Talk to me about tooth extraction and bridges

[CaptainCanary]

Because I remember MN helped to calm me down before a root canal in 2019, please reassure me again!

That tooth (premolar) has now shattered eating a hard sweet last night, emergency dentist appt this morning. They said no hope of saving it, have put temporary filler on, and back next week for extraction. I am shitting myself. Someone tell me it isn't that bad! Compared to the root canal, better or worse? I handled that procedure better than I expected!

After that they're going to look at either a Maryland bridge or conventional bridge...I prefer the idea of Maryland but conventional seems as though it would be better over the longer-term. Either way I'm gonna have a gap for a while aren't I 😭I'm in a fairly new client-facing job greeting people all day every day so it really couldn't have come at a worse time

It’ll be fine. You’ll be numbed up and all you’ll feel is grinding and pressure. The crunching noises are the worst.

Regarding the Maryland bridge, I’d seriously consider getting an implant if finances allow and depending on how old you are. Your gum will shrink and your other teeth will shift with a bridge.

Good luck.

Thank you for the crunching heads up 😱 Maybe I'll ask her if I can play some music on my earphones

I'm mid-30s. Lifelong dentist anxiety, weirdly find sitting in that chair wayyy more stressful than any other kind of medical appointment including a brain MRI!

Has anyone used a flipper tooth in the meantime while a permanent bridge/crown/implant is prepared? I really want to avoid weeks of having an obvious gap at work if possible, would happily take the flipper off at home if recommended.

I cracked a tooth a week ago and have been through the same process this week!
Extraction is an odd sensation and much less painful than a root canal filling. And much quicker. Done in a few mins. A bit sore afterwards but do keep up with painkillers and a saltwater wash. Not gonna lie but the two injections were blooming sore for the first few seconds.
I have implants but am trying a maryland bridge first. My existing implants have been in place since 2012.

PS I have a gap at the front whilst waiting for the bridge. No experience of a flipper Im afraid.

extraction is a few seconds but seems like lifetime. Plenty of anaesthetic and some pushing and pulling. It's unpleasant but I trust the dentist

I have a gap right at the front (a big one!). It is congenital, was born without that tooth. I never had to worry about a gap, initially I had a tooth attached to a retainer when I was a teenager, then I had a maryland which lasted me 16 years. Now I have a zirconia bridge. They had to file down the teeth either side but it looks amazing compared with the maryland!

Sorry you've had the same experience so recently! Hearing it's much better than a root canal is very reassuring, thank you! I think I might prefer to try Maryland first as it's less invasive and gives me a bit of time to steel myself for possibly moving to a more traditional bridge at a later date...but then part of me says just get it all out of the way as quickly as possible and do traditional from the start! Did they say roughly how long it'll be until you have the bridge in place?

I have quite a big gap between my front teeth that has never bothered me so I'm not even sure what is stressing me so much about having a temporary gap during treatment!

16 years is amazing! I'm really torn between the two bridge styles but will have a more in depth talk with the dentist next week. She was fantastic and definitely helped to put me at ease today.

Hopeful bump for the Sunday crowd...anyone with experience of a flipper or more opinions on Maryland vs conventional bridges? 🙏

Bridge very livable, I have one at the front from age of 19 (now 46), been replaced once but recently x rayed and still good.

Fitting nowhere no as painful as other work but a multi step process with temp bridge and gums settling

Soz just seen your response. I think the bridge is ready in less than two weeks. They used a wand device to do a 3d scan of my jaw on the same day the tooth stump was extracted. To make the bridge fit I suppose. Replacing those strange jelly life tooth impressions.

People really haven't noticed my tooth gap but I have pointed it out first! I did get a laugh from some kids when I said it is my halloween costume!

It sounds like you have a nice dentist you can trust. Hopefully that helps you on your next steps.
It will all be over soon and in a months time all the worry will be forgotten. Just keep going 😎

Thanks. Thats good to know that these last a good amount of time. Its helped me decide to not proceed down the implant route. I already have two and rate them v highly. But age and ££££ means an adhesive bridge suits better. £1,000 vs £2,500 roughly. A shorter overall process too.