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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU and being a big baby? Tooth extraction -

117 replies

seanconneryseyebrow · 03/05/2026 17:28

So after a week of excruciating pain I had my tooth extracted on Friday morning. So day 3 now. I’ve barely slept in a week, round the clock pain killers. Today I’m in so much pain, face massive, bruising. I’ve had four kids but this has knocked me for six. I just want to cry I’m so fed up.

Is it normal to feel in this much pain? Can your share your dental stories so I don’t feel like such a big baby. I can’t work I’ve basically been in bed for a week on round the clock painkillers, and there’s been tears too. V unlike me.

OP posts:
Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 03/05/2026 19:41

Allseeingallknowing · 03/05/2026 18:58

Root canal is uncomfortable, and takes a long time, but shouldn’t be painful. I’ve had several and it wasn’t as bad as a filling. You must have been unlucky.

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No I mean the pain of it beforehand was painful. The actual procedure was fine. Apart from dentist not numbing my mouth before injection.

Original poster
seanconneryseyebrow · 03/05/2026 19:23

Just called 111 they said a dentist will call me back within 12 hrs so that’s good. See what they say.

OP posts:
Londonrach1 · 03/05/2026 19:02

Im the biggest baby in the world re dentists and had to have a tooth out last year.....I literally had to be frog marched by a friend and locked into the dentist room to get it out...however the moment the tooth was out it was instant relief. If you in pain now sounds like a dry socket and you need to see the dentist asap. Yanbu by the way!!!! Dental pain is worse than giving birth

Doctor1988 · 03/05/2026 19:00

seanconneryseyebrow · 03/05/2026 18:43

Should I try and get an emergency dentist? Baring in mind today is Sunday and tomorrow is a bank holiday? I don’t want to waste my time and be out of bed (oh the thought) if this is just normal. Any dentists out there can advise??

Not a dentist but if the pain is that bad and ongoing I will say yes. If it’s dry socket they will be able to help with the pain!

PurpleParent · 03/05/2026 18:59

I had this - it was a dry socket plus an infection that needed two lots of antibiotics to get rid of, I was off work as well which I never do. Massive sympathy, I would rather go through labour again. Definitely go back to dentist so they can check how it’s healing. .

Allseeingallknowing · 03/05/2026 18:58

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 03/05/2026 18:52

Be thankful you don’t have a root canal needed to be done. The pain for that is awful. Went on overnight for me. The actual operation is fairly straightforward, luckily.

Root canal is uncomfortable, and takes a long time, but shouldn’t be painful. I’ve had several and it wasn’t as bad as a filling. You must have been unlucky.

Original poster
seanconneryseyebrow · 03/05/2026 18:58

I’m swapping from heat pack to ice pack. It helps hugely. Sleep seems like a distant memory. I’ve not slept longer than about 40 mins at a time for a week now. I’m going a bit ga-ga!

OP posts:
Original poster
seanconneryseyebrow · 03/05/2026 18:55

Yeh I think it’s worse than labour I have to say

OP posts:
Allseeingallknowing · 03/05/2026 18:55

OP- try a covered ice pack on the area, will ease bruising and pain. Plus, try also rubbing orajel on your face.

GothicCola · 03/05/2026 18:53

I was in more pain after I had my wisdom teeth out than I was after an emergency c-section. Hope you're feeling better soon.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 03/05/2026 18:52

Be thankful you don’t have a root canal needed to be done. The pain for that is awful. Went on overnight for me. The actual operation is fairly straightforward, luckily.

Original poster
seanconneryseyebrow · 03/05/2026 18:52

During the (horrific) procedure my mind wandered to thinking about people in the past who had no aesthetic. I mean it was bad enough either with it! Can u imagine? How did they cope? Must have passed out from the pain and then whoever was doing it (dentistry wasn’t even a thing was it?) would carry on with the pliers I guess.

I know I’m weird to be thinking that on the bed but I just wanted to focus on how I was lucky to not feel anything per se. The crunching was awful. And the jaw pain…omg!!!

OP posts:
Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 03/05/2026 18:50

Cnidarian · 03/05/2026 18:31

I recently had a wisdom tooth removed, it was sideways so surgery and the recovery was absolutely brutal. It really really varies depending on the complexity of the extraction and it sounds like yours was tough and this level of pain/swelling is normal in the worst cases. Definitely get sedated if you ever go through it again, at least I don't really remember it! Give the hospital a call if you're concerned and talk to a nurse who can see your notes and they will be able to advise you. Hope you feel better soon 💐

I was lucky I had a GA so knew nothing about it.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 03/05/2026 18:50

Cnidarian · 03/05/2026 18:31

I recently had a wisdom tooth removed, it was sideways so surgery and the recovery was absolutely brutal. It really really varies depending on the complexity of the extraction and it sounds like yours was tough and this level of pain/swelling is normal in the worst cases. Definitely get sedated if you ever go through it again, at least I don't really remember it! Give the hospital a call if you're concerned and talk to a nurse who can see your notes and they will be able to advise you. Hope you feel better soon 💐

mine was the same. Impacted. God it was horrendous, I feel your pain.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 03/05/2026 18:49

seanconneryseyebrow · 03/05/2026 18:27

Jeez that sounds horrific.

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Second. Dentists are sadists.

Original poster
seanconneryseyebrow · 03/05/2026 18:47

Cocodomal and ibuprofen. Round the clock

OP posts:
Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 03/05/2026 18:47

seanconneryseyebrow · 03/05/2026 18:43

Should I try and get an emergency dentist? Baring in mind today is Sunday and tomorrow is a bank holiday? I don’t want to waste my time and be out of bed (oh the thought) if this is just normal. Any dentists out there can advise??

You could try but there might not be any appointments. Clove oil is meant to be good for pain. What painkillers do you have?

Original poster
seanconneryseyebrow · 03/05/2026 18:46

Haha. I didn’t but I saw it! Looked like a hooked dinosaur tooth. It was massive

OP posts:
Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 03/05/2026 18:45

I kept the tooth too!

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 03/05/2026 18:45

I had an impacted wisdom tooth removed a few years ago in dental hospital. They remove part of your jaw bone too. I was young and it was my birthday so asked for antibiotics to drink with. It was so painful I didn’t like cleaning the area and winded up back at my dentist who gave me proper antibiotics and told me off! I had lovely bruising too. The rest of my wisdom teeth have never bothered me!

Original poster
seanconneryseyebrow · 03/05/2026 18:43

Should I try and get an emergency dentist? Baring in mind today is Sunday and tomorrow is a bank holiday? I don’t want to waste my time and be out of bed (oh the thought) if this is just normal. Any dentists out there can advise??

OP posts:
Imaribenaberry · 03/05/2026 18:43

Having teeth extracted has a huge impact on your body, sounds like you had a terrible time and not being a baby at all! A few days in bed is quite normal and hopefully you’ll start to feel better tomorrow. Gentle salt water rinses but don’t swish it around the site or you’ll disturb how the socket is healing.

FrLarryDuff · 03/05/2026 18:41

Oh, you poor thing. The procedure sounds horrendous and now the wretched aftermath.

I have had broken and unsalvageable molars removed but it was extremely straightforward.

Hope tomorrow is a better day.

Ihatelittlefriendsusan · 03/05/2026 18:40

If your face is burning it is likely you have an infection.

I had to have a massive molar extraction done a few weeks before my wedding a few years ago. It hurt like fuck for a couple of hours but after that was fine. What you are describing is not normal. You need to see an emergency dentist asap

Jackiepumpkinhead · 03/05/2026 18:38

skiprun · 03/05/2026 18:35

You will know about it if you have dry socket. It was the most excruciating pain I’ve ever experienced. I couldnt talk, couldn’t eat drink, anything, couldn’t even think straight. It was horrendous. The pain was ‘in’ the extraction zone though and pulsating

The pulsating is horrendous isn’t it! I remember being woken up by the pain (surprised I even managed to sleep) and felt like someone had taken a jack hammer to my jaw.