To be a bit upset and surprised I need 3 teeth out?

[TheViewFromTheCheapSeats]

I only have one tooth with work, a root canal that has failed. I’d accepted it’s time to get rid of it as it been problematic.

I have no other fillings. I’ve taken better care of my teeth than ever since the root canal in 2018. In 2019/2020 around the new year I had a check up, no issues found.

I went today and following x Ray’s I also apparently have another molar and a wisdom tooth (I don’t have a wisdom tooth the other side, genetic quirk) so bad they need to go. I’ve had no pain, the dentist didn’t seem to see the issue until x rays either.

I’m a bit blindsided and upset tbh. Scared of the procedure plus the gaps.

Has anyone had a similar experience?
Guess I want to talk it out. I’m in my 40s and used to a poke around and leaving at the dentist. I just feel quite sick and anxious over it.

Sorry I hope it makes sense. I've just typed that really quickly. I'm normally far more coherent, honest

@chilliplant634 would you be advising an anxious patient removal? I got through a previous rct but it was further forward. It wasn’t actually horrendous as in little bits over a while with someone kind. The new one I struggled to let her look.
Personally if 2 is viable I’d be most open.
I’m scared about extraction also leading to more issues, could it?

It made great sense, thank you

I don’t care about metal crowns look wise, it’s so hidden

[quote TheViewFromTheCheapSeats]@chilliplant634 thank you for your perspective. Tbf my last appt was literally a look in my mouth and it was all fine. No x-rays. Definitely good for thought.

I’m caught in the middle. The old one maybe being careless, but the new being careless in another way. The emergency dentist I saw was of the thought of filling one tooth and re-doing the root canal, I wonder if the new one really doesn’t want slow work on a nervous patient? The old one did Tbf do the root canal and spend so much time it can’t have been worth her while, the new was a bit ‘oh, you wouldn’t be able to tolerate that’.[/quote]
Yes you are right. Slow work on an anxious patient. She will be making a loss on you if she does it. The root canal alone could take 2x 1 hour appts. She will probably get paid 27 quid for that rct before she is taxed. And if she uses rotary instruments her boss will charge her for it. Each file is about 15 quid and disposable. Cannot be reused. So then if she is lucky she will make about 10 quid for 2 hours backbreaking work on a difficult jumpy patient. Then a lot of anxious patients either don't turn up and waste the appointment or cancel multiple times. Then you've lost a lot of money because of this patient.

Now can you see why it is easier to just do a checkup in 10 minutes and say everything is fine and get paid 9 quid for it?

Do the maths on the hourly rate.

I'm not condoning this BTW. I'm just explaining what the likely thought process is for a lot of dentists.

Why did you struggle to let her take a look? Do you gag? It sounds like this may be really difficult...

I have a track record of many years of 100% attendance, but yes I see the issue.

I’m going to contact a private dentist from the dental phobia site and book an appt to chat it through I’ve decided.

I would get the wisdom tooth removed asap if it is showing signs of decay. I had one that was checked and the dentist said it didn't look good but it wasn't causing me any problems. A couple of months later I went on holiday and woke up with an infection down to my jaw. Ended up getting it out as an emergency and it was such a terrible experience the next time I went to the dentist I had to be sedated.

She was pleasant but brisk, I struggled to settle. She didn’t pause. I felt panicked as she poked with the pointy thing. The previous one talked a minute, didn’t mind small pauses and understand if I asked for stops. This once had a very pleasant tone but was more ‘no, I need to see, nearly done’. The other could be like look at 3/4, close mouth and swallow, look at the next 3/4…. Once I get anxious I struggle and it goes to pot. Honestly, if I can relax and someone pauses I can quickly build up to trust point- I did get through a root canal. Once this one had poked 10 teeth in a row with sharp end I was almost ready to run out (I didn’t, I didn’t cry or anything but I think my internal panic was obvious). She but her front finger under my front teeth and I ended up with my neck arched right back and I couldn’t get back into a relaxed position from there.

Second opinion. I was once told I needed my 2 too wisdoms out and some other work. Went for a second opinion and all was fine. Because I’m scared of the dentist I obviously went with that last opinion! It wasn’t uNtil many years later I did have my top wisdoms removed.

I really need a dental appointment. I have totally neglected my teeth since my baby boy was born. Think it started because of the night feeds and I’d always forget to brush them before bed and I feel a difference. I’m better now although I’m guilty of having tea in bed with a build out then falling asleep

I sympathise with you. And her.

The examinations feel rushed because they are...
We are given targets to meet. In order to meet the targets even while doing treatments which we make a loss on we have to make up time elsewhere. So most examinations are 10 minutes. 2 of those minutes are normally the patient coming in and taking their coat off and sitting in the chair. Then you have to check medical history blah blah. And then you get 7 minutes to do an examination, xrays, make treatment plan and explain it to the patient, get written consent. And type up all notes and write a report on the xray.

It feels rubbish for both the patient and the dentist. That's why no-one wants to do NHS work. It's so difficult to keep up the pace.

After my terrible experience having my wisdom teeth extracted - broken into tiny pieces over 2.5 + hours, followed by huge stress as the injection wore off but the feeling failed to return, followed by years on useless medication to try unsuccessfully to suppress the lifelong nerve damage - nothing viscerally terrifies me more than the dentist. The tears literally run out of the sides of my eyes and down my face and I struggle to breathe. It must be quite distressing for the dentist.

@Figmentofmyimagination mine started in childhood. The dentist was horrific, I grew up in a country where the treatment, but not the injections, were provided my the state. Especially for children few families could afford numbing for children, sometimes it simply wasn’t available. You’d hear screaming as kids were held down for drilling and it generally had a brutal and fearful reputation.

Then later on I hate a very painful intimate medical procedure here, life-saving but without consent or fore-warning and being held down.

I think the combination tipped me over into a place where I struggle to be touched, particularly when lying down. It’s not rational but I don’t trust people easily.

I feel for you op, I had a failed root canal and a tooth that had to be taken out and I've got wisdom tooth issues too that I'm waiting for a hospital appointment for. It is a bit of a shock when you've been fine for years and then you suddenly have problems.

Once you're sorted out (perhaps with a different dentist) the best thing I always recommend to anyone who will listen is to find a good hygienist. Regular visits (every 4 or 6 months) will keep everything under control and, in my opinion, a thorough clean is so much more important than just being poked about for a few minutes by a dentist! It's not a very pleasant experience but my teeth always feel so clean afterwards.

Good luck and I hope you get sorted out soon.

The poster upthread who mentioned people before 1970 having lots of work done is spot on ! i have a mouthful of silver fillings and am terrified of the dentist. I have to do very soon as having problems and am bricking it. Also it was common then to have your wisdom teeth out regardless in case they caused problems in the future, dont know why !

I’m the same. In 1974 when I was five an Australian dentist filled all my baby premolars and molars with no anaesthetic. Then later in the 70s and early 80s dentists took every opportunity to fill my molars - I’m convinced I didn’t need that amount of fillings, which seemed standard in those days. Result - a lifelong fear of the dentist.

Hi OP. Dentist here

That's deep decay on an upper molar way below the gumline, a root canal maybe possible but the prognosis is poor, especially for a general dentist not an endodontist. Its perfectly valid to not offer a root canal for that tooth on the NHS, I wouldn't say the dentist doesn't want to work on you for money reasons, its essentially heroic dentistry. The decay has essentially mushroomed, you can see the enamel appears intact but the decay has spread I the dentine underneath. This type of decay is often only spotted in xrays which are only indicated every 2 years.

If you struggle to get through an exam I would question whether you can cope with another root canal. Poking 3/4 teeth and a rest is all well and good but that's going to take days to do a root canal, and risks missing things in your exam. This dentist did nothing wrong in saying they need to keep going, because they do.

On another note a lot of people saying they didn't need their wisdom teeth, the guidelines changed a while ago from preventative extractions to only if multiple infections, and they are now changing back. However you can never predict what a wisdom tooth is going to do, and infection can be nasty. An impacted wisdom tooth can also lead to decay in the adjacent tooth. The younger you are the spongier your bone is and the easier it is to remove the tooth. As we age particularly women it can become challenging to remove the tooth because the bone becomes brittle and inflexible, which in wisdom teeth can mean difficult to extract (this isn't so relevant with other teeth)

An impacted wisdom tooth is a function less tooth and so again its a valid school of thought to remove the tooth early, when you are young with good bone and good healing potential so it doesn't cause problems in the future. You are essentially taking a gamble by leaving it in to say it won't cause problems or result in decay on your functioning adjacent tooth, and you won't need it out when it gets to a point where its difficult. No one is right or wrong or trying to make money from you, it's just again a differing opinion and you could argue either way.

@Carrotsticks23 it’s not a wisdom tooth though (didn’t grow one), I’d only have one molar left on the top without it as I have no third molar. Doesn’t that make it worse?

Definitely get a second opinion and also, no pun intended, get to the root of what's causing the damage in the first place. Is it teeth grinding, aka bruxism? If so your dentist should fit you for a guard to wear at night, which should stop any more teeth getting ruined. Bruxism is really common in women in their 40s – it's one of the rarer symptoms of perimenopause.

I was just talking about wisdom teeth because a lot of people mentioned wisdom teeth and being given differing opinions

Yours is just a decayed tooth, it's perfectly valid to say a decayed/poor prognosis tooth needs to come out. You could try to save it but the chance of success is low based on that xray.

Lots of people only start with 2 functional molars, wisdom teeth don't do an awful lot in the mouth and lots of people lose them. Losing a molar isn't really a big deal, it won't affect your chewing

I went the other day and have some sensitivity in my back wisdom, but it's not that bad and she said leave it until it's really uncomfortable. I think they usually leave as long as possible, not sure why it's being removed unless it's affecting another tooth. Perhaps she thought better to do it all at once but I'd just get rid of the one causing issues.