Tooth extraction ~ what can I expect?

Back in April, I was on a roadtrip when a good chunk of my wisdom tooth on the lower right side came out. I'd never had anything like that happen before. Nothing traumatic.....I guess I just had a pre-existing cavity and the tooth finally weakened enough to break.





ANYHOW, it began to hurt on a trip I took a couple weeks ago. I made an appointment last week.....





I am pretty sure they will extract it.





I AM A VERY, VERY NERVOUS dental patient ~ which is why I've already put it off this long, I think. I don't know that my insurance covers total sedation....I'd go for it in a second if they DID. When I say nervous, I mean that I feel physically ill in the dentist's office. I fear NO OTHER kind of pain, but dental pain makes me want to hide in a cave somewhere.





How much pain is involved in this process??





Does it it still hurt very bad AFTER the tooth has been extracted? And for how long?





Is there a hole? Is it sewn shut? Please help!





Thanks!

Tooth extraction ~ what can I expect?
There is noone in this world


any more paranoid about a


dentist than I am. I literally have panic attacks.


My solution (such as it is)--


first find an oral surgeon. They are equipped with specialty instruments and abilities that regular dentists just don't have. An OS will have that baby out in short order.


My solution for the panic


attacks is low dose Xanax.


I take one as soon as I wake


up or I won't even go to the


appt. then I take another one


about 1 hr. before the procedure.


After care: The area will


have no feeling until about


6 hours later. Then depending on the pain--the


doctor will have prescribed


a pain reliever. where the


tooth was removed you will


have stitches (that come out


by themselves).


One warning: Rinse your mouth with low salt and tepid


water and do so very gently.


Your tooth will have a blood


clot in it, and if you rinse out


the clot, infection will probably


start. If this happens, tell your


OS and get an Rx.


I hope all goes well...
Reply:i don't blame you, i'm terrified of dentists, too. if you're as nervous as i am about them, you should maybe go to a day surgery clinic so they can put you completely under, if you think you can tough it out more, then ask for some heavier sleep pills. depending on the skill of the dentist, it won't be too bad; it could take a while, and it'll still be a little uncomfertable, but there'll be a crunch, and it's done. they'll probably put some stiches in, but they're nothing, they usually come out on their own in a few days. you'll be a little sore, but they'll give you something for that. good luck!
Reply:i hate to say this but if they just take one out they might have to take all of them out. from what people say, it hurts for about a week and you cant eat anything solid. the dentist will stich the hole shut so that it can heel, but there will probably be a little hole where the tooth used to be. if they put you completely under you wont feel anything that day because you will be sleeping durning the procedure and then when you get home all you will want to do is sleep, but the next day i think they hurt
Reply:Total sedation will not be covered but is not nessecary, it gets numbed pleanty. There will be a hole but gums heal very fast and bleed VERY little so it doesn't need to be sewn up.





It will sort of hurt/feel numb for about a week and a half, but it won't be bad. If there has been enough anethisetic it won't hurt much more then a little bee sting, if it really hurts, tell the dentist quick and he'll add more novicane.





The only pain, and I mean split-second pain, is the novicane needle.
Reply:from my own experience, the worst part is getting the shot of Novocain (is that what they use now?). I won't lie, it hurts. Then you won't feel a thing. Afterwards, they sew up the opening. I will hurt for a few days but not that bad, what with the drugs they give you. (You have the change to get high legally!) The worst things is not being able to eat what you'd like for a few days.
Reply:I had all 4 extracted 3 years ago. Its not that bad!! They should give you options. They can sedate you (where you are sleeping), give you "laughing gas" where you feel everything but just dont care, or just give you novacaine. If you are sedated, of course you feel nothing. The other two options you will feel the shot with the novacaine, but that is the worst part. You cannot feel the extraction at all. I had like no pain afterwards either, but they will give you pain medication. My oral surgeon put a single stitch in each of my extraction sites, which was annoying because they had little knots in them. Had to have the stitches out after one week. The day of the extraction, and the next day, you need to really take it easy, like lay on the couch all day. If the clots that are forming loosen and fall out you get what they call a "dry socket" which exposes the nerves and is very painful, so, just do what you ar supposed to do which is nothing!





You will very glad you did it when its over. Good luck!
Reply:the forecast calls for pain, but the alternative is blood poisoning,


and infection. and the worst pain will be when the pain mecicine wears off after the removal. they will most likely give you pills that will help very little and make you sick to your stomach, but any help is good. should not hurt more then about two weeks
Reply:I was NOT AT ALL terrified of dentists until I had to have a molar removed for adjustments to my braces. I was so scared when I saw the syringe that I wouldn't let him touch me. I opted for it surgically removed instead because it was the only other option and it had to come out. no choice. If you are as scared as I am - of both doctors and dentists (now) - then if i were you I would opt for surgical removal. yeah you get another needle but hey, you're not awake for the tooth removal! To me not seeing the other syringe was worth it. NO it does not hurt after having the tooth removed. You've had your arm or leg or a hand go to sleep before? Well it feels like that only in your mouth due to the novicane they gave you. And there will be a hole or big space where the tooth used to be - just like when you were a little kid and you lost teeth on their own. Might look weird at first but eventually the blood will dry up and it will appear normal like the rest of your gums. For me the feeling of having my jaw "go to sleep" only lasted a few minutes to a day or two, depends on the person. Not long anyways.





Yes I believe they do sew them shut after extraction but I wasn't awake during mine so I don't know. GOOD LUCK! If you need a shoulder to cry on, I'm here for you.
Reply:follow all the instructions the dentist gives you when you get it out, you DON'T want a Dry Socket!


Worst dental pain possible and you'd be wishing you kept the tooth in.





http://www.dental--health.com/faq_drysoc...
Reply:I know what you mean about denstists. Especially when you undergo a procedure you havent undergone before. I went through this just a few months ago. Here is what they do:





First of all, it is a good thing that your wisdom tooth has already came in. I had two that grew in. They both had cavities %26amp; eventually had to be extracted. Nowadays, the dentists will numb you quite well. You will not feel any pain during the procedure. You will feel some pressure though. It doesn't hurt, it just feels weird is all.





The pain in the butt part is the bleeding %26amp; the changing of the guaze. Not painful, but a nuisance. Be sure to follow the directions your dentist gives you about taking care of the hole in your gums.





There will be a hole for awhile (like 2-3 months) but it will shrink.





If you were to get wisdom teeth cut out (means they have not grown in yet) now that is different. They will cut them out, %26amp; sew you up. They will put you out %26amp; you will not feel a thing. You will be sore though afterwards %26amp; need ice (try frozen peas...work great). They give you some real good pain medicine too.





I was real nervous about this just a few months ago, but it wasn't painful. Just a pain in the butt taking care of my mouth for a week afterwards is all. Good luck. You will be fine.
Reply:I can understand your 'anxiousness' over your trip to the dentist, but take it from someone who waited TOO LONG -dentures are highly over rated and often food gets caught up in between the gum and dentures and hurts so bad that it makes you want to slap a 1st Sgt.!!


I'm glad you're getting it seen to now. It wouldn't hurt to have the Dentist, while he's at it, inspect your other teeth for signs of decay and take care of it then. That should get your insurance to pay for it all or at least a reasonable co-pay.


The Ins. co. will see it as preventative and most will gladly pay for prevention in one shot or 2 as opposed to a series of many expensive visits and the Dentist can then get the insurance company to admit to total 'KO'.





I also was a extremely, severely anxious patient when it came to Dentists. I grew up in the military from birth to 1970, the military Dentists I had the misfortune to meet were sadistic child hating jungle quaks. My fear of needles comes from that. As I got older the intense anxiety grew so by the time I was an adult, and as soon as a needle came into view; I freaked out of the chair, into the hall, out into the lobby and out to my car ...etc all the way to my bedroom where I hid under the bed.





So, try talking to your Dentist before the appt., explain your concern and possible alternatives to whatever it is that freaks you out. My civilian Dentist (before I wound up w/dentures) had to gas me before he could come anywhere near me with a needle or drill.


I would suggest having it surgically removed. It is a sorry Dentist that won't knock you out before performing such a procedure. Be sure to bring someone you trust (spouse, family member-adult, close friend) to be in the room, though out of the way to protect you from what has happened to others while alone with their Dentist and they were 'used'.


As for the stitches, when he goes to take them out, there is a slight 'pinch' feeling but other than that its not as bad as having to have all your teeth taken out because of waiting too long. It usually only hurts for most folks at the most 48 hours. Depending on the procedure(s). There will be hole but sewn shut (most Dentists do sew them shut), just whatever you do, don't suck anything and I mean this with all my heart, don't suck on anything-straw or cigarette or whatever unless you cover that spot where the hole is/was with a small sterile patch of non-stick 'dressing' or bandage and hold it there someway to avoid 'suction' damage. A 'dry hole' is the worst pain you can imagine! BEEN THERE %26amp; DONE THAT!


Hope that helps.


Take care of the teeth you do have while you can.





P.S.- Most Dentists will script an gas-safe 'happy pill' that you would take about 1-2 hours before going to the appt.. Mine did and by the time I sat in the 'chair' I was sooooooo mellow, and then the gas hit me....I didn't know anything till way afterward.