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Original poster

Infected tooth extraction. How painful?

100 replies

Painpaingoaway1 · 02/02/2024 23:17

On Monday, I started having pain in my back tooth and my gums. By Wednesday the pain was excruciating so I saw my dentist and was prescribed antibiotics. The pain became worse today despite taking the antibiotics so I saw an emergency dentist. She was absolutely horrible and unsympathetic and wanted to remove the tooth, which i am terrified of. She told me she has other patients to see and if I want to stay in pain then I should leave. She was very rough when looking at the tooth.

Now, I know I'm going to have to have this tooth removed and I'm gonna book into to see my dentist in the morning. I'm in pain but I'm absolutely terrified of getting it removed. Has anyone had an infected tooth extracted and how bad was it?

OP posts:
Y0URSELF · 02/02/2024 23:30

It won’t hurt getting it out as they will give you an injection , so it will be totally numb. It feel weird with a bit of pulling and pushing and noise but you shouldn't have any pain. If it’s sore, tell them right away and they will give you a top up of the injection ( you won’t feel it ).

The dentist will explain about pain relief afterwards and get you to take some over the counter meds ( usuallly ibuprofen ) before the local anaesthetic wears off. You can also use ice packs to keep any swelling down, that will help with the pain a lot IME.

Once it wears off it’s not a sharp pain, not like the infection, more like someone has punched you. OTC meds were fine for me and I’m a big wuss.

You will probably have to rinse VERY gently with salt water and eat soft foods for two to three days. It’s very important not to dislodge the clot of blood that forms in the hole where your tooth was.

If you can possibly take a couple of days off work that would be good ( I know not everyone can ).

I only needed to take the painkillers for about 24 hours after the extraction and I was fine after that. Some people maybe take them at night as it’s always more annoying then.

It won’t be anything like as bad as the pain from the infection / abcess.

Y0URSELF · 02/02/2024 23:32

I forgot to say - they might not need to take out the tooth, they might be able to do a root canal treatment and save your tooth. But if it’s at the back you might just want it out.

Original poster
Painpaingoaway1 · 02/02/2024 23:32

I'm debating trying to get another emergency appointment. I'm literally in agony, hysterically crying. I can't deal with this pain but I'm so terrified to have it removed.

OP posts:
Y0URSELF · 02/02/2024 23:36

The pain after you get it out is NOTHING like that. And there’s no pain during the extraction.

Im sorry you are upset and in so much pain.

DrSpartacular · 02/02/2024 23:36

Having it removed will feel like a relief, it's a totally different pain and much more tolerable Flowers

galliverstravels · 02/02/2024 23:37

Believe me the discomfort of getting it out is soooo much nicer than the pain you're in at the moment. I say that from experience. You will be instantly better and you'll wonder why you waited so long. I promise it is fine and so so worth it.

SomethingUniqueThisTime · 02/02/2024 23:38

Having you taken any painkillers? You can take both paracetamol and ibuprofen. Make sure you are carefully following the instructions on how many you can take and how frequently. If this doesn’t help after a few hours contact OOHs services to get stronger pain killers. Hopefully the antibiotics will start working soon.
Having a tooth out is not pleasant but will be better than suffering this pain if there is no chance the tooth can be saved. The anaesthetic will make the process fairly pain free.

Y0URSELF · 02/02/2024 23:39

The pain after is more like “ Oooh I feel exhausted and like someone has punched me, I’m going to take two painkillers and lie on the sofa with an ice pack and watch a box set “.

Not “ I am sobbing in agony “ pain.

justasking111 · 02/02/2024 23:41

I had two teeth removed ten days ago. Yes it ached, my jaw felt bruised, six paracetamol a day for a few days. It's still a bit sore but I haven't been in agony once.

Original poster
Painpaingoaway1 · 02/02/2024 23:43

I've taken painkillers, alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen. Nothing is helping, I've had two children and this is worse than childbirth. I'm gonna contact out of hours and see if I can be seen tonight. I look awful, I'm in floods of tears. Going to try and be brave and get it out

OP posts:
letstrythatagain · 02/02/2024 23:44

I've had two teeth removed and it's totally fine. I know it's scary but it'll be over quickly and the pain will be gone.

galliverstravels · 02/02/2024 23:56

Call them and I hope you can be seen tonight. You will honestly feel so much better so quickly. I remember that apprehension so well though so I do understand that you're worried. Call them now. I hope you are feeling much better super soon.

VimFuego101 · 02/02/2024 23:58

When I had an infected wisdom tooth removed, the relief was immediate - it was a bit sore for a few days afterwards but nothing like the pain beforehand.

karma3 · 03/02/2024 00:02

I've suffered with tooth pain for years and years after not looking after my teeth when I was young! I've had lots of teeth had to taken out due to the pain. But I always leave it to long before I go and get seen (well I used to)

Occasions I actually remember in 2020 the pain was so horrific I had to go to A&E, I'd taken to many painkillers to try and stop the pain and told 111 I was literally going to kill myself if I didn't get the tooth out 😂 sounds dramatic now but omg if you know the pain then you know...

Another time I had an infection so I went to an emergency dentist and he said he could give me antibiotics or pull it now but it may hurt and I said to get it out right now, so he did. To be honest it did hurt cos it was still infected, but it was 2 minutes of pain rather than months of absolute agony and the relief afterwards was unreal

The most recent one was last year when I fell pregnant (my teeth always get toothache when I get pregnant) and it was so bad even if my tongue touched one of my teeth on the same side it was like someone was punching me in the face, and I actually blacked out and rang DH hyperventilating from the pain 🫨 ended up at my dentist and the pulled that one too, it took 40 minutes as she said the root was curved so took a while but it got out and the relief again is something else.

The pain of having it out is 100x less than the toothache, and so damn worth it. Sorry you're suffering.

Original poster
Painpaingoaway1 · 03/02/2024 00:11

Thank you for all your replies. I'm waiting for a callback from 111. I'm hoping I can get it out tonight, really scared but I can't go on with this pain. I've been scared of the dentist since I was a child. I've had a tooth out before but I was put to sleep so didn't feel anything. I hope this dentist is a bit better and more gentle

OP posts:
QuelleSupriseMoi · 03/02/2024 00:13

I'm sorry that you are in pain. A tooth infection is really painful. The dentist may not remove the tooth until the infection is under control with antibiotics. Depending on what's wrong you may be able to save the tooth by having root canal treatment.

I broke a molar and had to have it removed. I promise you that I did not feel a thing. It feels a little sore for a day or two but I didn't need painkillers. The relief is immense.

I hope you get it sorted soon, best of luck.

thaegumathteth · 03/02/2024 00:20

Honestly I've always had to have an abscess clear before they'd remove it but you should ask for stronger painkillers (think you'll need a doctor though) and possibly different antibiotics

Original poster
Painpaingoaway1 · 03/02/2024 00:22

The tooth is really broken so it can not be saved unfortunately. The dentist i had earlier was horrible, she numbed the tooth and i told her i can still feel pain but she was still eager to remove it. That's when i said no. Im hoping for someone better. I'm still waiting for a callback.

OP posts:
PeopleAreWeird · 03/02/2024 00:23

Normally an infection has to be gone before they remove it

You wont get a dentist appoitment tonight

Original poster
Painpaingoaway1 · 03/02/2024 00:23

I've been on the antibiotics since Wednesday and to be honest I feel worse then when I did on Wednesday. Surely they would of started working by now

OP posts:
whyamiawakestill · 03/02/2024 00:38

They can take 2-3 days to work. It's the worse pain ever.

hby9628 · 03/02/2024 00:56

So my experience was quite different due to an infection the anaesthetic didn't take very well so the extraction was painful but honestly, the relief of getting the tooth removed was immense. I didn't suffer at all afterwards and I had booked the day off as I expected to feel shocking but it was fine. I actually cried with relief!
Good luck

Original poster
Painpaingoaway1 · 03/02/2024 01:00

I've had a callback and can't see a dentist tonight so will ring my dentist in the morning. I can't wait to feel the relief. I said I was done having kids but I'd happily deal with the pain of childbirth again than this. Atleast you know the pain is going to end at some point

OP posts:
QuelleSupriseMoi · 03/02/2024 01:01

Anaesthetic isn't as effective when infection is present. You will need a different antibiotic.

Mossstitch · 03/02/2024 01:03

PeopleAreWeird · 03/02/2024 00:23

Normally an infection has to be gone before they remove it

You wont get a dentist appoitment tonight

They have changed that advice now apparently. I had infected wisdom tooth years ago and had to have antibiotics to get infection down before they would remove it. Like you @Painpaingoaway1 the pain was worse than childbirth and I've had three babies with no pain relief! The dentist had it out in less than a minute and the awful pain goes instantly, sore and achy and may need paracetomol but nothing like the pain of the infection.

More recently had broken infected upper molar, went to dentist expecting antibiotics and he shocked me by taking it out there and then and told me the guidelines have changed.

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