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Original poster

To cancel my wisdom tooth extraction because I am terrified?

55 replies

scareddddddd · 16/05/2023 21:18

I have a lower wisdom tooth which is impacted. It's grown in sideways but has never caused me any pain or issues. I had an x-ray at the dentist a few months ago which showed that the wisdom tooth had damaged my molar and as a result I needed a very large filling and was referred to have the wisdom tooth out. During the filling, my dentist had to file (?) away the wisdom tooth so he could access my molar to do the filling, so now the wisdom tooth doesn't touch the molar and there's a pretty big gap there for me to floss between. I was referred because I think the roots are near the nerve or something (can't remember what my dentist said).

My appointment to have the wisdom tooth out is in a few days. I'm terrified and don't want it removed. It's not causing me any issues or pain, it no longer touches the molar so can't damage it any further and whilst food does get trapped there I am very strict with my oral hygiene and floss everyday etc. I've only had one filling my life, which was the molar I mentioned above.

I've heard there are options with removing wisdom teeth but leaving the roots in - is that something the NHS dentist might suggest?

I'm never normally like this and am not usually scared of the dentist.

OP posts:
billycorn · 16/05/2023 21:26

I’m due to have the same but my tooth has decayed and I’ve had several lots of antibiotics in the last 9 months or so. My tooth roots are also on a curve and are near two nerves. I have a 5% chance of a totally numb bottom lip and a 0.5% chance of having a numb tongue- this would be for the rest of my life. I have no choice because my situation won’t improve. I wouldn’t have my tooth removed if it wasn’t causing me issues and yes for you one option would be to leave the roots and just have the tooth removed. I’m also having a general anaesthetic, thank god.

snarkyrooster · 16/05/2023 21:29

maybe give the dentist a call first thing and ask for a chat for reasons you've specified? they might be able to reassure you a little. You can always just get a second opinion tomorrow instead of surgery maybe?

QuintanaRoo · 16/05/2023 21:33

What sort of pain relief/sedation/general anaesthetic is being offered. I’m due to have a molar and a non impacted wisdom tooth out and they’ve said yes to sedation. But the sedation dentists need to see me before the procedure to see if they’re happy to do it or if I need to go to the hospital. Must admit I’m hoping they say hospital and then I’ll ask for a GA!

poetryandwine · 16/05/2023 21:35

Why are you terrified, OP?

GabrielleLegs · 16/05/2023 21:38

Sounds like you need to speak to the dentist to find out more about why you need this done and how it will be done.

ColonelRhubarbBikini · 16/05/2023 21:39

I had my wisdom tooth out and it was a biggie. Huge roots etc. I was properly terrified. I spent 20 minutes chain smoking and jibbering before I went. It was honestly absolutely fine. I was numbed up a treat and the only discomfort I felt was my lips getting very dry while they were working on me.

You’ll be ok. If the dentist says it needs to come out then it needs to. Have a peep at the guidelines for preventing dry socket and prepare for a couple of slightly awkward meals and that’s it.

user1473878824 · 16/05/2023 21:40

I was utterly, utterly terrified of having mine out - it caused me some problems once in a blue moon (during which I could have easily said yes to a random offering to take it out with no aesthetic) but was otherwise fine. It was impacted like yours. I’d never had anything like that done before and was bricking it. Floods of tears in the waiting room I couldn’t stop.

It was absolutely and totally fine. I told them how scared I was and they were so used to that and really reassuring. The local was a tiny scratch and I felt a bit of pressure and that was it.

MysteryBandit85 · 16/05/2023 21:41

I had a top wisdom tooth taken out recently and it was not at all as bad as I thought it might be. I know bottom ones can be trickier though so I think it would definitely be a good idea to talk through all the pros/cons/ any risks involved with your dentist to make sure your decision is fully-informed and hopefully reassure you. I just wanted to reply as for quite a while I said no to having mine taken out as it wasn’t causing me an issue at the time. Then all of a sudden it did start causing me an issue resulting in some of the worst pain I’ve ever experienced! I wished I hadn’t waited until it did become a problem if that makes sense!

WandaWonder · 16/05/2023 21:59

The worry would hurt me more than just getting on and getting it done

Borkled · 16/05/2023 22:01

I’ve had 2 wisdom teeth removed over the last couple of years, an upper one removed by my dentist and a lower one that was referred to the local dental hospital and then to the local specialist oral surgeons because of how close it was to the nerve. Both were removed in about 5 mins and I needed less than 24 hours of paracetamol each time before I forgot to take it because it didn’t hurt. The upper one had been causing issues and was infected but the lower one I wouldn’t have known was causing a problem unless I’d gone for a routine check up.

romany4 · 16/05/2023 22:03

I had an impacted one which was upside down and half stuck in my jawbone.
I had it removed under General anaesthetic as they had to take some jawboneto get it out. I had a chance of being left with numbness in my tongue but it didn't happen. I also have a phobia with dentists
Can you ask to be referred to the hospital instead?

RhinestoneCowgirl · 16/05/2023 22:05

I've had two wisdom teeth out, on two separate occasions. Both times I had intravenous sedation as I was so anxious, it was amazing. I was conscious but I don't really have memories of the actual procedure.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 16/05/2023 22:06

Both mine were at the dental hospital.

Original poster
scareddddddd · 16/05/2023 22:06

I've never met the dentist I'm having it out at, it's a specialist dentist I was referred to around a year ago, I've not had a letter or anything about the procedure so have no idea what pain relief I'll be offered, how long it will take, etc. I just had a text with the appointment time. Do you think I can ask at my appointment for more information and have the option to say no and walk away? I'm worried as it's an NHS dentist so conscious that I don't want to waste their time :(

I think the reason why I'm nervous is at the moment I have no issues with the wisdom tooth. I've never experienced tooth ache before, never had any issues with my teeth, etc. I feel like I can't justify the risks and pain of having it removed when the tooth seems perfectly fine where it is, if that makes sense.

OP posts:
wantspringnow · 16/05/2023 22:09

You should give them a ring. it might be a consultation, not an extraction appointment. Unless you’re already sure from the letter.

Ragwort · 16/05/2023 22:13

I was equally terrified when I had to have mine removed, I asked to be referred to the dental hospital and have full GA ... when I arrived I was seen by the best dentist I have ever had the pleasure of meeting Grin, he gently talked me through the procedure and gave me a LA ... honestly it was fine, no after effects.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 16/05/2023 22:22

Are you sure it's the extraction in a few days? I would expect to have met someone at the hosp to talk over the procedure and options. Might this be that appt?

I've had both upper wisdom teeth out under GA. Impacted, couldn't clean behind, but no pain. It was so good, I was terrified, but it genuinely didn't hurt at all after I woke up. They gave me some paracetamol, but that was the only dose I took. And I'm a complete wuss.

The worst bit was the end of the dissolvable stitches were a bit tickly for a few days. Honestly.

Oinkypig · 16/05/2023 22:26

Don’t have a the crown taken off and the roots left in, if you’re going in to have it out just have it out. There are few situations and few oral surgeons who do that procedure because it doesn’t really work as predictably as taking the whole tooth out. If you’ve had a deep filling on the tooth in front and had the wisdom tooth filed down to allow this you will be fine to have the tooth out. It’s the same injection at the back and then another to the side.

You see a general dentist who does most things but if you think about it the other way if you’d somehow ended up with the oral surgeon first taking the tooth out would you be worried they referred you to have a filling? It’s just someone with a different skill set. Good luck!

Original poster
scareddddddd · 16/05/2023 22:27

I'm pretty sure it's the extraction rather than a consultation. I've already had a 3d x-ray at the hospital, so I don't think there's anything else they need to check beforehand?

I will ring them though. I don't have a letter or anything, all I have is a text

OP posts:
Oinkypig · 16/05/2023 22:28

But if you are really anxious about the extraction there are options with sedation or GA just a longer wait usually.

Original poster
scareddddddd · 16/05/2023 22:29

Oinkypig · 16/05/2023 22:26

Don’t have a the crown taken off and the roots left in, if you’re going in to have it out just have it out. There are few situations and few oral surgeons who do that procedure because it doesn’t really work as predictably as taking the whole tooth out. If you’ve had a deep filling on the tooth in front and had the wisdom tooth filed down to allow this you will be fine to have the tooth out. It’s the same injection at the back and then another to the side.

You see a general dentist who does most things but if you think about it the other way if you’d somehow ended up with the oral surgeon first taking the tooth out would you be worried they referred you to have a filling? It’s just someone with a different skill set. Good luck!

I wasn't worried about the filling as I didn't have to worry about dry socket or endocarditis with that. If the tooth has been filed away surely it can't cause any further damage to the molar? I keep it clean and floss around it and have no trouble brushing it (it's pretty much fully erupted just at an angle)

OP posts:
Youngatheart00 · 16/05/2023 22:32

The procedure will be explained to you and you will have to sign consent forms - they aren’t going to force you to do anything against your will. But also remember this is routine for them - they do this day in day out

Bartg · 16/05/2023 22:33

I had a wisdom tooth removed at nhs hospital. And it was just turn up and remove tooth under local anesthetic. No prior appointment to discuss with dentist or anything.

it was all fine. I had to request extra injections of local anesthetic so I was completely numb. This was before google was such a thing and I didn’t bother to check possible complications, which would have worried me so much more

Haveallthesongsbeenwritten · 16/05/2023 22:35

scareddddddd · 16/05/2023 21:18

I have a lower wisdom tooth which is impacted. It's grown in sideways but has never caused me any pain or issues. I had an x-ray at the dentist a few months ago which showed that the wisdom tooth had damaged my molar and as a result I needed a very large filling and was referred to have the wisdom tooth out. During the filling, my dentist had to file (?) away the wisdom tooth so he could access my molar to do the filling, so now the wisdom tooth doesn't touch the molar and there's a pretty big gap there for me to floss between. I was referred because I think the roots are near the nerve or something (can't remember what my dentist said).

My appointment to have the wisdom tooth out is in a few days. I'm terrified and don't want it removed. It's not causing me any issues or pain, it no longer touches the molar so can't damage it any further and whilst food does get trapped there I am very strict with my oral hygiene and floss everyday etc. I've only had one filling my life, which was the molar I mentioned above.

I've heard there are options with removing wisdom teeth but leaving the roots in - is that something the NHS dentist might suggest?

I'm never normally like this and am not usually scared of the dentist.

Had all my wisdom tooth removed at 17 under general Anesthetic. Was swollen for about a week. Fairly painless to be honest just uncomfortable.

Oinkypig · 16/05/2023 22:35

With a filling you could have the tooth de-vitalise and cause an infection, anytime you eat or brush your teeth you create a bacterima that could cause endocarditis. Dry socket is a worry but if you don’t smoke the risk is reduced. As a dentist sometimes we aren’t great at explaining risk of the things we do everyday but then over estimate the risk of things we don’t do and refer for. I don’t know in your case but I would go to the appointment for more discussion if nothing else.

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