I got an IV anesthetic. They put the IV in, then after a couple minutes you are mostly (but not totally) under. I remember it getting fuzzy and saying to the doctor, "it's kicking in" or something.
Once you're out, they give you the shot to cut off the nerves that lead to your mouth. The classic freezing numbs you for a couple hours.
During the surgery (which lasted maybe 15 minutes), I was vaguely conscience, sometimes more than others. I only remember a couple brief glimpses, and there was no pain.
Once they stopped giving me the anesthetic, I was conscious in about 5 minutes, and able to function within a couple minutes of that. There was no grogginess or hangover, but my mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton (because it was; well, gauze, same thing). They gave me a couple Advil and a Tylenol 3 while I was just waking up.
All that was about 6 hours ago. I haven't taken anything since then, and it hurts a little, but not much. It's still bleeding, which sucks, I really hope the bleeding stops soon, I'm sick of this stupid gauze in my mouth. I suspect that the gauze is causing more pain than the teeth, because I can't close my mouth right.
The only thing that really sucks: I can't eat today. I couldn't have breakfast, and now I can't eat until at least tomorrow. I get to live on Apple Juice and Ginger Ale.
