Tooth extraction, need reassurance

WifeofDJFLP

Hi there

long story to get here but basically I broke one of my front teeth 20 years ago in an argument with a bridge and a bike, the tooth has been patched up til it breaks a little more then patched up again.

I am a terrible dental phobe (thanks to a nasty experience with a school dentist) and spent many years avoiding the dentist until pain and analgesia overdose drove me to to whatever dentist would have me, get patched up then cross my fingers till it happedned again. My teeth aren't pretty and a great source of anxiety for me.

Towards the end of last year, I pulled my socks up, bore my embarrasment and got myself a lovely (if expensive) dentist, who immediately declared it all "fixable" and made me feel really optimistic.

Tomorrow is d-day, I'm to have the front tooth out and a denture put in place with a view to having a brige fitted when I'm all healed (surrounding teeth have been root filled and are just waiting really).

I am so worried about the actual extraction and the denture. My dentist has painted a pretty bleak picture of recovery, with the disclaimer that if she makes it out to be awful then I'll feel great if it's not!

My job involves lots of meetings, including one on Friday morning but I don't expect I'll be able to attend without lisping and dribbling like a fool.

Can anyone offer me any reassurance.

WifeofDJFLP
xxx

Toothsmith

It'll be fine.

belfastgirl23

As a recovering dental phobe myself, WELL DONE on getting yourself in there. You should be very proud of yourself.

There are often threads on this board about people dreading dental treatment. I would have to say that I have never ever seen a thread where it was as bad as the person was expecting and in the main they feel a bit foolish about having wasted all that energy on dreading it. This will be you this time tomorrow

As for the meeting, if you feel a bit weird just say "sorry, recent dental treatment, don't mind me if I lisp a bit" and they will feel sorry for you and think you're incredibly brave.

Good luck, although you don't need it. And come back and post tomorrow night and tell us it was fine!

Mrs_pbradley936

There is nothing to it. Although I had a toothache and wanted it out but it was so quick. Mine was a back tooth and I did not want/need a bridge or anything and the worst thing was feeling the gap with your tongue until it closed.

judderman62

last extraction I had, a molar, was a piece of cake (indeed probably too much cake resaon for state of my teeth but I digress) , took about 20 seconds for the actual extraction itself and did not hurt one bit.

Dribble away

xxlaurissaxx

Dont worry you'll only dribble for the day its taken out if even that.
I just got a denture on Friday for my front tooth (top) as my bridge that has been in for 8/9 years kept falling out over the last 6 months.
Dentures dont hurt at all and the bridge is basically a false tooth with metal wings on each side that get glued on to the teeth next to it.
Honestly it doesnt hurt, but if you smoke try avaoiding smoking for at least a good few hours and if possible the whole day as its an open wound and you will get a very nasty and painful infection.

Good Luck and dont worry xx

hethmar

Just a thought - by the way, it will be easy peasy having the tooth out - but as a dental phobic myself and having steeled myself in the last two years to sorting out the ugliness of my smile - I take it he didnt think it was strong enough to take a crown instead of removal? You may then want to consider an implant after you get settled following the extraction.

Good luck

WifeofDJFLP

Well the tooth put up a bit of a fight, took loads of local, 45 minutes and two dentists to do it.

The denture feels weird and I'm really upset. The dentist gave me a "false teeth box" and some ploygrip as I left and I could've wept there and then!

I should expect a fair bit of bruising and pain tomorrow.

I'd love an implant, the implant dentist says it's ideal but alas I don't have the £2000.

I daresay I'll fell better when it's all fixed and I'm still really proud of myself, if a little weepy!

And I still like my dentist.

Thanks for all the messages.

xxx

hethmar

Well, glad you are home and safe. 45 minutes, my goodness, they are usually out in about 5 minutes. That must have been stressful for you. May be you could start an implant saving account

Dont smoke whatever you do- it can cause dreadful probs after an extraction! Theres a thought, if you are a smoker, packing up cigs would pay for an implant?

Best wishes xxx

evenasus

Pleased everything went ok for you and not a lot of pain.

I have had crowns on my front teeth for nearly 40 years.
Three years ago, a dentist managed, by hammering off a crown that had been put on with temporary (HA) glue, It was stuck like superglue.
Anyway, he managed to crack the root canalled root.

I went to another dentist, as I didn't trust that one anymore and had to have the tooth pulled (almost fell out) and an implant.

The denture I had while the tooth removal healed, did make me speak with a lisp and wasn't the most comfortable of things.

I had an implant a few months later, which is brilliant, especially after wearing the denture.

As you say though, darned expensive.:eek:

hethmar

Well worth it though even - I bet you feel a hundred times better with it