Should I have a tooth extraction before holiday or wait until after?

[Scrabsqueak]

Hi, I have a tooth which needs to be pulled. It is tender when I bite on it, but not at any other time. At dentist yesterday, was told there is an abcess under it, root canal not appropriate, tooth needs to come out. No problem, I’ve known for a while I might lose it.
However, I am going on holiday in 2 weeks and dentist has space this Monday. I am worried about causing an issue , like dry socket, or other infection and spoiling my holiday, when at the moment the tooth is not really a problem.
Am wondering if I should postpone the extraction till after holiday, or if I’m being a bit of a doom merchant and should just take the quick appointment and be grateful?
Any opinions?

Definitely get it pulled before. You’ll have ample time to baby it into healing well before you go and then you won’t be on holiday with a potential bomb about to go off in your mouth.

I was at high risk for dry socket but for 48 hours I followed all the advice to the letter and I didn’t get it. I didn’t even brush my teeth I just used water to gently cleanse my mouth swishing it by moving my head around, lean forward and let the water dribble out. The rule is no S’s, no spitting no straws no sucking.

Hope it all goes well.

I would have it removed now. If it flares up on holiday it will be very painful.

@RetainersinSpainnotontheplane , can I ask what made you high risk for dry socket?
I only went to dentist for check up, tooth isn’t bothering me, if my appointment had been three weeks later, would never have known before holiday…

@Scrabsqueak yeah of course. At the time I was a smoker on oral contraceptives and it was a very difficult extraction of an impacted wisdom tooth that had to be done by a dental surgeon.

Infections can spring up really quickly and make you feel awful so if it were me I’d whip it out now.

Hi OP, having had an abscess which went from mild discomfort as you described to full blown pain and swelling overnight I would be taking the Monday appointment for an extraction. As you are not going away for 2 weeks you have plenty of time for the healing process to kick in - make sure you scrupulously stick to the aftercare instructions - and get your dentist to prescribe some antibiotics to take with you just in case. I was advised I wouldn't be able to fly for 10 days after my extraction but as we still had some time to go before our holiday and were sailing in any event it wasn't a problem for me luckily.

Get it out. I left one once and woke up one morning with my face twice the size. Extreme infection.

This was my experience. Mild discomfort as I said in my previous post, and I chose going out for dinner rather than trying to get an emergency appointment. Severe pain overnight and my face swelled. When I looked my gum had yellow spots over it (sorry if TMI!). Luckily my dentist did a Saturday morning clinic otherwise I'd have been stuffed all over the weekend. Dose of antibiotics and follow up extraction very quickly. The relief!

If you’re going abroad and it ends up flaring up and needing emergency treatment your insurance likely won’t cover you as it was pre existing. Best do it before you go

Ooh @LoughboroughBex that is another very good point!
Okay, tooth out, here I come!
Thanks everyone, I appreciate your help.

Dry socket tends to be a lower tooth if you are a smoker. If you smoke leave the tooth in and take some antibiotics with you. If not get it pulled.

I had a back molar out last Friday, so 6 days ago. It was a bugger to get out and whilst the missing tooth area is healing well, I’ve got a lovely bruise on my jaw and pain there. I’ve been eating well on the other side, doing salt gargling after each meal and have a small soft baby toothbrush where I softly brush the area 4 or 5 times a day. I have only needed painkillers at night, just to make sure I sleep well as there was some pulsing pain, but that was only for the first 4 nights. The area itself is now white, so going in the right direction to heal over. I’ve not had any alcohol yet, DH had some wine last night, but I don’t fancy any yet, maybe by Saturday I will. OP I hope it goes well.

I’d do before. I was back to work a day after an extraction and healed within about a week. Two weeks is plenty of time. If it flares up on holiday your travel insurance likely won’t cover it!

Before! I was in the exact same position as you. Tooth extraction booked and then I went on holiday. The abscess erupted, it was the worst pain imaginable, my face was twice the size and I ended up having to go to an emergency dentist to have to removed.

If you have it extracted now it will be fully healed by your holiday. Just make sure you care for the stitches well - rinsing gently after eating, avoid foods like rice for a few days and don’t bodge it - if you dislodge the clot that’s when you’ll get dry socket.