What do do about this? Tooth extraction

I had all four wisdoms out at once at the dentist in my teens. Was in the chair all of half an hour. So I'm confused as to why they're saying you have to wait a year.

Can you afford to pay privately, just to get it done? If so, you'll likely be able to have your extraction(s) next week... and likely by the same dentist.

My DH has recently had a whole lot of dental work (root canal, crown etc) done which, all in, has cost us the best part of £2k - part NHS/part private - but all work carried out by the same dentist, who's basically admitted to doing the best job 'we' can afford. As opposed to THE best job.

At this point, I'm convinced dentists just see the ££££s!

@holybaloni my husband had his four wisdom teeth out privately, including one with stitches, two were at bad angles and black and broken into bits and it cost around £400. This was with local anaesthetic and was with a dental surgery that had a dental surgeon. A lot cheaper than a private hospital.

The long waiting lists is because the hospitals do it for free on the NHS and there are simply not enough oral surgeons to cope with the NHS demand. If the sister surgery can't do it then the alternative is to have it done privately if you can afford it. My DD had all four wisdoms out within a few weeks of referral (two were growing completely horizontal) but of course it wasn't cheap.

Can they not pull the molar under local anesthetic? Same time is preferable from their pov as saves time and money but if its hurting you then I think they may be able to. Ask them. Don't wait till it becomes a bigger problem.

@holybaloni it did but it did flare up several times and made him feel rotten with raised temperature. Each time it got a little worse but he only had the antibiotics the last time and stronger painkillers from the GP, the earlier times he managed with paracetomol and ibruphren. He wasn't given any option but to wait for the general anaesthetic at the hospital although he did ring the hospital department up to try to expedite it a couple of times as he works in the same hospital. Worth a try and offer to take any cancellations that come up. These types of extractions are too complex for a normal dentist, apparently they sometimes have to take bone from the jaw to get them out , not trying to frighten you as he was absolutely fine having it done, he had the other side taken out too at the same time as that was impacted also, although the tooth next to that one was OK. He needed a few days off work after it.

I would go and see a different dentist, or maybe a couple.

Get a second and third opinion.

Sometimes other dentists are more willing (and capable) of extracting them.

Some dentists may just be lazy and not want to do it, so refer instead.

Have you opted to have the tooth out under a general anaesthetic? If so, you might be able to get it done more quickly under a local.

I had a partially erupted impacted wisdom tooth removed in hospital a couple of years ago. My dentist said there was about a 6 month wait to have it done under a local, but up to a year under a general. I opted for local and in the event only had to wait about 4 months.

My son had exactly the same problem, impacted wisdom tooth had caused decay in the tooth next to it and needed extracting under general anaesthetic in hospital. He asked if the tooth with the decay could be removed by the normal dentist as he got an abscess under it but was told not. I can't remember the exact explanation but something like it would make it more difficult to get the impacted wisdom tooth out due to bone growth. He needed antibiotics and strong painkillers at one point. He actually waited three years in the end but the first year was due to a mistake in sending the referral by the dentist and the rest blamed on covid waiting lists. It was all fine in the end after the extractions.

I’d definitely ask if there’s a possibility of having it removed separately and sooner. I recently had mine removed on the NHS and the wait was just a couple of weeks, just outside London, so I suspect a private one would manage to fit you in!

I've had a very similar scenario - molar damaged by a sideways wisdom tooth. My dentist tried to save the molar by doing an extensive filling on it in October and referred me to the dental hospital to remove the wisdom tooth. From that moment onwards I was in agony with constant infections, constant back and forth, my dentist tried to remove the molar but couldn't get me numb and tried to do the removal 3 times where I could feel everything. After a lot of upset, back and forth, and constant pain, I was finally given an appointment last week to have the molar out under sedation. The wisdom tooth remains and they aren't bothered about removing it now the molar is out. It's been awful and traumatic so I really feel for you. If I'd have known how it was going to play out, I'd have found a way to pay the thousands to have it done privately.

It can be but the private dentists are all booked up apparently. Well mine is and if I try and find a new practice they charge me £200+ JUST for a “new patient consultation” and that’s without an x ray

i understand why the wisdom tooth needs to be extracted at a hospital, but can the molar not be extracted sooner?

@Bignanna thats exactly how it works here as well. They literally wait until it’s abscess before referring to hospital. My dentist won’t even do his own root canal treatment 😂 that’s a referral as well (to an even pricier dental surgery which charges £290 for a new patient consultation on top of the £1k ish Root Canal Treatment!)

It’s an absolute piss take.

Thats a full months wages for me!

Perhaps your dentist could contact the hospital’s dental department and arrange for it to be done as an emergency? They shouldn’t wait until it’s at the abscess stage. A year long wait is unacceptable.

Why were you referred to the hospital? Can your own doctor not remove it?

@holybaloni I’m with you, I want it taken out but they keep saying 1) it’ll heal 2) RCT if you want it and 3) we will always try and save a tooth and extract only when necessary.

I just want it gone and I am also going abroad so want it sorted before August. Extraction waiting times are long as well here (South West)

I hope you get it sorted :(