Wisdom tooth/dental fear

[wisdomtoothout]

I need someone more adult than me for advice!
I have a wisdom tooth, lower that needs to come out. It’s got curved roots and my dentist doesn’t want to do it

my options are
GA - but it’s hurting and the list is 3 years

dental surgery that does sedation - but has some bad reviews on Google (happy to share which one if someone wants to see the reviews!) covered under denplan

pay privately - I don’t know if I can do this? To go elsewhere with good reviews and sedation

I have money to throw at this so any advice welcome. Had an upper wisdom tooth out ok no sedation but I’m a v nervous patient

I had mine taken out privately. It was only partially erupted and the flap of gum over the top of it kept getting inflamed & infected. My NHS dentist couldn’t do it, and said I could go on a 2 year waiting list, so I found a private dental surgery that did it. They had a maxillofacial surgeon who worked at the local hospital 4 days a week, and at this practice the other day. I actually didn’t have sedation, but they offered it. He had it out in literally 90 seconds from first cut - I assume he was used to far more complicated cases at the hospital. I’d go down this route if you can afford to. It wasn’t too much, but would have been more with sedation.

Ok that’s interesting! I have maybe £500 to throw at it, I just didn’t know if they can do it when I already have a private dentist
it’s 90% erupted but it’s been filled and filled and it’s been hurting the past few days

Yeah you can go to another private place, it won’t be a problem.

I’m in the SE, and it was about £250-300 I think. But sedation would have nearly doubled that.

I have had loads of teeth out (have huge roots so need specialist dentists) and am having restorative dentistry. I was in your shoes at the start. In your case I’d not bother with GA but let them know you’re a nervous patient. gA for a single tooth is too much. Sedation also unnecessary.

getting a tooth out is really not that bad. The fact you’ll be pain free after trumps everything else. Toothache is awful. They will numb you up nicely at the start. Jab isn’t very nice but numbing the toothache is bliss.

id not be impressed that your dentist refuses to do it, curved roots or not. Ring round and find a good private dentist (who specialises in nervous patients with hard to remove teeth) to do a regular extraction. I will warn you that most decent dentists will not do a Ga or sedationfor a single wisdom tooth. That’s only done if it’s multiple teeth. You’ll also have a long wait for a Ga- private or not.

the reason it hurts is the big filling is pushing on the nerve. Im getting a similar extraction on Tuesday.

Sedation isn’t unnecessary

my dentist is great and has removed my upper wisdom teeth (this isn’t my first extraction) but he expects this to be a complex extraction
He has been my dentist for 30 years and knows me well, and says this needs sedation for me

I know how local is etc and I’m fine with injections but I don’t numb well either which complicates things
it IS a good private dentist that I am with and of course they can do sedation for nervous patients for one tooth!

but then why isn’t he doing it himself? I don’t understand.

a 30 year dentist with all that experience should be able to do complicated extractions. That is v strange.

if it’s another dentist who doesn’t know you as well they will be very reluctant to sedate it’s just a fact. I’ve had complicated extractions similar with huge and/or curled roots.

I would suggest having your dentist do a referral to the hospital however as you said you may have a wait. Ask him if he can refer you to any private clinics who can guarantee sedation. They most likely won’t do it unless he (ie a professional) advises them you need it.

i also don’t numb well especially my molars, again its odd for a dentist for that much experience to struggle with that though. The general dentists cant numb me however the head of the practice can and should be able to numb you. Definitely ask for him to refer you to a private dental surgeon and pass your notes onto them. Or to put you onto the head of the practice at his surgery.

I would also suggest oragel for the pain youre experiencing now

Because they don’t offer sedation at my practice
he has referred me so my options free of charge are
GA at hospital
sedation at the dentist he will refer me to because he’s referring me specifically because I need sedation
he doesn’t think I can tolerate being fully awake for a complex extraction

Not a wisdom tooth but I had a complex extraction last year under sedation. Sedation is bloody brilliant!

Sedation can be good but most dentists don’t routinely offer it unless they’ve known you a long time/ know what you’re like with extractions. In OP’s case her long term dentist won’t extract it.

Ah right well if he can refer you for sedation at a private practice that’s probably the way to go.

Mine was a new, never been to before dentist. Had to book a hideously expensive private emergency appointment after my whole face swelled up with infection.
Tooth came out the next week under sedation.

Aw jeez maybe it’s the case if face has swollen up that bad. It can be difficult to access the tooth when the face is swollen. I’ve had many dental infections and issues but never had the swollen face.

It was awful. They debated whether I needed to go to A and E as they were worried my airwaves would be compromised. I looked so bad!

The private place I mentioned upthread was happy to give me sedation if I wanted it, and I was a new patient. I didn’t have it, but the dental surgeon offered it.

If it’s a severe facial swelling case it may be offered, don’t know if OP’s case is that.

Lower wisdom teeth can be very complex. Especially if they’ve grown in sideways or similar. I’ve been told mine should only be removed in a hospital setting if they ever need to come out and it would be either a sedation or general anaesthetic job. They can be close to facial nerves as well. They’re not the same as more straightforward molar extractions. I’d trust your dentist, OP. And I’d save up to go somewhere with good reviews and sedation if that’s an option.

My molars included my wisdom teeth which were impacted

Not sideways or anything so that bits ok!

I just don’t know whether to go to the place he can refer me to, as the bad reviews are putting me off (but then I guess people never leave a review for “it was fine”!)
or pay and go elsewhere

How long will you have to wait at the low rated place? Ideally you want to get it done asap or you could get an infection/inflammation around the tooth.

I don’t know, I can ring tomorrow and get an idea
there is a review saying they were declined sedation due to BMI as well so that might be an issue

if I pay I can afford it end of sept

Huh. That’s interesting. I have a very high bmi but am on WL jabs now. Maybe that’s why I’ve never been offered sedation.

its terrible, end of sept is so long to wait. Is it either that or waiting years for hospital? Some dentists may be willing to work with you and do a payment plan if you can’t pay upfront.

It depends what the bad review place wait is, I’ll ring my dentist tomorrow and say I’ve changed my mind about GA and ask what the wait is

I have a lump sum coming end of September so that’s my other option. It’s been playing up on and off for years but I had antibiotics for it 4 weeks ago

I’ve rung my dentist and asked to be referred to the bad review place - they said it goes to a central team but 90% of patients end up at that place
waiting time can be v quick as in a couple of weeks but she said possibly 3-4 months
no cost as I’m on denplan

That’s still quite a long wait (3-4 months) could they not give you a definitive appointment?