Pulling 5 Teeth at Once or Split into 3 Sessions?

Updated on April 17, 2015
M.M. asks from Chicago, IL
23 answers

Hello,

I need to have 3 wisdom teeth pulled and 2 other teeth where I had root canals and it is now infected.
I was wondering if it would be better just to get all 5 pulled at once and deal with it once, or is it better to split this up and do it in 3 session (1 side, 2nd side upper and 2nd side lower)

What is your experience??

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O.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

My mother in law just had 6 teeth pulled this week.
It took 10 minutes.
I'd get them all done at once.

6 moms found this helpful
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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

I would prefer to do it all at once, and be in pain once rather than have to do it in phases and be in pain repeatedly.

5 moms found this helpful

More Answers

D.B.

answers from Boston on

One round of anesthesia, one recovery, one round of antibiotics. It's not going to be fun anyway, so just get it over with unless the oral surgeon thinks there's a reason to split it up.

7 moms found this helpful
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J.☯.

answers from Springfield on

All at once. Absolutely!!!

I had 6 teeth pulled when I was 12 and later in my 20's had all 4 wisdom teeth pulled. When you are recovering, sure you're a little sore, but there are pain meds. I can't imagine wanted to go through surgery more than once or recovering more than once. That's what you're really asking.

I would just get it done and over with.

7 moms found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

I'm sorry you have to go through this.

I would do it all at once.

5 moms found this helpful
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K.M.

answers from Fayetteville on

Sounds miserable! Do it once!

5 moms found this helpful

C.V.

answers from Columbia on

I had all 4 wisdom teeth pulled at once. I would rather not have to recuperate from oral surgery 3 times. Just go to an oral surgeon and get it all done at once.

5 moms found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

i'm assuming they're going to put you under general anesthesia? i know they did for me when i had all 4 wisdoms out.
unless there's a specific reason to space them out, i'd definitely have it all done at once. why put yourself through the (slight) risks of anesthesia and the pain of recovery more often than necessary?
make sure you've got plenty of help lined up so you can float through the next couple of days on a haze of pain-killers, and get it over with.
khairete
S.

5 moms found this helpful

J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth pulled at the same time, 2 bone impacted. I did not want to go back again.

The two that you have had root canals in shouldn't be as painful since the roots are already dead. But it really depends on your pain level and how fast you heal.

4 moms found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

All at once. It's miserable for a couple days but better cost wise to just bite the bullet and be done.

4 moms found this helpful

T.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

if the dentist will do it then i would do it all at once.

4 moms found this helpful
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T.P.

answers from Indianapolis on

I had roots for 3 wisdom teeth so I had one pulled and the other 2 cut out all at the same time. I knew if I didn't do it all at once I wouldn't come back. I did good. I had them put me out so I just remember waking up in bed. I felt fine after a couple of days. If you can get it all done at once and get it over with. You will keep more of your sanity that way. :) Good luck!!!

4 moms found this helpful

D.D.

answers from New York on

Nope get them all done at once. You'll be miserable and in pain but better to do it once than have to make several appointments and go through the recoup period after each one.

4 moms found this helpful
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D..

answers from Miami on

All the wisdom teeth should definitely be done at once.

I don't know how old you are and what your overall health is like. That's an important point here. If you are in good health, all 5 should be okay. However, that infection needs to be dealt with before surgery on those root canal teeth. Did the dentist tell you that? If he didn't, you need another dentist. That would ring big warning bells with me...

The other thing you should do is ask for an oral surgeon. They are the ones who are very good at this and most excellent dentists no long remove wisdom teeth.

4 moms found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

I had all 4 wisdom teeth dug out at once, and I would never have split it up. Even when my 7 year old needed 6 removed we did them at once, and he was glad, he hated the sedation and was glad to just have it done and over with.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.G.

answers from Portland on

I haven't had this done, but I've had other surgeries. In my experience, it is better to have it all done at once (get the work all completed in one go) because of the pain afterwards and recovery time.

Unless there is some medical reason to break it up, that would be my suggestion - in our family, when people have had dental work done, it was all at once.

Good luck and I hope it all goes well for you :)

3 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

All at once. I have been through this before. Better to get them all at once....

3 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

All at once.
The ladies I work with have been back to the dentist multiple times and it's major pain every time.

3 moms found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I hate dental work, even cleanings, due to trauma as a child so it is difficult for me to get myself psyched up to go get something done. Of course, I don't put anything off if something needs to be done, I just get anxious, stressed and overall sick about thinking of the procedure. After everything is over, I am ok.

So if I were in your shoes, I would opt to just do it all in 1 sitting. Have someone drive you to/from get you home and in bed and have 1 recovery, 1 anesthesia, 1 round of pain pills and 1 round of antibiotics.

Best wishes to you and happy recovery!

3 moms found this helpful

V.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

I agree with Diane B.
Unless there is some reason your dentist/oral surgeon says you would be wise to split them up, then I would just have it all done at the same time.

I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth removed at once and it was about a 3 day recovery (before I felt like going in public). I was in my very early 20s and the older you are, it seems the more difficult the recovery can be.

My daughter (who is now 13) had 4 teeth pulled (in advance of orthodontic work) when she was 11. Despite the idea that "baby teeth" are easy... those suckers do (and did) have HUGE roots on them. The only reason there aren't roots when they "lose" a tooth, is because the permanent tooth has resorbed it, which is how/why they get loose to fall out. My daughter's permanent teeth were not growing vertically underneath (but sideways into the neighboring roots) and so the roots were not resorbed at all. They were monstrous.
But, she was fine the next day. She had to be careful about eating for a few days, but she went to school and everything. No problems.

I have no experience with root canals. But husband has had implants done on 2 separate occasions. Removal of the tooth prior to the implants was way worse than the implant procedure itself.

For what it's worth, my wisdom teeth (4, evenly spaced, two on each side, one top/one bottom each)... were like my daughter's teeth that were removed. One each quadrant (2 top, 2 bottom on opposite sides).

Unless your surgeon says the procedure is SO invasive (or teeth are directly neighboring each other and that that would require them be done separately) that it is inadvisable to have it done in one fell swoop, then I'd do it all. One shot.

Good luck. Schedule yourself some help and several days of recovery time.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

When I had my two wisdom teeth extracted, I was under general anesthesia and got it done in one session. If you're planning on getting general anesthesia, which I think you should, I would just get it all done at once.

When I had to have four teeth pulled for orthodontic work in high school, it was under local anesthesia and I had it done in two sessions.

It just depends on your preference -- would you rather have 3 painful days plus three separate recovery periods, which will include taking painkillers, antibiotics, and rinsing with hydrogen peroxide on three separate occasions with slightly less pain each time or would you rather have one painful day with slightly more pain with one recovery period involving painkillers, antibiotics, and rinsing with hydrogen peroxide?

2 moms found this helpful
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M.G.

answers from Kansas City on

When I made my appointment to have my wisdom teeth pulled they wanted to make 2 appointments. I told them no way because I'd NEVER come back to do the 2nd side. I was right. It didn't really hurt at all the next day but the wearing off of all the numbing stuff they pumped into my mouth hurt like h@((. I was not sedated, just the injections in my mouth.

I've had teeth pulled since then and it wasn't nearly that bad but I'd still do everything at once.

Good Luck,

M

2 moms found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I would say it depends. On how severe your infection is, how badly the roots are damaged......

I have had teeth pulled that I never felt come out and I never had pain or issue at all. They were so ready to come out they simply plucked them out.

Then I had one tooth pulled where the lower half of my face turned black and that half of my face just looked awful for days and days. I also bled for several days.

So if the teeth are damaged enough they'll come out easier and I say take them all at once. Then I'd say that taking a few then doing the rest later.

BUT if you are getting knocked out for them to be pulled I'd say do all of them at once so you don't have to do anesthesia twice.

1 mom found this helpful
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