Drugs and Wisdom Teeth Question

[HardcoreRobot]

Ok, so today I went to an appointment for a doc to check out my wisdom teeth. I was filling out all of the required background info and came across the following question. "Have you EVERdone any illegal drugs (oral or IV)?" I was like WTF. Plus my mom is sitting there next to me as I fill it out. Now I may or may not have smoked a little wacky tobaccy now and then, but is this really pertinent to wisdom teeth extraction surgery? And, hypothetically, do you think it would be a problem if I answered NO when, again hypothetically, I may actually have smoked a lil somethin somethin? Your thoughts, please!

 

[Jfur]

I am not a doctor, but I can't see how that would affect your surgery. hyothetically speaking, make sure to avoid any drugs, including aspirin, etc., before surgery. They did not ask me that -- maybe they were screening for HIV? Did they asl any other odd questions (i.e., you sex life?)

 

[HardcoreRobot]

They also asked about if I drink alcohol socially or regularly (i dont know how what type of drinker i am matters) and if I use or have ever used tobacco products. On a side note, is a cigarette or two every couple weeks considered smoking or using tobacco? Or how about just trying once? Anyways, the doc went over the usual stuff - no eating drinking blah blah blah before surgery. They didnt ask anything about my sex life (but that would have been a very "long" answer ). They did have stuff on there about being pregnant or on the pill and other stuff along those lines which I assume I didnt need to answer

 

[Jfur]

well, all of those things can affect your reaction to the anesthetic and can thin the blood perhaps? (but the time frame would not be that long) you could have VERY serious interaction effects. hopefully, someone here has a more formal medical background? i know they did not ask me if i took illegal drugs "EVER" when i went to have mine removed.

 

[bacillus]

that sort of lifestyle question is an indirect enquiry regarding hepatitis & aids risk!

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

Well, I cannot vouch for the validity the practice but when my brother underwent reconstructive nose surgery they had to go lighter on the anesthetic due to his heavy use of pot (prior to the surgery).

 

[vash]

Just lie the on that question. They just want some info on you, but everyone fills that out with a blatant no. I know I did.

On a side note, I had my wisdom teeth taken out last Friday -- all three of 'em. Not painful when being done and sore for a few days, but I'll never worry about it again.

vash

 

[Jfur]

<< Well, I cannot vouch for the validity the practice but when my brother underwent reconstructive nose surgery they had to go lighter on the anesthetic due to his heavy use of pot (prior to the surgery). >>



but was this *just* prior (a few weeks), or months or years? a week would make sense, but when you were eleven doesn't this definitely makes sense, though.

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

Probably weeks (if not days), months doubtful, definitely not years.

 

[CaptainHotbeef]

I'm a dentist in PA and the reason we ask questions like that is to get some idea about the patient's history. Not only are we concerned about HIV risk, but also Hepatitis C, which is easier to transmit from a needlestick injury than HIV. We also ask about drug use because cocaine can interact with local anesthetics that are commonly used, such as lidocaine with epinephrine. An interaction is rare but can occur and result in hypertensive crisis, myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrest.

hope this helps

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Well... It also just straight up asked if I had any hepatitis, HIV, or any other venereal disease!

 

[Squisher]

As a side note--

80% of the people with Hepatitis C don't even know they have it.

 

[yellowperil]

bacillus is correct, as usual

 

[CattyKathy]

I think it's more because alcohol causes the blood to go thinner, and some drugs do that too, and he's asking cuz ur having a surgery here and he was wondering if ur gonna be pouring blood. Like Asprin thins your blood. Wacky tobacco doesn't do anything, but you should quit that anyways He's asking for a more, deeper, harsher drugs, like the &quot;powder&quot; kinds which some of them do thin your blood too so.... got it?

 

[bonkers325]

<< Well, I cannot vouch for the validity the practice but when my brother underwent reconstructive nose surgery they had to go lighter on the anesthetic due to his heavy use of pot (prior to the surgery). >>



whoa

 

[bonkers325]

<< As a side note--

80% of the people with Hepatitis C don't even know they have it. >>



so no signs

 

[HardcoreRobot]

I definitely understand how drugs, both legal and illegal can affect a surgery. The same goes for pre-existing health conditions or diseases. What I dont understand is why they have to phrase it as &quot;EVER&quot; (and this was all caps and underlined) use illegal drugs. If there is a problem with cocaine, they would have more success coming out and saying that it can cause problems and if i &quot;happen&quot; to have used any within x amount of time, they should delay the surgery for my sake. To me it seemed like I was on trial or something! It doesnt really bother me or anything, just kinda makes me quizzical.