Anyone had problems with a tooth extraction?

rich_jtg

After suffering with bad toothache for a while, I finally dragged my stubborn (male) behind to the dentist today.

It turned out that I needed one of my teeth removing, so after a few injections, I had my dentist pulling and levering in my mouth.

The problem was that the tooth wasn't really that numb, even after further injections, and the tooth also didn't want to come out. After a lot of pain and pulling later my dentist decided I'd been tortured enough.

My dentist suggested that an infection in the tooth was maybe preventing the anesthetic from working properly and has given me some antibiotics to take before I return for another go next week.

Does anyone know if this is a common occurrence? I've never had this delight previously, and (maybe naively) thought that, after a bit of tugging, it would just pop out!

Also, can some people be less responsive to anesthetic than others? I had a similar problem when I had to have my foot repaired under local anesthetic as a youngster.

Toothsmith

Very common.

I generally don't even try to get a tooth out if it's hurting.

Problem is, there are some numpties who you give antibiotics to, it takes the pain away, and so they don't bother to come back to have the thing out!! (You won't do that will you?? )

You next see them weeks/months/years later, when exactly the same thing has happened again!

Like all drugs, there are a range of responses from different people. Some go really numb for hours, some don't go as numb. It can even vary for the same person on different days.

State of mind and stress levels can be a big factor too.

Chill out, and have positive thoughts - it'll be fine.

rich_jtg

Thanks for your reply Toothsmith - much appreciated and reassuring.

I have to admit that I'm not looking forward to going back next week after today's experience, but I don't want a repeat of the pain I've had recently so it's definitely a case of better out than in! I'll try and chill out... now I know what tools are going to be used!

If I could be cheeky and ask one more question - I've looked at old posts on here (and other forums) that suggest taking some sort of pain killer before going for an extraction to help the process... is this wise? does it not affect the anesthetic? :huh:

Toothsmith

No it doesn't, and it's not a bad idea.

rich_jtg

Ah that's great - will get a couple of pills down me next time!

Thanks again! :T

Toothsmith

rich_jtg wrote: »

Ah that's great - will get a couple of pills down me next time!

Thanks again! :T

Just had a thought though - make sure it's NOT ASPIRIN!

Aspirin messes up blood clotting, which, obviously, is quite important after an extraction.

rich_jtg

Thanks for the heads up... luckily we don't have anything like that in the house. Will dig out the strong codine ones for the occasion!