepiness, Sleep

Later

[1 day later (Wed)]

Spend day lying at home.

In my case, I added extra painkiller injection after the operation, so it made back teeth paralyzed for 3 days. There is no strong or severe pain, only light.

Meals are bisque soup, protein shake, yogurt, fruit cup, and pudding.

[2 days later (Thu)]

Same as 1st day.

[3 days later (Fri)]

Same as 1st day, I feel it's getting better.

[4 days later (Sat)]

I ate ground beef for dinner, but the ground beef stuck in the back, and I washed my mouth with water. I had a sharp pain. Looking in the mirror, there was a small hole and bleeding. It was severe pain.

My husband texted to the doctor and confirmed.

Doctor called us and told Rinse gently with lukewarm water containing salt (1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water) and take painkillers. It made less painful after I rinsed with salt lukewarm water. I took painkiller and slept.

[5 days later（Sun）]

In the morning, doctor called us to confirm the situation. She said sleeping is a good thing. ( If it becomes dry socket, you can't sleep because of pain. ) Continue rinsing with salt lukewarm water, take painkillers and get rest.

[7 days later（Tue）]

I went to clinic to have one week checkup. Doctor checked and said it looks great, and treatment is completed, all I need is just wait to heal all, and contact them if I got any pain. I'm glad the progress was good without problems.

Bills

For medicine $36

Summary

・After surgery don't use straws and don't swish mouse wash even if food gets stuck! The scab (blood clot) may peel off due to the air pressure of the inhalation, it cause dry socket.

・Better to have additional painkiller injections

（it costs $200 but it's worth it）

・Medical care in the United States is expensive but I think the medical level and doctors are wonderful & it may depend on the location, but the aftercare was pleasant and I was so relaxed

・It was good that my husband's Delta Dental had high insurance coverage

（In the United States, the mainstream of health insurance is to enter the insurance company that your company handles. In Japan, the mainstream is to get National Health Insurance which national government manage. In the National Health Insurance, surgery for general anesthesia is not covered, so partial anesthesia is the mainstream. I don't know which one is better, but I think it might be the cause of the delay of Japanese medical environment and medical skills. It's my speculation though.）