(Human) tooth extraction and horses.

[kookicat]

I have to have a back tooth extracted. I've never have one taken out before and I'm not what to expect.

Can anyone share how they coped with having a tooth out and riding/barn work? Am I okay to even ride? Is there anything I should avoid doing? (Did have a hay delivery booked for the same day)

(I'm planning to ask this when I go back- just didn't have a lot of time on Friday)

Thanks!

[magnolia73]

I was given Valium and painkillers, so out of commision post surgery. You don't want to do anything "sucky" like smoke ciggies or drink from a straw (they want the hole in the gum to clot). Probably don't plan on hard work that day- they pack you with gauze to stop the bleeding and you would not want to choke on it.

I'd say you could do simple stuff- muck, feed, turn out. But maybe not ride or exert yourself stacking hay.

[kookicat]

I was given Valium and painkillers, so out of commision post surgery. You don't want to do anything "sucky" like smoke ciggies or drink from a straw (they want the hole in the gum to clot). Probably don't plan on hard work that day- they pack you with gauze to stop the bleeding and you would not want to choke on it.

I'd say you could do simple stuff- muck, feed, turn out. But maybe not ride or exert yourself stacking hay.

Thanks, this is what I was looking for. So no hard work (Means I get out of stacking hay! ;) ) but barn work should be fine.

No ciggies here :) but I'll remember not to use a straw.

Thanks!

[silver2]

Depending on what they use for a sedative/ anesthetic you'll probably be woozy all day and possibly part of the next day. So don't plan on driving or operating heavy machinery.

You really want the thing to clot (really! dry socket is miserable) so I'd personally avoid any heavy lifting for a few days.

[magnolia73]

Yeah- a lot depends on the sedative/anesthetic. I have had extractions with just novocaine. It isn't that bad. But not exactly pleasant. That is probably the best route if you have work to do. Headphones will kill the noise.....

[kookicat]

Thanks. I'm not having any sedation (have problems with a lot of them) just the injections. My Ipod is a must! :)

My SO will have to stack the hay for me. :)

[riverbell93]

Personally, I'd stay out of the barn for that day, to prevent dust, manure, etc. from getting a chance to get in there. They give you gauze to bite down on, and it's often neccessary to change the gauze as the bleeding continues for quite a while, so you're going to potentially be sticking your fingers near this open wound.

I had a tooth extracted a few years ago, so my condolences on yours. I was given Roxicet for pain, and that worked beautifully. If I ever decide to become an addict, that's what I'm choosing - I was a happy, mellow, serene being of light right up to the moment I passed out for 15 hours of sleep.

Another thing you're supposed to avoid for a while after having a tooth out is spitting - as with sucking, it risks dislodging the blot clot that's forming over the empty space.

[trubandloki]

I have had several molars pulled. I have what I call chalk like teeth. Darn genetics.
I have never had gas or such, just Novacane (sp?).

I think how much you can do afterwards is a personal thing. I managed to clean all my stalls that I did to work off my board the afternoon after my tooth was pulled.

[up-at-5]

I had tooth number 18 yanked two weeks ago(second from last molar on bottom left). The procedure was fine, took less than an hour, and no kidding, I was eating pistachios later that afternoon, on the other side of my mouth, mind you. By the next day I was eating all food just fine, the only problem was when I forgot, and tried to chew with the gaping hole. No pain meds needed within 24 hours, and I was in my riding lesson 2 days later, although being two weeks post-op on my shoulder surgery, this was "probably" not a wise thing to do.

I had a bit of facial swelling for about three days, that's it.

[zakattack]

i had two teeth pulled about two winters ago now, and went and team penned with some friends just about right after. i kept the gauze in my mouth while i rode

hah, probably not the smartest idea, though i had no issues. i think it all depends on your pain tolerance level, and i think that riverbell had a good point about cleanliness.

wait a day, longer if you are uncomfortable

[bludejavu]

I'll second who-ever said you do NOT want dry socket - I developed it in three places when I had my wisdom teeth removed and it is extremely painful, especially when they have to keep packing medicated gauze down in the sockets for several days! As far as riding or doing horsey chores, you definitely have to wait and just see how well you tolerate it and what kind of pain meds you will be on. Pain meds affect people so differently that there's no way to predict what you'll be up to. But do whatever it takes to protect the clot that forms in the socket - take it from me - that particular pain is one you don't want to endure!

[BuddyRoo]

Talk to your oral surgeon/dentist.

It's been awhile since I had major extractions (wisdom teeth)...but the main thing I recall was that I needed to really keep my BP down or my mouth would start throbbing and bleeding.

At the time, I was in HS...played soccer and rode. Running? Bad idea. You could get away with some light hacking...but anything that causes an increase in heart rate should probably be avoided for 4-7 days or until your recheck.

Will they be suturing or no?

[kookicat]

I don't know yet BuddyRoo- I'll find out on Monday. She didn't want to mess with it too much because of the infection. It's actually burst out of the side of my gum. :no:

I'm dreading getting a dry socket. I've seen my Mum suffer through of one those. I do not want one!! :o

Thanks everyone. My dentist isn't a horse person so I'm not sure she really gets what I mean when I say yard work, or riding. :)

[BuddyRoo]

Well, I worked in a dental office for awhile...so I will give you "our" recommendations...but I'm not a dentist nor do I play one on TV.

After an extraction:

-no sucking through straws, no sucking on candy
-no gum
-mashed foods and soft foods only. No food like nuts, popcorn, meat, raw veggies that could get stuck in the extraction site.
-no hot drinks like coffee or tea
-steer clear of caffeine
-gargle with the chlorhexidine rinse (or other) as provided/instructed or use the syringe to rinse out as instructed
-no exertion that will increase your heart rate until after the recheck in 7-10 days. This includes heavy lifting, running, swimming. (and riding!)
-Use cold compresses and pain meds as indicated
-Monitor your temp. If you spike a fever, contact your Dr. immediately.
-If severe pain persists more than 48 hours, contact your Dr. immediately.
-If inhaling causes sharp pain, contact your Dr. immediately (can indicate dry socket)

yada yada

IE: no serious riding. no mucking. no lifting. you need to plan to take a week off.

[BlueEyedSorrel]

Well, I was a bad patient, I was on my old packer mare, just hacking around, within 2 days of having all 4 wisdom teeth out. Not the brightest move but I survived....

However, I suggest you clean tack if you feel like you just HAVE to do SOMETHING while recuperating. Seriously, that's what I did the day after I had my wisdom teeth out. I had a weird reaction to the Percocet they gave me. Instead of getting sleepy and mellow, I was anxious and couldn't sleep or sit still or follow a tv program. So i cleaned every saddle and bridle I owned:D, polished the silver on my western show saddle, cleaned bits with an old toothbrush. Everything looked so nice and shiny when I was done.:lol:

I also hallucinated while coming out of the anesthesia and thought I was in a stable...a rainbow colored castle of a stable, filled with pastel colored ponies.:eek: The one and only time in my life that I understood why a person would get addicted to mind altering substances! Cuz I really, really wanted to go back to all the pretty ponies!

BES

[kookicat]

Well, I worked in a dental office for awhile...so I will give you "our" recommendations...but I'm not a dentist nor do I play one on TV.

After an extraction:

-no sucking through straws, no sucking on candy
-no gum
-mashed foods and soft foods only. No food like nuts, popcorn, meat, raw veggies that could get stuck in the extraction site.
-no hot drinks like coffee or tea
-steer clear of caffeine
-gargle with the chlorhexidine rinse (or other) as provided/instructed or use the syringe to rinse out as instructed
-no exertion that will increase your heart rate until after the recheck in 7-10 days. This includes heavy lifting, running, swimming. (and riding!)
-Use cold compresses and pain meds as indicated
-Monitor your temp. If you spike a fever, contact your Dr. immediately.
-If severe pain persists more than 48 hours, contact your Dr. immediately.
-If inhaling causes sharp pain, contact your Dr. immediately (can indicate dry socket)

yada yada

IE: no serious riding. no mucking. no lifting. you need to plan to take a week off.

Thanks, that's great :)

My horsey beds are very light and easy to muck- do you think that would be okay? I don't get out of breath/raised heartrate at all while mucking out, and there's only three of them. (If not, I can do them in the AM, but they'll have to be left until the next morning when my SO can muck them for me.)

BES- love the coloured ponies! :D Ooh, I could give my show stuff a good cleaning. Now there's an idea.

[AppendixQHLover]

I would not do anything the day of the surgery. I get a reaction to novocaine that makes me really cold, and shake. I had 4 teeth taken out at once and was feeling great the next day. Hubby...well he whined for a week over one coming out.

[bludejavu]

I get a reaction to novocaine that makes me really cold, and shake.

I have that type of reaction coming out from under anesthesia. My doctor told me the body's own thermostat slows down and it takes awhile to get it cranked back up again for certain people (like us!). They have to put special warming blankets on me when I come out from under or I will shake violently. Novacaine doesn't do it to me though.

[eclipse]

Well, I worked in a dental office for awhile...so I will give you "our" recommendations...but I'm not a dentist nor do I play one on TV.

After an extraction:

-no sucking through straws, no sucking on candy
-no gum
-mashed foods and soft foods only. No food like nuts, popcorn, meat, raw veggies that could get stuck in the extraction site.
-no hot drinks like coffee or tea
-steer clear of caffeine
-gargle with the chlorhexidine rinse (or other) as provided/instructed or use the syringe to rinse out as instructed
-no exertion that will increase your heart rate until after the recheck in 7-10 days. This includes heavy lifting, running, swimming. (and riding!)
-Use cold compresses and pain meds as indicated
-Monitor your temp. If you spike a fever, contact your Dr. immediately.
-If severe pain persists more than 48 hours, contact your Dr. immediately.
-If inhaling causes sharp pain, contact your Dr. immediately (can indicate dry socket)

yada yada

IE: no serious riding. no mucking. no lifting. you need to plan to take a week off.

Agree with all (I'm an ex-dental assistant) BUT the only other recommendation we used to say:
Put a colt, wet, used tea bag on the extraction site. The tannic acid in the tea is REALLY good for helping the healing!

If you do experiance excessive pain afterwards, get thee to a dentist ASAP to get it packed. Dry socket is very painful & you do not want to "try to suck it up & live with it"!

[Huntertwo]

I have to have a back tooth extracted. I've never have one taken out before and I'm not what to expect.

Can anyone share how they coped with having a tooth out and riding/barn work? Am I okay to even ride? Is there anything I should avoid doing? (Did have a hay delivery booked for the same day)

(I'm planning to ask this when I go back- just didn't have a lot of time on Friday)

Thanks!

I'd probably skip the hay delivery. You're probably going to feel crappy and wiped out, if not from the anesthesia, just from the stress of the experience.

I had a tooth extracted in September and slept most of the day afterward.

As far as riding? You can ask your Dentist, but generally you'll know best by the way you feel.

Are you having General Anesthesia or just Novocaine?

[Huntertwo]

Put a colt, wet, used tea bag on the extraction site.

I don't think a colt would fit...lol :winkgrin:

[enjoytheride]

I had a tooth extracted at 7pm then went to work the next day at 7am, worked for 8 hours, then went to the barn and rode. I had injections but no sedation and I never took the vicodin although I did take the entire round of antibiotics and I took the max dose of tylenol for 24 hours. I ate soup for about 2 days so my energy level was low but I'm hypoglycemic so it was mostly that. I'm tiny, live alone, and I'm stubborn so I didn't want to lie comatose on the floor or die from the vicodin.

I'm really pain tollerant though, but I'd say if you can get tossed from a horse and break a rib then get back on and show for the rest of the day you can probably deal with just tylenol and work the next day.

[Foxtrot's]

Kookie - Just spoil yourself - enjoy the downtime. Sounds like you've been sucking it up enough with the infection coming out.

How's life in the village - I'm sure your followers will be interested. You could give a quick update post?

If it's any comfort, my greyhound had eight teeth out last year and l4 teeth out this month
(total 22). She came through it just fine and is back on cruchies, although I haven't figured out quite how.