Tooth extraction, how bad is it?

[smarSarah]

Dentist checked my filling today and said the tooth is dead so best to extract. I’m not too nervous of dentist and procedures but since it’s never been done to me before how bad is a tooth extraction as I feel like somebody has told me something awful about one before 😅 Will I need to make sure I have the whole day off work/ next day? I just want to be prepared 🤣

Depends on the tooth.

I've had one where I still have nightmares about it.

I've had three others where I felt nothing and was back in work the same day with just a bit of soreness once the anaesthetic wore off.

If there's no unusual complications and your dentist is competent you'll probably be fine.

It depends a bit on which tooth it is but it's honestly not terrible.
I had a tooth out in September (abscess wouldn't heal) and it was over in about 15 minutes. The worst part is the pressure you feel as it's being pulled.
No pain.
Bit uncomfortable after, and mildly sore the next day, but if you follow the instructions they'll give you then it's absolutely no bother at all.

It's entirely doable. There should be no pain, just some wiggling and crunching. I always take a couple of paracetamol before I go, just in case, but have never needed any more. You'll be fine.

Of course, it's your tooth and if it's not bothering you, you may be able to leave it a bit. I got another three years out of a wisdom tooth that wasn't causing me any problems and only went back for extraction when a chunk fell off it.

If it’s big back molar then you will probably have a sore mouth where the whole is, you will have to eat soft, cold food until it heals over.

I've had plenty out as I ruined my teeth as a teen. It's fine. I've never had to take the day off. The procedure is painless but you will need pain meds afterwards.

I think the worse thing is you can feel a massive hole where the tooth was, it soon heals up though.

I've had all wisdoms out, two under GA and two at the dentist. It was okay, all separate occasions. I preferred the GA but there was a lot of waiting around, for hours. Those taken out at the dentist were over sooner.

Only a couple of days where you couldn't eat normally and on painkillers, it gets better and you skint forget about it.

i took diazepam from my GP
beware of a dry socket afterwards
the procedure was totally fine

I had one that was so many injections it was ridiculous almost half an hour can you feel that? OK more can you feel that? Still? Ok! More in! Then he said can you feel that? No? And there's your tooth! All those injections and it was over in a split second

Another where it took him longer to catch the tooth that had fallen into my mouth (and with the slippery gloves he struggled to grab it) took longer to catch than to pull it out

For the most part its ok and ive had a lot of teeth removed

It’s fine - I’m a nervous patient and recently had a lower wisdom tooth out with no sedation. Just a bit of noise and pressure but no pain

I had a big back molar out and it was fine apart from some weird tugging.

I would allow some time after for feeling sorry for yourself. My parents insisted on dragging me round IKEA afterwards as they had given me a lift, I'd much rather have been at home with some ibuprofen.

I had a tooth out when I was younger and it was a nightmare, took 90mins and although it didn't hurt at the time my jaw ached from having to keep it open so long and the dentist levering & pulling. The pain came later.

Had an infected tooth out last year.
The infection was causing horrific pain and I was popping ES Ibuprofen & Paracetamol like they were sweets, I was also glugging Night nurse as it is the only thing guaranteed to make me sleep but even that would only give me 2hrs sleep before the pain woke me up again.
Dentist had to use three different antibiotics to kill the infection but on the day it was still there but he went ahead anyway.
Totally painless, could not believe it when he showed me the tooth to prove it was out. Thought it would hurt later but nothing, I never had to take so much as a single tablet. I think my body was so relieved to be rid of the infected tooth it created its own pain relief.😁

I’m a total wimp when it comes to dentists. I’ve had three out in the last 40 years, I’m 61. The ‘worst bit’ is the sounds and tugging of the tooth but I can’t say it was hugely painful if I’m honest. The relief afterwards was worth it. I booked a late pm appointment and was at work the next day after an ok nights sleep.

Thank you all, following with interest, as my teeth recently started going home.
❤️

I had a horrendous infection once and as the dentist took the tooth out he said there was a solid ball of infection stuck in the roots it was clearly the cause of the pain because I was fine afterwards little sore but nothing more than that

I had four teeth extracted under local anaesthetic (wisdom teeth, on separate occasions). One as a bit harder than the others, but all were absolutely fine. I had a day off work and then carried on as normal. They will give you advice about hygiene and what types of food to eat/avoid.