Dental Advice Please

mejjo203

Hello everyone,

Today I had an appointment with my dentist, to cut a long story short, I have a top molar that became infected and then had an abcess, I visited my dentist a week ago and he gave me a course of antibiotics and said he would extract it. Today I went I have it extracted and then it got worse, he numbed me up, it numbed very well, couldn't feel a thing.

Then he started pulling and tugging and after about 5 minutes said the root won't budge and will have to refer me to a oral surgeon.

I really don't want to go through this as I'm scared enough of dentists let alone having sedation to have it done, I strongly believe he didn't put enough force into it, I have also had a few problems in the past with a crown falling out all the time.

What I'm wondering, is it a good idea to visit another dentist and let him have a go? I feel I can't wait until January at the earliest for this referral. And as he has tried pulling it today the gum is very sore from the attempt and if looks horrible. Quite painful now too.

I understand that it might be tricky if the roots won't budge but is it possible another dentist might do it? So I can avoid waiting and have it taken care of before Christmas.

Thank you for reading everyone.

FBaby

I have had a fear of dentists since I was a kid so have only been as an adult for emergency. A couple of years ago, I had to have two molars taken out. I went to the dentist (having been feeling sick for days before at the prospect) and he managed to take one out but not the other. It wasn't a nice experience, found the injection painful and just wanted it over. When he said I would need to go to hospital, I wanted to burst into tears. I was massively relieved when I was offered to have it done under general anaesthetics, but then I talked sense into myself. General anaesthetics would have meant my partner having to take time off to drive me, a longer stay to recover, and of course, the very small risk of something going wrong. I decided that however painful it was going to be, I could go through it and get it over with under local anasthetics

No need to say that I was close to a wreck when I went, so was thankful that there was no wait at all and was immediately taken into the room. The consultant was lovely, friendly, and immediately put me at ease. She did the injection and I couldn't believe it when I felt almost nothing. She pulled the tooth in 5 seconds and that was it. 5 minutes to relax to stop the bleeding and it was over. It was so quick that I was in and out of the parking in 20 minutes, didn't even have to pay for it. I was so grateful I had taken this option!

Toothsmith

I think you would be quite lucky at this time of year to find another dentist, be booked in for an initial examination, and then reappointed to have the tooth taken out before Xmas.

Taking a tooth out is a technique thing - not a force thing. More force just leads to a broken tooth. By not breaking it, he's made it much easier for the oral surgeon - and for you - next time.

If it was a young/inexperienced dentist - it might just be that they gave up a bit early - but it's impossible for me to know that without seeing you or the tooth.

It is possible another dentist might be able to do it better (The oral surgeon, for example will be able to do it! Another dentist with a bit more confidence in his oral surgery skills might be OK) But it's also possible that another dentist would be over-confident, and muck it all up by trying too hard.

mejjo203

Toothsmith wrote: »

I think you would be quite lucky at this time of year to find another dentist, be booked in for an initial examination, and then reappointed to have the tooth taken out before Xmas.

Taking a tooth out is a technique thing - not a force thing. More force just leads to a broken tooth. By not breaking it, he's made it much easier for the oral surgeon - and for you - next time.

If it was a young/inexperienced dentist - it might just be that they gave up a bit early - but it's impossible for me to know that without seeing you or the tooth.

It is possible another dentist might be able to do it better (The oral surgeon, for example will be able to do it! Another dentist with a bit more confidence in his oral surgery skills might be OK) But it's also possible that another dentist would be over-confident, and muck it all up by trying too hard.

Thank you for your reply,

I have managed to get an appointment at another dentist, The tooth really hurts, I can't bite down at all without a really strong pain & i don't want to go through Christmas and wait until mid-end January to see the Oral Surgeon that my dentist referred me to.

mejjo203

I'll give a bit more information,

When the dentist tried pulling it i remember seeing something fly out my mouth to the right, I ended up working at this was the gold crown that was on the tooth he was trying to extract, The crown is no longer there and when i left he never placed anything on the tooth, Its just like an open gap now with my gums really hurting where the tools where hooked around the tooth for extraction.

I think the main reason i'm trying to opt for another dentist is to avoid the pain and discomfort over Christmas and to not wait a month or possibly longer for the referral to the oral surgeon.

The dentist i now have an appointment with was reccomended to me by a neighbour who used to work at the dentist for 20 years, She has told me that the dentist is very good and he is also qualified for oral surgery, This might be a better option for me as my dentist who tried pulling it is not qualified for any surgical type extraction and that's why he referred me.

Fingers crossed i might be able to have it dealt with before Christmas and not wait for the referral to the oral surgeon.

ManofLeisure_2

My brother had a similar experience. My advice would be take the advice of the original dentist and allow the oral surgeon to extract your tooth. My brother said that whereas the dentist was unable to perform the extraction after 30+ mins of trying, the oral surgeon performed the proceedure within a few mins.

Good Luck - hope all goes well for you

mejjo203

ManofLeisure wrote: »

My brother had a similar experience. My advice would be take the advice of the original dentist and allow the oral surgeon to extract your tooth. My brother said that whereas the dentist was unable to perform the extraction after 30+ mins of trying, the oral surgeon performed the proceedure within a few mins.

Good Luck - hope all goes well for you

Thank you for your reply, I don't mind the oral surgeon performing it but its just the waiting period to get there, after calling them they said i'm looking to the middle of January at the earliest, I really don't want to wait and put up with this tooth until then and especially over Christmas, The other dentist that i was told about ( the one i have an appointment with ) Is supposed to be qualified with oral surgery, Do you think it might be good to go there instead of waiting to see the referred oral surgeon in January?

ManofLeisure_2

I think the words ''better safe than sorry'' come to mind. In your situation I would certainly wait, because I think the proceedure would probably be so much easier.

mejjo203

ManofLeisure wrote: »

I think the words ''better safe than sorry'' come to mind. In your situation I would certainly wait, because I think the proceedure would probably be so much easier.

That's what im debating on, I'm questioning if i did go and see this other dentist that's qualified to do oral surgery, isn't this kinda the same thing the oral surgeon that i've been referred to will do?

Just trying to work out the best possible option, I really feel i will struggle waiting over a month to see the oral surgeon i've been referred to.

Toothsmith

If you're in pain - go back to original dentist. There should be something they can do to keep things comfortable until your OS appointment comes through.

Toothsmith

mejjo203 wrote: »

The dentist i now have an appointment with was reccomended to me by a neighbour who used to work at the dentist for 20 years, She has told me that the dentist is very good and he is also qualified for oral surgery, This might be a better option for me as my dentist who tried pulling it is not qualified for any surgical type extraction and that's why he referred me.

Fingers crossed i might be able to have it dealt with before Christmas and not wait for the referral to the oral surgeon.

Actually - this does sound like a good option.

But the first appointment will be for an initial examination.

I'm as sure as I can be that you will need a second appointment to actually have the tooth out - and I'd still be surprised if that was before Xmas.