Tooth extraction, curved roots. Terrified. Any experiences?

[Vegemiteandhoneyontoast]

I had a really bad tooth infection recently and have decided to have the tooth removed. Looking at the x-rays, all my back teeth have curved or hooked roots which means surgical extraction may be necessary. I needed to have a similar extraction 20-odd years ago, after damage done in a nasty bicycle accident, and during that extraction the tooth broke apart and I had bits emerging from my gums for weeks afterwards. The planned extraction is part of the dental repercussions since the accident and I truly hope it's the last.

I'm terrified of a repeat experience - the jaw-gripping, crunching and wrenching was so horrible. I've been told that 'things are different to 20 years ago' but how?

Has anyone had a similar experience and what happened? Any reassurance welcomed!

I have back teeth with very bendy roots apparently. I had one of them out last year. It was fine. It took a bit longer than normal (about 20 minutes) but it wasn't painful or ghastly in any way. Just the normal tugging and pulling. No surgical intervention required.

@iwantawisteriathisyear thanks, I really hope mine goes the same as yours.

It was the dentist who said she might need to do a surgical extraction and I've been fretting over it since then, wondering how often they're necessary.

I've just had my upper 6th out on Friday and an implant post put in

Part of the issue was the 3roots were twisty so the root canal hadn't worked

It was fine - he took off the main bit that sticks out, then wangled out the roots
A few cracks and tugs but my dentist was very calm through out

I'm still a bit sore - feels like a sinusitis bout but I'll live! Much better than the toothache

I think surgical extraction means stitches? If so I had one done due to long curved roots. They have a full 3D scan before extracting so I think this is what avoids having all the bits coming out later. 20 years ago it would prob have just been a standard X-ray. The extraction itself was fine, stitches in the gum. Pain was in the recovery time which is normal.

I had the same issue - had to have a couple more anaesthetic injections but it was fine once it was numb. She had to drill the tooth out in the end, but I didn't feel a thing and was eating normally again by the evening with very little discomfort. Compared to all the horrible infections and abscesses I'd been getting up to that point it was a walk in the park!

I had a huge back tooth extracted via a surgical extraction. It was decayed and abscessed at the time with very curved roots and the surgeon had it out within 5 minutes.

I’ve been told today I need to have a surgical extraction again due to curly roots and its proximity to my sinuses. Am hoping it’s not too bad - from what the dentist said it sounds like recovery should be similar to other extractions,

Thank you for the reassurances, hopefully my extraction will go smoothly. I've had so many ghastly dental experiences over the years and guess it all adds to the sense of dread.

I just had an extraction of tooth with curved roots yesterday. It was the most excrutiating extraction ever. 2 hours of pulling, drilling bone, tugging, and they still couldnt get the root out. So left it in there. Today my jaw is aching so bad. I wouldn't want anyone to go through that.

I had a back tooth out recently. The dentist warned me that it would be difficult but she was so kind and gentle. I had plenty of local anaesthetic and in the end it wasn’t so bad. I do think dentistry has improved enormously and you will be fine. 💐

@GCMumau you have my sympathies! If you're still feeling terrible in a day or so you might have an infection so get it checked. My extraction was similar to yours and, frankly, it was one of the worst ordeals of my life. The dentist did manage to get most of the tooth out, but she had to cut it up and remove each bit separately. So much yanking, tugging and wrenching, I'm amazed I stayed conscious. I needed four lots of anaesthetic and even that didn't do the trick.

The next morning I woke up with yet another infection and had to take a five day course of eight antibiotics a day.

Dentistry may have improved but it has yet to learn how to deal with curved tooth roots that just don't want to come out. And this tooth was already loose.

Just to say, there was a fair bit of root left behind with my extraction too, but it all worked its way out over the next 2-3 weeks.

Sympathy!! I broke a double lower back tooth at gum level, then X ray reveals the curly root! Maxfax surgeon lovely lady,no problems, went shopping afterwards. Unfortunately I did get a "dry socket", no idea why...it's my second, I followed the post op to the Letter, have never smoked. Apparently, they are more common post menopause BUT they are pretty rare. Surgeon told me there would be a lot of pulling and tugging,there really wasn't, and I am very dental phobic!

After your previous traumas, you might be able to get "twilight" sedation as well as the local anaesthetic. Mine was 8 years ago, dentist didn't do the and yes sutured.

I had sedation for a similar extraction and it was marvellous. I was still aware of the tugging but I just didn’t care and wasn’t traumatised by the experience.

Those who had bad experiences. Did you own dentist tackle it or refer you to a specialist? My dentist took one look at the X-rays and said no way would she touch it as the roots were huge, curved and very close to the sinus cavity.

She referred me to an oral surgeon (all via the NHS) and it was removed by him who said it was what he did all day everyday.

He had it out within a few mins and made it look easy!

I had sedation for a wisdom tooth and recommend that tho you need someone to go with you.

When I went back for the check up after ten days I said to the dentist that the experience had taken me to my limit and if I needed another tooth out, we'd have to find another way. She said that she'd refer me to an orthodontic surgeon and would recommend sedation.

A couple of years ago my cousin had a traumatic extraction but it wasn't until we compared notes that we discovered we both had almost the same experience, curved roots and all. She said her mum had the same issues so it seems likely the trait runs through the female side of the family

Vegg, hope I was of some help ❤️

@Nannyfannybanny you certainly validated my approach to my dentist, back in July, when I told her firmly that what had happened during the extraction would not happen again. I told her that the experience had taken me to my limit and that I had reverted to ardent prayer in order to get through it. Prayer as in repeating 'Make it stop!'. I could have stopped the procedure, but then would have been left with a half-extracted tooth, so thought it best to just get the ghastliness out of the way in one go. To be honest, afterwards both the dentist and her assistant seemed almost as traumatised as me, they both looked pale and wide-eyed.

Re dry socket, apparently it's far more common in women and more so in post-menopausal women. I've had it twice now and needed antibiotics both times.