AIBU to ask which is worse? Tooth being filled or tooth being removed?

[IdRatherHaveABowlOfCocoPops]

What do you think?

Help a girl out. Thanks!

Having to have a tooth pulled tomorrow and I'm mucking myself. People keep telling me they'd rather that than a filling....

Just be careful letting the blood clot over and not disturbing it so you don’t get dry socket. Dry socket is extremely painful.

I’ve had a tooth pulled and it was fine.

Oops, just saw your update! Good news.

Definitely definitely prefer a filling any day so you totally dodged a bullet! Having an extraction is completely hideous and the gap afterwards and trying not to disturb the clot.. urgh. All just hideous.

Glad it's sorted OP.

I had 4 fillings and a clean and polish done yesterday after avoiding the dentist for 7 years! I almost fell asleep during the fillings going in, it was the scrapy cleaning that scared me most lol.

Well, hoping I don't need one pulled any time soon this clot business sounds grim.

Yes, I have to say I actually felt quite relaxed once I knew it was numb, closed my eyes and sang to the radio in my head.

I have had my dentist since I was 5, he's a good man, knows what I'm like and is very calm and good at what he does, thank fully!

Blimey @BlurryFace weldone you!!!!

I had dry socket following my tooth extracted. It was SHEER hell for a week afterwards, I was in SO much pain. If I could undo my tooth removal I would!

I had 6 out in one sitting once and was fine even tjough i am dentist phobic.

Oh xtra cross post haha well done thats great

I'm glad to see you had a filling... as I was coming on to say I would have 10 fillings instead of 1 extraction! I don't mind the injections for both, but I will take the grinding drill sensation for a filling any day over the pressure/cracking/pain of extraction. But apparently I do have tooth roots like a horse

I'd rather have a tooth removed than a filling! I had a filing in one of my back teeth and even with 3 injections I could still feel it 😭 ended up getting it removed .

As someone who neglected their teeth as a teen I have had fillings, root canals, removals, implants and crowns. So here is my take on them.

• Tooth removal and filling the worst bit is the injection. I hate the numbing injection, but it is over in less than 3 minutes.

• tooth removal much much faster, so over and out in under 10 minutes usually!

-fillings can take an age and leave you with jaw ache and funny feeling teeth if the filling is higher than old tooth.

• with tooth removal the hardest bit is the rest of the removal day and the following one. Keep on top on painkillers, especially anti inflammatory ones like ibruprofen. It might not hurt too badly at all though, mine haven’t.

• most important rule of tooth removal. PROTECT THE CLOT. Do not, do NOT go fiddling with your tongue or fingers (not matter how hard the temptation). You need a decent clot to form AND STAY. Otherwise you are at risk of exposing the nerve and getting dry socket. (Extremely painful) DO NOT USE A STRAW, they create suction in your mouth which can pull the clot out.

Eat on the other side as much as possible for 24 hours. Don’t brush that side teeth for 24 hours.

Good luck and remember PROTECT THE CLOT (some sort of game of thrones style salute with that!)

Oops, teach me to read full thread!

Glad you had a successful filling. I hate the pins and needles feeling of numb wearing off and find he play doh nose sensation disturbing myself!

Thank you @widgetbeana that was great to read. I've saved it to read next time I'm due to go

This dry socket sounds terrifying !!!

Luckily the injections were fine he's very gentle. I just hate the taste you get.

Tooth is feeling all kinds of fab today I'm so glad I went and got it sorted!!

As much as I hate extractions, the best one I've had was in the Middle East.. I was pregnant and had to keep calm for babies sake.. but it was made easier as the assistant was holding my hand and stroking my head It really was comforting and distracting.