dental surgery recap

[the_andy]

So, I have two places where my gums have receded enough that I need grafts to replace the connective tissue. I had the first surgery done this afternoon (since they're on opposite sides of my mouth this one will need to fully heal before the other is done so I will be able to chew somewhere). It was both better and worse than I expected

The tissue is taken from the upper palate, which apparently makes everything less painful than when they used to take from another section of gum. I had all this done with just local anesthetic, I think less than my root canal required. Though it was still a good amount, I'm only just now getting some feeling back and haven't gotten to pain yet. I'll update about pain as it makes itself known.

So, I didn't feel anything much. This is the part that was better than expected. However, having varying amounts of scraping and grinding at my gum and cutting and torquing on the roof of my mouth was nerve wracking. So much adrenalin dumped into my system at one point I thought I was going to have to ask them to stop and gas me. It was a way different feeling than someone drilling at my teeth. I guess I don't consider chopping at my teeth to be real the way chopping at my flesh is. Also there was that disconcerting moment where I realized most of that liquid being sucked out of my mouth wasn't saliva (my tongue was numbed so I could only tell by viscosity). I pretty much kept my eyes closed the whole time: imagining was bad enough, but I couldn't feel most of it. Seeing the doctor's motions would have provided too much detail i thing.

I calmed down when they got to the suturing and I knew it was the home stretch (though i didn't appreciate having the thread tossed all over my face during the process). After getting stitched up they gave me an ice pack and sent me on my way, along with a prescription for the good painkillers and antibiotic mouthwash.

According to my discharge directions there is will probably be a lot of swelling, potentially some bruising, and enough bleeding over the day that I am advised to put a towel over my pillow. Yay. As it is, I have moved on to my second gauze pad pressed against the roof of my mouth since I've been home. I'm not sure if it started bleeding just a little while ago or if I just couldn't taste it until my tongue had feeling again.

I think that's about it. I get some sutures out next week and the rest the week after that. I'll probably complain about the pain over the next few days. Oh, and horror of horrors, I can't drink for about 10 days. Well, I guess that will make Christmas a magical day.

Comments

[littlebutfierce]

Ugh, I've had (comparatively minor) gum surgery done, & I agree, something about it is different when they're scraping & cutting at the flesh of your mouth!

I hope the recovery goes well.

[the_andy]

I'm feeling really quite good, all things considered. Eating is tricky. Still going to have a vicodin to help me sleep though.