Terrified - tooth problem

[*Fallen Angel*]

I have been having ongoing issues with one of my teeth and my previous dentist kept re-filling it. It has now fractured and root canal or extraction is my only option. I changed to a new dentists yesterday who specialises in nervous patients but I didn't find it that sympathetic with all my questions. He seemed a bit abrupt and kept looking toward the clock.

I can't afford the root canal and crown it will need afterwards so I'm left with extraction but I'm terrified. I'm massively dental phobic and the thought of my tooth coming out leaving a hole makes me feel all funny. My other half thinks I'm being pathetic and it will be done in a matter of minutes but I can't get over the fear.

I know I have to have it done and I'm working up the courage to ring for an appointment. My friend had hers out recently and got a dry socket afterwards so I'm scared of that too.

Please tell me your experiences good and bad. I wish it would just fall out on it's own.

[Raphaels]

Hi, I gad the same issues. In the end I have had Two extractions one in March and the last one in October. My dentist is brilliant. Once the numbness takes over it will not hurt. As for dry sockets I always have them. They are a pain but your dentist will fill the hole with antibacterial stuff. It tastes of cloves. But it will get better with no problems. My dentist saw me after a couple of days to fill it again with the stuff. It will feel sore for the first couple of days but it soon passes. Make sure you tell your dentist that your prone to dry sockets.

[*Fallen Angel*]

Thanks for the reassurance. I've booked the appointment now, earliest they can see me is 4th Dec! What does the procedure feel like? I know you are numb but what can you actually feel? Also, what do they fill the hole with? Does it bleed for ages?

Sorry for all the questions!

[Ventussi]

You will just feel pressure. Lots of it. It doesn't hurt. After the numbness is off, it depends on many factors. I had two teeth extracted, first one was ok, the second was inflamed and after the anesthetic wore off... Well, I couldn't cope without Ibuprofen for the first night, but later on it was ok. Bleeding also depends, mine bled slightly for 2-3 days from time to time.

[Fishmanpa]

I don't know of anyone, anxiety or not, that likes going to the dentist. Getting a tooth extracted is not fun but it's really not as bad as many make it out to be. I had to have two extracted prior to cancer treatment. The worst part was the needle for the pain killer. Just a bit uncomfortable is all. Once the numbness kicks in it's a piece of cake. Didn't feel a thing and the numbness lasted for several hours afterwards. You'll have some gauze to pack in for a few hours until the bleeding/oozing stops. No big deal. OTC pain relievers work but ask for some prescription pain meds for afterwards if the OTCs aren't doing the trick (I always ask for them anyway ~lol~). As one of my favorite comedians said: "A half a Vicodin and a Bahama Mama make for a bitchin' day!" You'll be fine the next day....promise :)

[*Fallen Angel*]

Thanks Fismanpa. I feel a bit less anxious about it today. Wierdly it's hardly hurting now but I know because I saw the xray that the decay is right down to the base of the tooth.

The gauze they pack in it, do you remove it or does it dissolve itself?

[Tessar]

Hey Angel. I have just had an extraction after a failed root canal treatment. The whole thing went on for 18 months after I originally had it filled (I even had the filling break & need re-doing after 2 weeks!) Clearly my tooth was doomed.
My dentist is usually very kind but the last checkup I went to, I also got the feeling he was clock watching. Well, that's how it felt. I probably didn't explain very well to him how much it still hurt & he seemed abrupt saying the only option was putting up with it or an extraction. I walked away feeling I hadn't been assertive at all & was really disappointed & very down about it.
Everyone here encouraged me to go back so 2 weeks later I made an appointment as I couldn't stand it niggling all the time. When I went back he was as nice as pie. Couldn't have been more understanding.
I was given 3 options. He redoes the filling, an expert re-does the filling or he does an Extraction. Seeing as I don't have a good track-record with root canal fillings I opted for an extraction (then a bridge in the tooth's place). I really didn't want the tooth out but re-treatment gave no guarantee of success & I'd had about 8 appointments on it.
I didn't have it out that long ago so it's still settling down. Now it's come out the pain I was having has gone though. Personally, if you have a bad tooth that's beyond repair, its better having it out. I've learned the hard way on that one in the past.
I'm not phobic of the dentist but even I don't like extractions, fillings etc. So I do relate to why you'd not want it out. But the thing is, it does sound like it will be necessary. Try not to be too scared; dry socket is unusual. Of course it can happen but the dentist will explain to you about post-extraction care for your mouth.
As regards having a hole, well, I will be honest. Where my tooth was did leave a gap bigger than I was expecting but as I'll be having a bridge to fill the gap, it'll go in about three months. I am getting used to the gap now. If it were further back in my mouth I wouldn't both replacing the tooth but this one is close to the front so it needs doing, plus it's where I would be chewing a lot as well.
Where abouts is your tooth that's playing up?

---------- Post added at 14:34 ---------- Previous post was at 14:31 ----------

oh I just saw your other post. when I have had extractions, you will be totally numb. you will feel a bit of pushing first as they loosen the tooth. then they can pull it out. the extraction procedure will not hurt. Fishmanpa's right. the injections are the worst bit.
I found I had to focus on the ceiling. I just kept calm by breathing steadily. Tried not to think about what was going on & told myself it'll be over soon. I've always coped that way.
Before the appointment I just try to keep busy. I'm not that nervous of the dentist but extractions of course aren't the nicest thing but as I say keeping busy beforehand & just trying not to dwell on it was what worked best.

[Fishmanpa]

Thanks Fismanpa. I feel a bit less anxious about it today. Wierdly it's hardly hurting now but I know because I saw the xray that the decay is right down to the base of the tooth.

The gauze they pack in it, do you remove it or does it dissolve itself?

You definitely want to remove/replace the gauze until the bleeding/oozing stops. After that, you should be fine. Try to chew on the opposite side while it's healing and make sure you rinse your mouth after eating to keep any food bits from getting in there. You'll be fine withing a few weeks.

[Andria24]

Angel I'm not going to tell you my horror story because you really will avoid going however what I will tell is is my experience was a s bad as it gets and it left me massively phobic afterwards.

The way I've worked with the phobia is like this: I went out of my way to find a sympathetic dentist. She isn't the cheapest, more so when you know that I'm entitled to free dental treatment since I got diagnosed with my thyroid issue. Anyway - I'd rather pay for the peace of mind that she gives me, than put up with someone who makes me worse than I already am.

So far I've had fillings, been polished (this is the worst procedure IMO) and an extraction, and I'm looking at one more extraction, two crowns and a bridge. And I'm ok with it. The one extraction she did well ... she really took her time. She explained that, if the tooth is correctly pressured and 'worked', it pretty much slides out without any of that awful pushing and pulling - and she was right. I didn't even realise that she'd got it out until she said 'done, it's out'.

I wouldn't say that I was cured of my phobia but I can handle visits to the dentists and I'm pretty proud of myself for managing my anxiety at appointment times.

As for the procedure - you're numbed (you can have a numbing gel on first, though I don't bother), then the dentist will ensure you're fully unable to feel anything. They will then push against the tooth, then start to work it out by wiggling it around and pushing against the gum several times. It really doesn't hurt a bit. Once it's out they place a small piece of gauze on the wound and get you to bite down on it. They will give you another one to take with you.

My best advice is to take a strong painkiller beforehand because you usually find you're in pain once the numbing wears off. I've never known it to be significant, but have always known it to be painful enough that I've resorted to Naproxen.

You absolutely will be fine :)

[Shivmarie]

Hiya, I have GAD and I am having ongoing dental work.
I had 4 teeth out at once, not sedated just numbed and it wasnt as bad as i thought it would be. Granted afterwards qas abit painful, but i was under the care of a cr*p dentist, who has actually caused me to need more work oh AND I didnt take pain relief until AFTER the injection wore off which i now know is a must.
Anyway ive now gone private and I had 2 roots out on Thursday (it didn't deter me) I didnt feel the injection, which was great, the roots were out in no time and i took 2 neurophen and 1 paracetamol as soon as i left the room, i had zero pain after , nor the next day.

[*Fallen Angel*]

Thank you everyone, you've made me feel so much better!

Tessar it's a tooth 2nd from the back that is completely cracked because the filling kept coming out along with parts of my tooth. The back of my tooth doesn't exist now and there's nothing to hold the filling it.

Part of the reason for my decision of extraction is because I simply cannot afford the RCT and crown afterwards. I've had a root canal before and it was pretty traumatic - I had a newly qualified dentist who had no patience at all.

It's not till 4 Dec and I'm not as nervous as I was. I just keep thinking it will be out quickly and it's not that bad. The thing that bothers me the most is the pushing and pulling everyone talks about. It sets my teeth on edge (pardon the pun) for some reason!

[Tessar]

I don't find the pushing & pulling too bad. Because you'll be numb anyway, it's not like it will hurt. I appreciate why you'd say about your teeth being on edge!! Glad you're feeling more relaxed about it though :-)

[Andria24]

Angel it's nothing, the pushing and pulling. It's just pressure (when the dentist pushes against your jaw) and a bit of wiggling as they work it out. You don't feel any pain, not a bit, and it's not even uncomfortable. What is is how wide you sit with your damn mouth open, though you don't realise that 'til the numbness wears off. Then you realise you were sat with your blooming jaw unhinged like an idiot :D

[*Fallen Angel*]

Heck I'm in so much pain with the tooth. Didn't sleep a wink last night, the worst pain I've ever felt, worse than labour. Even the strongest codine/paracetamol didn't touch it. Got an emergency appointment at 3.30 but they said they might not be able to pull it today:weep:

I'm terrified of the pain and terrified of having it out. I think there must be an infection now as it's pulsing and I have a horrid taste in my mouth.

[pepsi]

Hi I too have dental phobia im shocking really bad. I had a back molar removed about 18 months ago its ok really its like most things its not going to go away unless its dealt with its over quickly go home and lay sown so you have to and will get through it. Please pm me if you wish all I know is I am awful about dentists but I had to get through and you will too...:hugs:

---------- Post added at 21:47 ---------- Previous post was at 21:45 ----------

The pain you are experiencing now will be gone just like mine you will be relieved so you will .

[*Fallen Angel*]

Thanks Pepsi. I did have it removed and whilst it wasn't pleasant, it wasn't as bad as I feared. It ached a bit last night but it's a lot better this morning. Thanks for the advice!