URGENT please advise re pos dodgy appointment with dentist/hygenist

[ernest]

I'll try to keep it brief. I hate going to dentist & have v. sensitive mouth. went to dentist re: broken tooth. he said I had lots of tartar & this was causing /exacerbating bad gums & said should see hygenist.

My dh went to same hygenist week b4. She did his whole mouth (tartar removal & polishing) in 1 hour. I went last Monday & in 1 hour, with help of several little injections, she did just bottom right (ie one quater) of my mouth. it hurt like hell even with injections & was in lot of discomfort. Next day still hurting. Over the week got steadily worse, gums at back by wisdom tooth so swollen can't bite, now whole side of face hurts & have earchae in right ear. Phoned on Monday - 1 week later, saw emergency dentist who had to cut off some of infected gum & rinced round with antibac stuff. 2 days later, pain even worse, esp earache & I'm due to fly tomorrow.
Phoned up again this am, she says to come in tomorrow & they may have to remove wisdom tooth!

I feel sick at the thought of it. i feel pissed off that imo it's her fault - had no pain b4 saw hygenist, now suddenly i'm looking at wisdom tooth extraction, even more pain & HUGE bill. Plus still got 3/4 of mouth to go for tartar & can't face it.

Anyone know anything of dentistry? Is this her fault by the sounds of it? Or just unlucky coincidence? Do I really need the tooth removed? Does it take long? Will it be done with normal dental injestions? Can I do anything to make this situation better? I'm so scared of dentists anyway, but esp now.

I'm seriously scared & have to go tomorrow morning b4 flying off on 'holiday' tomorow pm.

Oh you poor poor thing - sounds horrible I'm afraid I don't really have any advice, but I'm sure someone else will.

I've never had pain myself after having a scale and polish. Have had all my wisdom teeth removed after having repeated painful infections in the gums around them (as none of them were fully through). However, I don't remember them being affected by having a scale and polish either (more than 10 years ago now).

Hope someone else can help and hope tomorrow isn't as bad as you think (one thing about having your wisdom tooth removed, at least that will be the end of your problems, no fear of a repeat).

I don't know what caused it - sounds like you've let things go big time! But I do know that having a wisdom tooth out is ok. They don't have much root and you won't feel a thing. You will have an injection of course. Get it over with asap!

agy what do you mean I've let things go? I'm not being defensive, jus genuinely don't understand what you mean. I look after my teeth reasonable well - brush at least twice a day with sonic brush, floss reasonably regularly & see the dentist regularly too (about every 6 months), even tho I hate going I stilll do. Had all teeth scraped within the last year, so can't see how it's so bad she needs to take 4 hours to scrape them!

Thansk for your kind words & reassurance tho both of you. Serously wondering about going to a different surgery. Obviously the dentist will have to see me re: extraction, but ultimatley will need to see hygenist for rest of mouth scrapage

HUGE HUGE HUGE sympathies ernest, I have been in wisdom tooth hell for the past week!

I'm no dentist, but have become very familiar with what goes on with wisdom teeth!

If you have some receding of the gum near the tooth (it sounds like you might have if cleaning was v painful), then its more likely that food/debris can get in between the gum and tooth and set up infection. If the dentist cleared away an area of tartar, it might be that food has been able to settle in to that little crevice more easily. I don't think its necessarily the dentists fault as its important that they get rid of the build up so you don't end up losing all your teeth!

My advice is YOU MUST GET RID OF THE TOOTH AS SOON AS YOU can. Once you start getting infections around/in them, they generally keep recurring and are a bloody nightmare.

It sounds as though the tooth can be extracted at the dentist, not hospital, in which case it will be much much more straightforward.

After its done, ask the dentist for a prescription for antibiotics JUST IN CASE an infection sets up after the extraction (it probably won't but you'll have them just in case while you are on hols). Also ask for some good, strong anti inflammatory painkillers. It will be uncomfortable for a couple of days, but should settle down (I've had 2 wisdom teeth extracted at the dentist).

Good luck .

ps, I too have big problems with getting my teeth csaled and cleaned. The dentist said its not because of neglect, I simply have sensitive gums, which may be your problem.

Sorry! Didn't mean to insult. I know I have to have mine scaled every 6 months(!) Really just meant to reassure!

As Puffthemagicdragon says try and get some antibiotics before you go - I had big problems with a wisdom tooth that kept getting infected and was on constant ab's till I agreed to have the tooth out. It is the WORST pain ever imho and nearly drove me mad - much worst than labour

puff, just seen your thread re wisdom teeth blimey sounds like you've got MUCH worse than me, plus here's me pooing my pants about having to have it tomorrow morning & you've got all this pain with no date/no end in sight. so sorry it's crap isn't it?

Poor, poor you...
Removing a wisdom tooth takes 2 minutes with a good dentist and an uncomplicated growth. You get a local anesthetic with an injection which doesn't hurt at all and the extraction is pain free. take loads of paracetamol afterwards and you'll be absolutely fine. I also expect the dentist to give you some antibiotics to prevent further infection.
Even with regular cleaning as yours, you would get build up arounfd the teeth especially if you smoke, drink coffee, wine etc. It just happens. An hour for just the bottom bit sounds like a long time but maybe she's just very thorough and lots needed removing. Don't worry about it. Get the top done too and go back in 6 month for a 20min appointment with her. I'm sorry you suffered so much discomfort but I don't see how it was the hygenest fault but I'm not a dentist myself. Unlucky I'd sayy that it happened around the same time.
Good luck and don't worry about the procedure too much, it's very straightforward and you'll feel so much better afterwards.

Just to say I had 2 wisdom teeth removed by my dentist and it did not hurt at all. To be fair he's absolutely gorgeous and a fantastic dentist so that might have a played a part and also have lots of dentist in my family and am no scared of going there but I can imagine how you feel. Honestly, you'll be fine. You need the tooth removed and you'll feel better afterwards.
Regarding constant pain whilst the hygienist cleaned the teeth, ask you dentist about the state of your gums just to rule out a possible start of gingivitys (no idea how to spell it)

How did it go ernest? are you OK?

If you have a problem with the hygenist contact your local Primary Care Trust. They will be able to put you on to another practice who would be able to help you out. Also the Dental Reference Service is around to police the quality of dental work. Thjey may want to look at the work. The PCT may be able to put you in contact with them

hi, just got back from holiday.

thanks for your messages

Went back to dentist, but she didn't take tooth out as flying that day. still getting (very) mild toothache, but gums have finally all settled down. She wants to take out all 4 wisdom teeth, 2 at a time. Feel squeemish about it. not sure if I'll go ahead, mainly 'cos scared. If I get recurring problems then I will, but this is the 1st time & I'm sure it was 'cos hygenist was just too ott - a whole hour to scrape 1/4 of my mouth fgs.

Anyway, think will change dentist (was happy w. dentist but can't face hygenist again) and get rest of teeth scraped & get wisdom teeth done later if still have probs. Dentist going on holiday, so couldn't do it till january anyway.

Hope you're ok ptmd.

thanks a lot again everyone. I found yoour messages sooooooo helpful & reassuring. i was seriously terrified going to have the tooth out & you all really helped.