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Original poster

Dental procedure tomorrow. I'm shitting myself

37 replies

Workyticket · 03/01/2023 20:11

Prior to 2022 I'd not been to the dentist for years and years. I started a thread here and people were amazing at getting me to go

Ice been a couple of times to put a plan in place and have my teeth cleaned

I'm booked in with a dental surgeon tomorrow (not my usual practice- they had to refer me to a different place for this) to remove the bit of my tooth that's left below the gum line after the rest snapped off.

I'm shitting myself - does anyone know what I can expect please?

OP posts:

Bigdamnheroes · 03/01/2023 20:20

It will likely be ridiculously quick. I've had that done once, a tooth removed that was basically entirely filling with not much above the gumline.

Took about 15 minutes and didn't hurt. Bled a little but was almost completely healed 2 weeks later. Just don't have anything very hot or very cold for a day afterwards and don't use a straw or smoke for a week. You'll be absolutely fine.

Original poster

Workyticket · 03/01/2023 20:23

Thanks - there's no tooth above the gum line except maybe a 1mm spike

It cracked down the middle, half fell out and the dentist snipped off what was left visible after a gum needle. She couldn't get at what was left 😫

OP posts:

Fulmar · 03/01/2023 20:23

I wouldn't worry if I were you. A few months ago my youngest (11) damaged her two front bottom teeth - one knocked out completely and the other broken below the gum line. She never had any pain or discomfort with what they did when they took out the partial tooth remaining below the gum line. A couple of injections, they do their stuff and out it comes. Can't remember how long it took but it was all over in about 15 mins I think. It seemed even easier than having a simple filling. She was understandably nervous but didn't notice anything bad at all. Believe me, your worrying beforehand will be much worse than the procedure.

Interested in this thread?

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Dental health General health

FannyFifer · 03/01/2023 20:26

You will be fine, i had a lot of dental anxiety but have massive problems with my teeth so I've cured myself I've been at the dentist so much.
The numbing is the worst, they are experts, I just close my eyes and zone out, keep breathing, concentrate on that. U can do it. X

LaLuz7 · 03/01/2023 20:26

I've had three wisdom teeth taken out, including one which was positioned very weirdly, growing horizontally and still covered by the gum, which came out in pieces. It was less scary than anticipated. Felt no pain, just weird pulling. Healing took a couple days and a couple painkillers but was really quite manageable. Definitely not the horror I'd imagined.

You will be alright. The anticipation and fear beforehand are honestly the worst bit. Good luck!

Original poster

Workyticket · 03/01/2023 20:27

Thanks. That's reassuring

I think it's because of being referred elsewhere - made me think it was a difficult procedure

Also, when I booked the receptionist asked if I would like sedation!? I said no bit then thought - why, is it because it's super painful? 🤔

OP posts:

hesaidshesaidtheysaid · 03/01/2023 20:31

When I had the prep done for my root canal I took my earphones and listened to music with my eyes closed, it helped me massively!!

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 03/01/2023 20:32

In my country, dental procedures are done on a day, even extracting a tooth, it's very common.
I was quite surprised when I came to UK and my dh had to have planned extraction, and not done by our regular dentist.

I had my teeth extracted many times, including getting braces and wisdom tooth removal. It was no big deal.

Spect8 · 03/01/2023 20:38

I'm sure you will be fine OP and well done for getting this far.

It is all very well and fine for others to say it was a breeze for them. They are obviously not dental phobics like me! I feel I am going to choke when any instrument goes in my mouth. Lack of control I suppose as I haven't a clue what they are doing in there, and have jumped out of the chair on more than one occasion before they could even start the treatment. I'm not proud of that but I can't help it.

So I now pay a whack for twilight sedation. It is incredible. The needle goes in and then you wake up and everything is done. I am not ever going to try and be brave and do without it ever again.

amillionrosepetals · 03/01/2023 20:45

Once you gum is numbed you won't feel very much, I have had teeth out under local anaesthetic and all I felt was tugging. Is it the injection you are worried about? If so, just tell the dentist you find them painful. They have a gel they can use so you don't feel the needle as much and then if they do the injection very slowly it should be relatively painless. I have always found the injections dreadful but now I barely feel anything as my lovely dentist takes great care to do the injection slowly. Good luck.

Bigdamnheroes · 03/01/2023 20:47

They always do offer for very nervous patients. And send you to a specialist so that you are pretty much guaranteed a quick extraction with no issues. They just want you in and out with no problems is all, so that you will have confidence to keep going.

Original poster

Workyticket · 03/01/2023 20:50

I'm not scared of the needle. I've had it twice now

I had a back tooth taken out but it was so rotten it literally fell out when she nudged it

Tbh it's more my mortification at opening my mouth for someone new and the tugging I'm dreading

Will there be an incision? Stitches?

OP posts:

2bazookas · 03/01/2023 20:51

The dentist will talk you through what he's going to do, before starting , If you tell them you're a nervous patient his assistant will hold your hand and reassure you throughout.

Then they 'll apply a local anaesthetic and you won't feel a thing. Over in a minute, rinse and spit and you'll be so glad you got it sorted.

Pushingdaisys · 03/01/2023 20:53

I had a broken tooth removed it was all fine, I was actually there this afternoon for a crown fitted on my very front tooth I smashed in work 🙈

Pushingdaisys · 03/01/2023 20:54

Workyticket · 03/01/2023 20:50

I'm not scared of the needle. I've had it twice now

I had a back tooth taken out but it was so rotten it literally fell out when she nudged it

Tbh it's more my mortification at opening my mouth for someone new and the tugging I'm dreading

Will there be an incision? Stitches?

No i don’t think it will need stitches just take some painkillers you’ll be fine

newusernamegloria · 03/01/2023 20:55

I had similar done years ago and it was not bad at all. None of the drilling which I hate, it was relatively quick and easy

newusernamegloria · 03/01/2023 20:57

I did get a couple of stitches but didn't even feel them going in or realize until it was finished. It meant no bleeding after so I was thankful for them

ghjklo · 03/01/2023 20:57

i had this done OP, it's not that bad and you will be fine. The procedure itself is fine, it hurts a bit after but nothing that painkillers can't deal with.

Tamarindtree · 03/01/2023 20:58

I rent my had a pre molar taken out.

The x Ray was painful as I had to bite down on a thing he put in my mouth but it was only momentary pain and the same pain the tooth has been giving me.

It couldn’t be saved so had to be removed.

I had two injections, either side of the tooth. He applied numbing stuff first.

I sat for a few minutes and then he started the extraction. There was a crack in the tooth and as he pulled it out it snapped and there were a couple of pieces in the gum that he had to wrestle out.

There was no pain whatsoever but obviously it is a little disconcerting having someone rummaging around in your mouth!

Afterwards he applied a wadding whilst it clotted which it did very quickly.

The relief was tremendous as the tooth pain I had been having was awful.

I was advised to take pain killers later on but I didn’t have any need to or since and it’s healing very well.

I have a needle and dental phobia and the assistant collects me from the waiting room and then once outside the dentist door I close my eyes and the young lady guides me in and I do not open my eyes for the whole duration of the visiting/treatment until it’s over and I’m ready to leave.

The dentist is careful to put any instruments out of my view.

It makes it so much easier for me and the dentist doing it this way.

Tamarindtree · 03/01/2023 20:59

I recently that was meant to say!

Just picture it all being over and done with very soon and your mouth feeling so much better.

Simonjt · 03/01/2023 21:00

I had a snapped tooth removed a few years ago, the dentist numbed my gum with an injection, they then cut the broken two in half, once this was done they pulled on half out and then the other. They did have to cut a bit of my gum, but it was particularly sore afterwards, it didn’t bleed much, but I think being able to taste blood and it slightly colouring your saliva can make it seem like a lot of blood.

It was fine, the ‘worst’ bit was probably a slightly creaking sound as they pulled out the first bit of tooth. I didn’t need stitches, mine was I think they are called a premolar?

Sux217 · 03/01/2023 21:01

Workyticket · 03/01/2023 20:27

Thanks. That's reassuring

I think it's because of being referred elsewhere - made me think it was a difficult procedure

Also, when I booked the receptionist asked if I would like sedation!? I said no bit then thought - why, is it because it's super painful? 🤔

Sedation doesn't relieve pain, it does relieve anxiety though so that's why it was offered. Are you sure you're having it extracted tomorrow OP or is just a consultation?
IV Sedation, dependent on your medical history, might be the way forward, if you're anxious OP.

Bestcatmum · 03/01/2023 21:01

I've had wisdom teeth and a few back teeth removed, dental implants screwed into my jaw, all my fillings replaced, the lot and didnt feel any of it. None of it gave me any problems at all.

Theunamedcat · 03/01/2023 21:05

I had this done last year she pushed something into it twisted and pulled it out job done

Sedation is strange I fell asleep and didn't notice the work being done

Chillinvibes · 03/01/2023 21:09

I had an appointment with a dental surgeon to get a pulled molar root out after my dentist had pulled and pulled on it. I was petrified and nearly did a runner from the waiting room but the surgeon took less than 5 mins and it was totally pain free

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