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Original poster

Suffering after teeth removed - how long to recover?

26 replies

SinkGirl · 05/02/2021 21:44

About 18 months ago I was referred to have two molars removed under sedation - they had been filed when I was young, both teeth had broken and I was too scared to see a dentist until I had recurrent infections. They referred me as I could barely sit in the chair. I’d had sedation for a filling in one of the teeth years before and it worked really well so I was relieved.

Then it got cancelled due to COVID and was finally scheduled for yesterday. In the meantime one of my wisdom teeth and the tooth next to it was causing me pain.

I went in, they did an xray and said they could put fillings in the two teeth but they might fail, then I would need a root canal. And they don’t do those under sedation. Or I could have them removed too. I panicked and agreed as I couldn’t have that with no sedation.

So I had the sedation which barely worked, I was aware of everything going on and crying more due to the fear than the pain. They took out three molars and a wisdom tooth, both sides of my mouth are affected.

I can barely open my mouth, I can’t eat, i look like I’ve been in a fight. I’m now quite shocked that they didn’t agree to book me in for a second appointment to have the other two removed or fill them instead - I’ve never had a tooth out before and I had no idea it would be this bad.

I don’t think it’s dry socket as it’s not excruciating but can barely talk, really struggling. I have stitches where they took out the wisdom tooth and adjacent molar on the top, but none on the bottom two which I think is normal.

Please tell me I will feel better tomorrow? I’m using Corsodyl as per the instructions I got and praying there won’t be an infection!

OP posts:

Dilliontrollhair · 05/02/2021 21:48

Hi, I lost all my teeth by age 28. If you have children they should never have operated on both sides! Mine were hereditary sadly, all our family have bad teeth. But I was told they either do 1 side then the other another time or the top oneday and bottom another.
I didnt find it particularly painful as I hated the damn things and never wanted toothache again. But just keep dosing up on painkillers and doing your salt rinses which are vile! It shouldnt take too long :)

TwinkleMerrick · 05/02/2021 21:53

I had a wisdom tooth taken out and after a few days dry socket developed and I had to go back to hospital to have it cleaned out and packed. I got so poorly with it, worst pain ever. I really feel for you. I was told not to drink through a straw because it can stop the blood clot forming in the hole which then means you can develop dry socket.

Lots of pain meds, cool flannel on the face and soft food. I hope it heals quickly for you xx

PotTheBlackScrewBack · 05/02/2021 21:54

I am not surprised you feel rough. Both sides plus sedation is tough. Just give it time. I thought it should be salt rinse at this stage as opposed to medicated mouthwash but I am not an expert.

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Original poster

SinkGirl · 05/02/2021 21:55

Oh bless you. Yes, I have twins who are 4 and both disabled - thank god DH is working from home. It’s both sides at the bottom and one side at the top and now I’ve experienced it I would never have agreed to it.

Luckily I have strong pain relief on prescription due to another condition so at least I’m not reliant on paracetamol and ibuprofen only. The pain is manageable, it’s the difficulty talking, eating, opening my mouth which is getting me down.

It was on the NHS and I can’t imagine they’d ever do this if it was a private appointment but sedation privately is obscenely expensive due to the need for an anaesthetist.

I’m so sorry you lost all your teeth, that must have been so hard. Mine were badly affected by a medication I was on years ago - I take good care of them now but the damage is already done. I expect they won’t be the last teeth I need to have removed.

I could have had it done at the hospital who told me that they would do one side at a time but due to COVID would only do it with a local and my own dentist could have done that.

This definitely hasn’t helped my phobia at all - it feels a bit sadistic to be honest!

OP posts:

Original poster

SinkGirl · 05/02/2021 21:56

They said salt rinse or medicated mouthwash and I figured the mouthwash would be better? But I will alternate tomorrow. Trying not to swoosh too much as so scared of dry socket happening and since there are 4 it seems like there’s a good chance of that.

To be honest I’m more scared of going in and having it messed with than of the pain of dry socket - I really really hate bloody dentists.

OP posts:

DishedUp · 05/02/2021 21:56

It will take a couple of days. Some people are fine after a day, some people take a week or so.

Its quite normal to have them all out in one go. They didn't book you in for fillings because you said you wanted them out

StepawayfromtheBiscuittin · 05/02/2021 21:57

I had all four of my wisdom teeth out at once under sedation. Found the pain much much worse than I had expected but it went after a couple of days. Nights were the hardest as I couldn't get comfortable to sleep.
I've had three kids, three c sections and various ops for a badly broken arm. The pain after my teeth were removed was by far the worst.
Take all the painkillers you are permitted to, keep warm, use the cordysol or salt water to keep out infection and try and rest.

DishedUp · 05/02/2021 22:00

If you'd had it done over 2 appointments you'd just have to go through this twice. Many people have more teeth than that remove both privately and on the NHS everyday. Its really fairly standard to remove teeth on both sides in one go, especially if having treatment under sedation or general. Some people have all their teeth removed in one go

Original poster

SinkGirl · 05/02/2021 22:04

I only know that our regular dentist said they wouldn’t do both sides of the mouth at the same time, and so did the hospital.

I can’t imagine anyone having all their teeth removed, they must be in so much pain.

Of course I’m glad I don’t have to go through it again but really regretting agreeing to it now!

OP posts:

user1471538283 · 05/02/2021 22:05

It took me at least a week to start to feel better and that was with one tooth! I took ibuprofen for the swelling and then two hours later paracetamol on a loop. I rinsed with salt water. I rested and made sure I didn't bend over. I hope you feel better soon

Original poster

SinkGirl · 05/02/2021 22:06

@user1471538283

I’m sorry you had such a tough recovery. Fingers crossed it gets a bit easier in the next few days. Maybe I’ll lose a bit of weight I guess 😬

OP posts:

Dilliontrollhair · 05/02/2021 22:09

I dont think I ever had dry sockets. There was always this horrible white jelly that sets in and the urge to poke it with tongue in unreal, im glad you are coping. Ahhh having my teeth removed was the best, I have dentures that are lovely and straight and white!

Dilliontrollhair · 05/02/2021 22:13

I also had blunted off teeth level with gum which had to be levered out with a metal tool. Oddly I cried as I didnt want sedation due to my phobia of vomiting, so I went in and managed 8 in one go. The front eye teeth cringed me out though. you will be so happy once its all healed! Just think "no more tooth trouble"

mineofuselessinformation · 05/02/2021 22:13

It sounds very much like when I had all four wisdom teeth out.
The inside of my cheeks swelled so much I couldn't bite for a while.
I had liquidised food for about two weeks, partly because I couldn't open my mouth wide enough to bite anything, never mind brush my teeth!
I rinsed with diluted peroxide, as that was what was recommended then.
I also had bruising (I was at Uni, and a guy I knew offered to beat my boyfriend up if he had done it!)
After the two weeks, it got a lot better, although my jaw was clicky for quite a while.

Annamaywong25 · 05/02/2021 22:20

That's a lot to have out in one go. Last Feb I had an abcess under a tooth and had it out. The actual work wasn't too bad but by the time the anaesthetic had worn off I was still in a lot of pain and feeling very sorry for myself indeed. Ended up going back three days later and got antibiotics as the abcess hadn't cleared despite the tooth being removed, and my face was still really swollen. I would give it a day or two to let it all settle down, but go back if you're not feeling "on the mend" by Monday.

Original poster

SinkGirl · 05/02/2021 22:34

@Dilliontrollhair

You are so brave, I don’t know how you managed all that. Bet it’s nice you have teeth that you can replace without pain if needed! Awful you had to go through that first though.

I’ve had six laparoscopies, my gallbladder removed, an emergency caesarean where the spinal went wrong 6 times before they finally got it in properly and I almost amputated my arm once and had it repaired while I was conscious, and had my eyelid stitched back together... this is why I’m terrified of needles and especially needles in weird places like my mouth!

Was so upset when I could feel them doing the injections as that’s the reason I had the sedation in the first place.

Fingers crossed it will calm down over the weekend!

OP posts:

Iwasonceabrownie · 05/02/2021 22:34

As a dental nurse I remember seeing a chap have 28 out in one go. This was back in the day but I can still remember wincing as they came out. Try not to dislodge the clots that have formed in the sockets, they will keep food etc out of them.

Original poster

SinkGirl · 05/02/2021 22:35

@Annamaywong25

I will definitely call my dentist on Monday if it’s still bad. Definitely don’t want the pain of another infection, luckily haven’t had one for ages so hopefully it will heal okay.

OP posts:

Original poster

SinkGirl · 05/02/2021 22:36

@Iwasonceabrownie

I would honestly rather nearly chop off my arm again - I think I would have a heart attack if I had to do that! That’s awful.

OP posts:

lyralalala · 05/02/2021 22:58

I had pretty much all my teeth taken out in one go. They did it under GA because I can't have sedation (and because of the sheer amount of work).

My tips would be take your painkillers regularly, even if you're not in pain at that exact moment.
I used cold compresses on my cheek and jaw because the pulling about just made them ache and the cold helped.

Don't hesitate to get checked out at any hint of infection and if the painkillers aren't working ask for better ones. It's horrid for 4/5 days in my experience, but much better than having to face it a few times over.

Original poster

SinkGirl · 05/02/2021 23:07

Oh bless you, that must have been so awful. I get the relief to get it over with though - after yesterday I would struggle to go back again!

Hopefully the worst will be over by Monday. No sign of infection, it’s the swelling that’s causing me most trouble but I guess that’s just normal. Will keep an eye though.

OP posts:

Nat6999 · 05/02/2021 23:10

I had a wisdom tooth out during lockdown, it had broken vertically in two & the dentist broke it while trying to get it out, he ended up using something that looked like a tyre lever to get the root out. I was on Ibuprofen & dihydracodeine for about a week afterwards, my cheekbone & upper jaw felt like I had been in a fight.

earsup · 05/02/2021 23:16

It can vary...I had one molar removed and was fine after a few days and some years later had another one out and pain was awful....I had it done in spain and dentist gave me these little satchets you mixed with water and all the pain went in 20 mins....rinse with salt water when you can....it will get better....

lyralalala · 05/02/2021 23:38

@SinkGirl

Oh bless you, that must have been so awful. I get the relief to get it over with though - after yesterday I would struggle to go back again!

Hopefully the worst will be over by Monday. No sign of infection, it’s the swelling that’s causing me most trouble but I guess that’s just normal. Will keep an eye though.

That's likely why they did them in one go. Molars and wisdom teeth are so difficult to get out because of where they are and the roots that you would end up not getting them all out so would end up with constant infections and problems.

That's why they did mine in one go (my parents were drug addicts and alcoholics - I always had a bad teeth my entire life) because they said there was no way I'd have got it done three or four at a time.

Cold compresses are great with the swelling. Just 5/10 minutes at a time can help ease the pain from it.

sunnysidegold · 06/02/2021 00:47

I had my wisdom teeth removed in my Kate teens and it was uncomfortable for a couple of days.

A few years ago I had a failed root canal and needed the tooth removed. I was all blasé about previously being fine with extractions.

It was so sore. I had it done on a Friday afternoon and I was so glad because I think I would've needed the next day off work. I felt very sorry for myself. Things were much better by the Monday though.

Hope you're feeling better soon. I can't believe the bad luck you've had medically!

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