Has anyone had a wisdom tooth removed that was really close to nerves? Just chickened out of a dentist appt!

[RusticRon]

I've just been to the dentist and they have said my root is really close to 2 nerves. He said that I have e higher than average chance of having permanent nerve damage so numbness on chin and bottom lip.

He did say it wasn't exactly clear where the nerve was as the x-ray was 2d but the hospital would do a 3d scan and have a better idea of jow it lies. However the procedure for removal would be the same.

I chickened out having it done there and then and he referred me to the hospital.

Has anyone had anything like this? I was just expecting to go in and have a tooth removed. Didn't even think about possible permanent nerve damage.

Yes I had this done. The dentist wouldn’t touch it so i had to go to a surgeon. It was done under local anaesthetic and finished quite quickly. My nerves are absolutely fine.

A higher than average chance doesn't mean a high chance.

I have a weird toothache that dentists can’t find the cause of so can’t treat.

Whilst discussing with the dentist she mentioned my roots were close to a nerve and my sinus and that if it ever needed removing it could leave a hole through my jaw into my sinus!

I never knew there were so many risks with dental work.

Why does the tooth need removing?

You did the right thing being referred. The oral surgeons are far more experienced at doing this sort of thing.

i was referred for the exact same reason, my wisdom tooth was also embedded in the jaw bone and on its side. It was removed at the hospital under local and there was no nerve damage.

Yes I had this. I had my surgery performed by a top maxilofacial surgeon and suffered nerve damage.

there is a possibility to repair the nerve but you need to wait some time and in the intervening period I’ve got used to it.

I did have a bit of nerve damage - numbness in one cheek that lasted for a year. 20 years on and my smile is still slightly lopsided - not hugely obviously but I notice.

That said, it needed to be done - the tooth was impacted and getting food stuck/ infected gum on a regular basis - it was a quality of life issue and having it out was a huge relief.

I've read that recovery is better if you have them out younger rather than wait. So I'm glad I had it done in my 20s.

I had to have the top ones out later and it was so simple in comparison to the lower impacted one - I understand it's quite a tricky procedure to do a lower impacted one where the nerve is close - mine had to be cut into pieces to get it out. In retrospect, it would have been a better experience with a GA.

Me, last week. The dentist was willing to try, as long as I understood there was every chance they’d fail and it would have to be hospital. Which is 2.5hr drive away. Anyway, it went absolutely fine…recovery wasn’t bad either. I did make sure I had strong painkillers in.
(it also had abscess and had caused lockjaw so the wait for removal was hard)

I was referred to a hospital, had a CBCT scan to check my nerves, and as the roots were close to the nerves, the surgeon performed a decoronation under general anaesthetic rather than a removal. That was about three months ago and I had no nerve issues afterwards.

I had both lower (very badly impacted and very close to the nerve) wisdom teeth removed under general anaesthetic 30 years ago. No nerve damage at all and to be pain free after years on a waiting list was fantastic. I thought it was worth the risk and would do it again!

The tooth is impacted and kind of coming out on its side. It's affecting the tooth next to it and i get bits of food stuck in between in an awkward gap.

The dentist I saw today wasn't my dentist. I was referred to him. It was just in a local practice around 15 mins from my home. He might have been an oral surgeon. I have no idea!

I thought it was worth the risk and would do it again!

I will say that despite the damage I’d absolutely do it again, the impaction and repeated infections was miserable

Have you considered that it might not be toothache and could be nerve pain? Have a look at trigeminal neuralgia and see if it fits. Does pain relief work for it (eg ibuprofen)?

I was in a similar situation. Got referred to Dental Hospital at Guys & Tommy's in London and had surgery to remove the crown of the tooth (in several pieces) but they left the roots in and stitched the gum over the top. The specialists there were not keen on taking the roots at at all due to the proximity to nerve. The improvement has been massive. However v occasionally I get a nerve / toothache if I am coming down with something. It's annoying but I've learned to live with it as almost a warning system that I need to slow down a rest a bit.

I have spoken to two other dentists over the ten years since about the possibility of removing the nerves and they've always started optimistic and then changed their mind v quickly once they've looked at an X ray.

Yes, me. I was referred to the dental hospital. At my first appointment they did a scan which showed that while the impacted tooth was close to the nerve, there were no additional factors that could make the removal tricky. Then I went on the waiting list for extraction and had it removed by a dental surgeon about six months later. He warned me of the risks of nerve damage again and I had to sign a standard disclaimer. The extraction went fine and recovery was OK apart from me getting dry socket! I've had no issues since and no nerve damage.
If you've been referred to the hospital that's the best thing as they know what they are doing. Hope all goes well for you.

Yes, but of course you don't feel anything. You have a mouth full of anaesthetic. I've had 4 wisdom teeth out close to nerves - no different to having any other tooth out.
I cannot understand why everyone is so scared of dentists - is it mass hysteria or something.

I warn you wisdom teeth stink. Its a toss up between having really bad breath or going to the dentist.

It's fear of permanent nerve damage that everyone is talking about, not pain.

Thanks everyone. This has made me feel more at ease. I will just wait for my referral appt at the hospital and take it from there. Hopefully will be okay 🤞🏼

Good luck OP, I waited 2 years for the first hospital apt, after seeing the type of dentist you saw today, then 9 months for a follow up after the CT scan, then told if I "want" general anaesthetic it's another 2 years wait, or a year for extraction with local anaesthetic i.e. what I could have had 4 years ago.

Exact situation happened to me, had it removed in pieces by surgeon under local anesthesia. Didnt even feel the injections just pulling. Very swollen after but stitches were dissolved in a week and very little bleeding nor bruising. Cold flannel was a life saver. But sleft sat up for a week . Took a week off work as pulling with swelling meant couldnt open mouth v well nor eat well . No after effects damage wise. This was in Southampton. Didn't regret a thing.

Hi,

I had a severely impacted wisdom tooth removed in November 2022 that was very close the nerve... it was removed by a top oral surgeon in London - I had a local anaesthetic and it was absolutely fine and not painful or scary at all. She said it was extremely rare to suffer any long-term damage, as if they even think it's a chance that nerve damage will occur, they will leave part of the tooth root intact - (obviously this only occurs if the root of the tooth is not infected). You should ask and see if that is an option. I would strongly advise getting the tooth out - the sooner the better. If it has got infected more than twice it should be removed - as the infection will most likely keep on coming back! Honestly the quality of my life is so much better now.

I was booked in to have a troublesome one out. A decade earlier the dental hospital hadn’t wanted to remove due to the risk of nerve damage but my current dentist wanted to try again. The doctor id seen for my initial appointment wasn’t too concerned re the nerve. However, the consultant advised me not to go through with it on the day. The sad thing is I might end up losing the healthy tooth next to it as the wisdom tooth is so impacted but better a tooth come out than permanent nerve damage to my face. I’ve now had two different consultants say don’t do it so have to trust that advice. I’ve had two of my other ones removed and they were simple.

You can't have had 4 wisdom teeth out close to nerves... only the bottom 2 are close to a branch of the facial nerves.