Wisdom tooth booked in for deep filling may need extraction, anyone had similar?

[BCSurvivor]

I stupidly left a crumbled away filling in my back wisdom tooth for nearly 9 months as there was no pain.
The pain started about two months ago and gradually built up to throbbing and excruciating all around my lower right jaw, with lots of teeth sensitivity. last week.
In my head I was convinced that I needed at least two teeth pulled on that side, as the throbbing pain seemed to be coming from a side molar rather than the back wisdom tooth.
And when the severe pain seemed to die down to completely manageable on Sunday I thought maybe the neve had died.
Luckily, that tooth is fine, but the wisdom tooth has lost all of its filling, possibly a corner aswell, and I am booked in for a very large filling.
The dentist has warned me that the filling will be deep and almost to the nerve.
She also said it may cause extra pain and not take properly, in which case I would have to come back for an extraction.
I asked if it would be better to just have the extraction, as it's a back wisdom tooth, but she said if it had been any other tooth she'd have said yes, but as it wouldn't be straightforward to pull - narrow jaw, lower, right at the back - she wanted to try the filling first.
I would definitely prefer to go straight to extraction if the tooth is so bad.
Has anyone had a large failed filling in a wisdom tooth?

Large filling 6 months ago, it's just failed and I ended up with an infection in the root. It had been totally fine but I've had a lot of work stress and been grinding my teeth in my sleep which I think had agitated it all, ended up with excruciating pain in my jaw and ear. Antibiotics have cleared the infection and the pain but the dentist is clear the tooth and root need to come out now as it will just re-occur. She did the filling and found it challenging as it's so far back, so she has recommended the removal under sedation to make it easier for both me and the dentist. She's told me to expect to wait 2-3 months for an extraction appointment.

I have all of my wisdom teeth removed over the past couple of years. A failed filling, two awkward spots that would have needed filling otherwise and one badly cracked tooth.
the extractions were ok. They weren’t painful at the time and recovery was very quickly. Slight swelling at the time but now I’ve no wisdom teeth and I wouldn’t tell the different from before.

Wisdom teeth are tricky to pull. I heard a big crack, a slightly sweating dentist who looked like he needed a gin when it was out. I couldn't open my mouth over a crack for weeks and needed multiple antibiotics for the infections. Had to use a baby toothbrush to do my best and a liquid diet. Husband enjoyed the peace and quiet though.

No way I'd have gone for a deep filling, put up with the pain of that and then go through getting it out.

@Rubberducksallround will the sedation be done at the dentist or hospital?
@gamerchick that's how I feel, I'd rather go straight to extraction, but the dentist doesn't want to do it as she's said that tooth won't be straightforward.
It seems pointless - and painful - to do a really big filling, close to the nerve, on a wisdom tooth that will probably need pulling anyway!

Mine didn't want to either. He pulled the tooth next to it so he didn't have to. It ended up getting infected anyway and needed doing. Id asked in the past if I could have it out because of the way it was growing. He wasn't keen.

She doesn't want too because she knows it's going to be a royal pain in the backside, during and after.

It's going to be done at a dentist, not hospital, but not my regular dentist. There's a specialist dentist in my area that can handle it.

I'd have it out. There's no point trying to fill wisdoms usually. And it can damage the tooth in front of you leave it there.

Just get rid of it. It's pointless and decayed. You'll feel so much better and cleaner!

@BillieWiper that's more or less what I said to the dentist, but she won't take it out before trying to fill it first as she says it won't be straightforward to pull.
I'd far rather go straight to extraction.

I had this recently. I have an amazing dental practice. My NHS dentist (the most depressed man to ever knew) retired without telling anyone so I was forced to find a private practice and start paying more than I ever thought I would be prepared to but... it was a blessing in disguise. It made me realise how little you get on the NHS - it's the bare minimum of care. I doubt know why I put off dental care as much as possible. In the past 3 years I've had so many long standing problems teeth sorted out - 3 crowns and 2 replacement fillings - and they were all worth it IMHO. They take it in steps and replace the filling instead of going straight for a crown or an extraction. The anesthetics and filling materials they use now are ten times better than what they used a decade ago. One important point I learned was that if you have a tooth extracted... it is so much more load distributed across fewer teeth, wear and tear etc., on the remaining teeth so I would recommend you try and keep it if possible. I regret putting up for so long with worrying about my teeth and having to chew with so much caution. I feel the happiest and most content with my teeth that I I've felt in over 20 years. Go to a dental practice with a large number of 5 star reviews.

That's a bit unusual for a dentist to be desperate to save a wisdom as they really have no purpose and just make it harder to clean the back. Unless the 7 in front is missing? Otherwise idk why she'd see the urge to preserve it.

If it's tricky to get out well that's all the more reason to get rid of a tricky broken rotten tooth! In my view. It could spread down through to the bone.

My dental surgeon and periodontal specialist both dismissed filling them as pointless.

Ask for a senior or to be referred to the hospital if necessary if she seems out of her depth with removing it personally.

Or even go to a new dentist and see what they say. Unless it's NHS in which case just insist you'd like the removal. That's what I'd do.

All the wisdoms I've had removed have made my mouth much easier to clean. Nobody I know has ever said, oh I wish I hadn't had that wisdom out!

@BillieWiper she's NHS.
All my other molar teeth are intact, so I think it's purely because she thinks it'll be difficult to remove.
But I think if the position makes it difficult to remove, it's going to be equally difficult to fill properly.

I’d say to her that you are very concerned and would appreciate a second opinion, how do you need to arrange that?

I’ve had one wisdom tooth out at a specialist dentist. And one by general anaesthetic. I would recommend general anaesthetic every time. It’s too brutal a process to fuck about with trying this and that!

Yeah and removal will permanently stop the issue with certainty as there's nothing there anymore. Filling it's highly possible to fail again. While decay spreads. And wisdom is not required for eating. It honestly sounds weird she's desperate to fill it. Especially if it's 'difficult'. Deffo get it out. Maybe with someone else?

It does vary a lot. When they say tricky it doesn't always mean GA is needed. You do just feel pulling sensation with local, if they cut you can't even feel it. Well, that was me and a few I know.
Either way they won't let you be in pain.
If you feel you'd prefer GA and it's safe then I hope they give it x

All my wisdom teeth were pulled at age 24. You really do not need to limp along a wisdom tooth.

What you imagine to be difficult is usually something they do ten times a week. Stop worrying and overthinking it - let the dentists get on with doing what they've taken years of study and practice to learn how to do.

Yeah! Though mine didn't come through til I was about 34! Haha. One came out of its own accord and looked like a pine nut! They're just dirt traps aren't they?
I love my LL8 though as it's grown big enough to chew on and 'replace' the missing 7! 😂 Rest I'm happy are gone!

Two of mine were impacted and below the gum, the other two were malformed with deep grooves. They would have just gotten cavities and needed fillings. I had it done eons ago with laughing gas as the anesthesia

Yeah some people's are just all kinds of nonsense! My dentist says it's almost always a waste of time, money and effort to try and fill or crown one. Mine and some people I know had it come out in like two seconds. Others it takes up to about 15 mins or more.

Laughing gas! How was that? I've only ever had injections. Did it make you laugh/high?

It made me giggle/high but only after I had been sucking on it furiously for about an hour, and that was when I broke my hip! The ambulance driver was playing drum and bass (or so it sounded to me!) and I felt I was suddenly at a bloody rave?! Wore off really quickly though! 😆

Mine was filled despite me asking for extraction. It was of no use to me as the lower wisdom tooth had already been removed so nothing to meet it.
It was a big filling, it then got decayed and affected the tooth next to it. The wisdom tooth was removed but the one next to it was filled. Should have been root canal treatment as the nerve was not protected and the tooth was painful. I opted to have it out after the filling fell out but regret it now and wish I'd gone for root canal.
Anyway, in your position, I'd ask for second opinion or change practice. Dentist is not serving you well imo by filling it.

I would go straight for extraction as well.

Either the dentist can extract it or they can’t! Obviously I am not a dentist, but how hard can it be? I would definitely try and get a second opinion.

The worst of all worlds is a painful filling which leaves your tooth sensitive, a big bill, and then an extraction later. Also if, due to sensitivity, it affects your ability to clean the area properly, it may go on to affect the next door tooth, which is far more important.

Although it’s not ‘nothing’, I don’t think having an extraction requires a general. I had two extracted many years ago in a lunchtime, one impacted. I went back to work in the afternoon (though probably shouldn’t have). I guess it depends on your pain threshold and whether you are squeamish about a bit of blood.

Enormous sympathy, OP.

I had a rear molar (not wisdom) tooth extracted a week ago. (Private) Even as a huge snivelling coward when faced with a dentist, I had it extracted with just local anaesthetic. (I've happily paid for conscious sedation at £300 an hour for a titanium implant).

It was OK. (Can't advise about filling before extraction but hell, try and keep the tooth if the dentist thinks it's salvageable. They ain't going to grow back.)

My dentist won't do wisdom teeth now (used to). They send you to hospital, and after hearing about failed extraction, I would do that!

How do you request getting a hospital referral?
Would that still be NHS - my dentist is NHS, Wales.
My gut feeling is that the dentist is going for what's better for her as opposed to me, re extraction, as she said if it was any other tooth she would be recommending extraction.
It's because it's the very back lower wisdom tooth and she says it won't be straightforward to remove.

I think you get referred by the practice, @BCSurvivor
They need to tick a certain amount of boxes before they can refer.
That will probably mean you getting it filled first.
I'm not 100% but I think that's right.
I'd call the practice and ask for advice, the receptionist should be able to advise after speaking to dentist.

Other possible option is if you could afford to go to see a private dentist and ask if they'd take it out. I think you can do that without leaving your NHS practice. They might not but it's maybe worth a try. I seem to remember that mine was less than £200 to have out but might have been an easier one, I don't know.

I agree that dentist is doing what is best for her rather than you but her hands might be tied.