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Original poster

Is tooth extraction pain better or worse than abscess?

35 replies

ThunderGarlic · 15/12/2019 17:47

I'm due to have a molar extracted on Friday. It's a much-filled, root-canal treated and crowned tooth which I've had problems with for the last 30 years and have been expecting to fail for a while. This week it finally happened and after a few days of pain and facial swelling, an emergency dentist gave me a week of antibiotics and an appointment to have the tooth pulled.

As I've had so much trouble and pain with this tooth and the same one on the other side in the past, I'm almost looking forward to getting rid of it. I was continuing to make pre-Christmas arrangements to see relatives at the weekend and do a long train journey with DD (a well-behaved 10yo) to my parents first thing on Monday. When I said this to my mother she was a surprised and implied this was all a bit unrealistic and I might want to slow down. I was just thinking that I'd have to stick to lukewarm soup and yoghurt for a few days and rinse my mouth out with saline in the bathroom after meals.

It feels like I've been through pain so many times with these two teeth. I have my ibuprofen/paracetamol dosing and ice-packs plans in my head and know how many hours sleep I'm likely to get from each dose according to pain level. The worst time was when one of them cracked on a work trip overseas years ago and I ended up having to beg extra pain relief from someone's GP spouse in the margins of an event so I could complete the three-day trip and get back to my own dentist. I can't believe it's going to be worse than that experience but I've never had a tooth extracted before so maybe this is a bit foolhardy.

Am I wrong in thinking that unless I end up with dry socket, it's unlikely that post-extraction is going to be anything like as painful as a bad dental abscess?

OP posts:

MikeUniformMike · 15/12/2019 17:50

I've had abcesses and root canal fillings and extractions. The tooth can't be saved so get rid. Consider an implant.
Yes to rinsing it out with tepid saline.

Whitetulipofpeace · 15/12/2019 17:53

The pain relief for me in a very similar situation was immediate

slipperywhensparticus · 15/12/2019 17:53

It will be a relief to get it out

Original poster

ThunderGarlic · 15/12/2019 17:55

This is what I was hoping to hear!

OP posts:

Waxlyrically · 15/12/2019 17:57

In my experience an abscess is far worse, in that painkillers don’t touch the pain. I had a failed root canal tooth extracted just 2 days before going on holiday this summer and it was painful for a few days but at least manageable with painkillers. The logistics of the salt water rinsing was a nuisance & it made eating tricky but I think it was the better choice.

Imnotaslimjim · 15/12/2019 17:59

The pain immediately after extraction is pretty close to that of an abscess but does settle quite quickly and can be eased with pain relief.

You know your own body. If you think you can manage it, go for it.

Awrite · 15/12/2019 18:00

Abscess utterly horrendous.

I had an extraction a few years ago. It took an hour, the poor dentist was exhausted. It was in the evening. That night the pain was unbearable and I cried. Slightly swollen the next day but I managed work and was very, very relieved to have the darn thing out.

grendel · 15/12/2019 18:01

I’ve had similar ongoing problems with a couple of molars and I can assure you that the relief of having the blasted things out each time more than made up for the temporary inconvenience of having to deal with the empty socket. It heals really quickly. I also found that I felt better in myself almost immediately - I think my body’s ongoing battle with the infection in my gum had really been grinding me down without me realising it.

MamaWeasel · 15/12/2019 18:03

I have never had pain following an extraction, the worst bit of the whole process was the initial injections. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Loopytiles · 15/12/2019 18:04

Had a similar problem tooth. Abscess/toothache was loads, loads worse than extraction of molar for me.

There is a risk of something called “dry socket” after extraction, that’s meant to really hurt.

BrokenWing · 15/12/2019 18:05

I had a tooth pulled in my 30s and while it was scary, they numbed me up well (probably more than they would have as I kept saying I could feel something) and it was actually painless during, and painkillers afterwards dealt with any pain.

I was absolutely floored by it for the rest of that say, but more due to being so worked up over it. The next day was ok, just had to be careful, wasnt advised to rinse so didn't.

I'm due my first root canal, in a back molar on Tuesday, followed with a crown in January, which I am dreading. I'm in my 50s now and feel even more worried about it than I was with the extraction in my 30s!

Good luck 🦷

Loopytiles · 15/12/2019 18:06

Also, my older / unwell parents often think we “do too much”! Just how they are.

Nat6999 · 15/12/2019 18:07

The first 48 hours you may feel a bit bruised & battered, but compared to an abcess it is a walk in the park. Take paracetamol & ibuprofen every 4-6 hours, rinse your mouth with hot salt water & you will soon feel better.

HotCrossPun1 · 15/12/2019 18:15

I had a back molar out last month. I wasn’t in huge pain, so no abscess pain to compare it to, but the tooth was broken and not repairable.

I was really sorry to have to have to lose it because of a break 🙁 but the extraction was very quick and didn’t hurt really, just a it of a pulling sensation.

Even afterwards it healed very quickly (but do be vigilant for dry socket for the first few days).

Overall it’s been ok. I can eat ok that side now and the gum has toughened up. It still feels like a big gap to me and my tongue keeps going to it because it feels a bit strange. But it’s not been a big problem, you do adapt pretty quickly.

MitziK · 15/12/2019 18:15

I had dry socket after a severe abscess. It hurt for several weeks - like being kicked in the face by a mule.

But I slept fine, managed to eat (carefully), was at work without problems and, compared to the Saturday night spent in silent tears because of the pain of the abscess, the instant the dentist lifted the molar out with a little pop, I could tell the pressure was released.

Once the gum finally healed over, I am glad that the tooth had to come out, as I've obviously not had a single problem or pain since.

Istical · 15/12/2019 18:23

Tooth ache is FAR worse than the pain following an uncomplicated extraction. It will be sore for a few days, but I was just pleased it was gone.

Original poster

ThunderGarlic · 15/12/2019 18:40

Thank you all. This is very reassuring and I'm feeling more confident again. Yes, elderly parents do fret more about these things sometimes.

Fingers crossed I don't get the dreaded dry socket. Feeling like being "kicked in the face by a mule" would not make a very merry Christmas!

OP posts:

Original poster

ThunderGarlic · 15/12/2019 18:46

PS BrokenWing, good luck for January! I've had root canal three times, twice where the nerve was already dead, and once where it wasn't. It's never been that painful for me; more a strange and fiddly sensation.

OP posts:

BlueCornsihPixie · 15/12/2019 19:12

Have it out! The pain of an abscess is worse, you'll be fine by Monday if you have it done on Friday. A bit sore but not abscess levels of paim

Plus if you leave it in you risk it blowing up on Christmas day and ending up in A&E.

TooLaidBack27 · 15/12/2019 19:46

Had tooth extraction last September, but it broke, so was sent to dental hospital, where had roots extracted. Had injection both times, had no pain or problems. Did not even take prescribed antibiotics after extraction, as did not need them, but cleaned and rinsed my teeth and mouth more often and thoroughly for few days. It is really nothing to worry about.

museumum · 15/12/2019 19:48

I had a wisdom tooth out on a Saturday and fine by Monday. Honestly it’s no problem at all. Just do whatever they say to avoid dry socket as I’ve heard that’s awful.

RedDiamond · 15/12/2019 19:51

I have just had a back molar removed. No problems. I was eating and drinking normally the same day. The relief from having the tooth out was WONDERFUL!!!

ElfAndSafety1 · 15/12/2019 20:43

I had my bottom wisdom tooth extracted a few weeks ago. Was a bit painful afterwards but nothing like the pain it was causing before! Paracetamol sorted it out although I was prescribed codeine, I didn't use it. Just ate on the opposite side of my mouth for a few days. Actually did a 5 hour round trip to do a presentation to large group the following day, was very swollen on that side but otherwise fine so thrilled that was videoed

blueskies20 · 15/12/2019 20:56

This is all reassuring to read...I was told by my dentist in April that I need to have my back molar out and I've been avoiding it. It does constantly hurt though....what happens when it is removed, do I need an implant?

Elieza · 15/12/2019 21:01

I had a back tooth out and took paracetamol prior. I didn’t feel a thing although he took a while to get it out but that was fine as I wasn’t really caring. I was sooo glad to get it out!
I didn’t even have any pain afterwards. Didn’t need any painkillers or anything. I thought it would be agony after but it was way better than I thought.
The last time I had a molar out I was gutted at not being able to return to school on the afternoon to see my pals! My mum made me stay off but I felt fine! So that’s twice it’s been great for me so I hope unless dry socket happens you will totally be fine.

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