Anyone had a surgical tooth extraction?

[shutupyoueejit]

It snapped in half whilst dentist trying to remove it. So it's been half a tooth/ giant hole for 2 years as I was too traumatised afterwards to think of going again.
However I recently had an infection in it and dentist said I really should get the surgical extraction done.
I am terrified. Any experiences? How painful is it afterward? I have a newborn and need to know whether I need to make arrangements for someone to have him?

No idea, but watching as have just been told I need a wisdom tooth removed.I have all the same questions as you.

Me! Mine was a huge lower molar with massive curved roots, and should have been a "simple extraction" but ended up having to be sectioned into pieces because it wouldn't come out. It was still done under local, by my own dentist, but that was possibly because she started out thinking it was one thing and it ended up being another.

Honestly, I found it a bit traumatic, and had to ask for a break in the middle, but there was absolutely NO pain. The dental nurse actually held my hand towards the end, with her other hand holding the suction thing in my mouth. At the time, it seemed like it took forever, but it was less than 30 minutes between sitting down in the chair and leaving the building.

My appointment was 10.30 on a Friday morning, and afterwards I felt a wee bit shaky, but I had the hairdresser at 1, and went to that fine, then was out for dinner on the Saturday night. I had to go back the following Friday to make sure all was okay, and my dentist was pleased with how it had healed over.

I should also say here that my situation was possibly a bit weird, which is why I found the process traumatic. I'd been clenching and grinding my teeth through stress, but didn't actually realise until I cracked the filling that was in that tooth, causing terrible pain. My dentist re-filled it, it didn't settle, then she did a root canal, but couldn't locate all the canals. I could have been referred on to a root canal specialist, but by then I'd had months of pain and appointments, and just wanted the tooth out. (If it had been a further forward tooth I would have persevered.)

My best advice would be (1) eat something first if you can - I didn't because I was nervous, and in retrospect that probably contributed to feeling shaky. Also you won't be able to eat for a wee while after until the numbing wears off. (2) make sure you have something nice planned for later. I ended up needing a load of work done over a short period because I had knackered several teeth with grinding, and always had a treat after each appointment - sometimes buying myself a bunch of flowers on the way home, sometimes knowing DP was cooking a nice dinner for later, sometimes ordering something online that would be waiting when I got in.

I had all 4 wisdom teeth removed and refused local anesthetic - insisted on a general.

Not quite the same, but I recently had a premolar out - my first extraction as an adult. It wouldn't come out whole so the dentist had to drill it and take it out in 3 pieces.

It wasn't painful, just a bit of a weird sensation and yes, a bit stressful but nowhere near as bad as I'd imagined it could be. I agree with the advice to have something nice to look forward to afterwards, and plan a gentle evening in front of the telly under a blanket. After that you'll be fine!

I've had a wisdom tooth surgically removed, 5 mins and it popped out quickly. I've also had atraumatic extraction of 2 teeth to prepare for implants, that was quick but there was a lot of pushing and I was a bit wobbly after. Ask for lots of local anaesthetic, a good dentist can titrations it so that you feel no pain but not so that your face is numb for hours after. Good luck!!

I did, it was fine. I had what was described as 'twilight sedation' - no memory of the procedure but apparently I talked through it. I was signed off for a week and needed it - it hurt like buggery afterwards and I was on heavy duty painkillers.

It may be possible to be referred for IV Sedation OP, depending on your Medical history. That may be your best bet if you're terrified.
In which case, you'd need someone with you for that day (& probably overnight if you have a baby).
Every body is different post operatively but do expect a couple of days taking regular pain relief afterwards and don't make plans like running a marathon 😁

Thanks for all the replies. I really wanted it to make me feel better. I feel like I just won't get it done. And I know I'm being a total idiot but the thought of it I just can't cope with.
I am going to ring and see what they say about possible sedation.
As far as I'm aware I'm going to have to have the gum sliced open, so does that mean there is no pulling? Or will it still be all the pulling and tugging?

I had all 4 wisdom teeth out and two others that the wisdom teeth had grown in to. Under general anesthetic in hospital. It was fine, never felt or knew anything until afterward —when I could only eat soup for a week—

An incision is made for access. Pushing and manoeuvring of the root/s are still required. Get referred- facial swelling and severe pain are no fun. Especially on Christmas day😥

I had 4 wisdom teeth extracted. Very simple.

Recently I had to have an infected molar removed which had broken below the gum line. It was such agony it was sheer relief to get it taken out. No pain at all after a 5 minute extraction. The infection was so horrendous I could never have born it for another minute.

Maybe you need to face up to it before it becomes really bad. Have a consultation with the dentist and they will tell you what to expect.

I've had 2 under local. I found it traumatic as i lost tooth 1 at 40. Both molars. Tugging, but no pain. That came afterwards but was managed with paracetamol 4 hourly for 2 days.
There's alot of blood. Do not spit for a couple of hours. You'll lose the plug which protects the socket from infection.
Salt water rinses after each meal after that.
Stop smoking as smoking delays healing.
Get your credit card out as it's iro £50 on the NHS.

Hiya,
Just be brave an book yourself in, explain that you are nervous and would like some sort of sedation if possible.
I used to be a dental nurse years ago and some of our surgical extractions were simpler than the routine ones.
I would arrange for someone to look after your baby during the appointment as it's one less thing for you to be anxious and worrying about.
You could try wearing headphones and listening to your favourite music or an audio book to try and distract you x

I've removed my 4 windon teeth through surgery. They had to cut bone, there was blood, so not a superficial procedure. It was ucomfortable and scary but nothing i couldn't handle. And no pain at all.

My advice: get ice cream and frink only fluids after the surgery. That did the trick for me.

I had 2 wisdom tooth. I hated the xoerience but not because it was painful but just because I got unnecessarily nervous, stressed and then I hate the look/sound of medical equipment. I wish I had taken in some music and just chilled out.

I had local anaesthetic and I experienced no pain at all. I was very careful not to gargle salt water or anything that might remove the clot. I just gently let the salt water sit on the wound as instructed. I bled quite a bit on the first night but that was painless and just annoying as it ruined my pillow!
I didn’t want to risk any infection and so o hardly ate for 2/3 days so I got an added bonus of losing quite a few kilos.

I took some arnica too in advance and I think it helped

Good luck and please try not to worry: I know it’s hard though!

I have a hospital maxillo facial appointment next Monday re my wisdom tooth extraction

I'll let you know what the consultant says

God this makes for horrific reading (I am of course focussing on the bad stories). Like you shutupyoueejit I'm concerned about the tugging aspect. Watched to many old films where a knee is applied to the chest. My next steps are to go and have Xrays at another dentists with a larger xray machine. Once she can see those she can work out what she wants to do regarding removal. I think I want to be put to sleep and know nothing about it. I am a wimp of the highest order.

@Upthepong
20 years+ as a dentist including long standing hospital dentistry never "put my knee on a chest"
It's just not a thing.

I went private and had a tricky wisdom tooth out with sedation and LA. Am severely dental phobic and put up with it for too long. Went to dental phobia clinic and it was brilliant. Didn't know/feel a thing and had one paracetamol afterwards - no pain. Had stitches and didn't even care - was so relieved to get rid of it. Sedation is fantastic.

shatteredandstressed but that's what's in my mind! How do they get it out if it is stubborn? I would like to know everything in order to prepare

But thanks for the info. I'm irrationally terrified.

Gah!

Try not to worry @Upthepong
Loads of Different tools like miniature hockey sticks /screw driver type things plus having loads of experience/ skill, knowing just where to apply the right pressure to get teeth & roots to move -all in day's work

Try and reframe how you're thinking about it. You're not going in for voluntary surgery, you're going in to have an infected dead broken thing removed from your body. And you'll feel fuckloads better afterwards.

Probably two weeks or so after, but even so - you've been putting up with the current nonsense and risking all sorts of horrible effects for two years. Get it sorted.

How are you getting on @shutupyoueejit ? I had my two fillings this week and was so jumpy my dentist has now said that she will not take out my wisdom teeth under mild sedation and is referring me to another practice where they can put me under using G&A. She's recommended I have both bottom wisdom teeth taken out at the same time and have it over and done with. Have you found out anymore/made any decisions?

What’s the difference between a surgical extraction and a normal extraction? I’ve had a broken tooth out, I was dreading it. I had headphones in listening to my music and had psyched myself up for it to take about 30 minutes, which is what the dentist said. He had it out in about 5! Pressure and tugging but no pain, hardly any blood. I felt great afterwards as I was so proud that I’d done it without panicking!