Stupid dentists

[Obsidian]

Here I am, in my mid 40's and I just got my wisdom teeth removed

Guess it wasn't too bad except my bottom jaw doesn't numb well and he ended up having to inject straight into my bone marrow.

I hate being numb, and I hate blood. I'm hungry, tired and still doped up. Feeling sorry for myself.

Next it to get a implant due to a failed root canal.

 

[Fiona Robertson]

Oh No, you are living my worst nightmare. Anything to do with dentists gives me the heebie jeebies. I hope you recover quickly

 

[Obsidian]

Mine too. Thats why I still had my wisdom teeth and why they were starting to decay. I avoided dentists like the plague.
Learn from my mistakes, take care of your teeth while they are still healthy.

 

[MGM]

Next it to get a implant due to a failed root canal.

Upper, or lower @Obsidian ?

 

[Obsidian]

Upper, or lower @Obsidian ?

Upper. Hopefully the bone graft took well so it will have a good anchor.

 

[MGM]

Upper. Hopefully the bone graft took well so it will have a good anchor.

I was in the same position a few years ago, watching my dentist look at an X-ray and mumbling "I'd have at least a millimetre clearance before I hit the sinus, I think." And I said "bridge please!" Lower's no problem, but upper....I think I'd always go with bridge, if possible.

 

[Obsidian]

We discussed a bridge but I'd really prefer a implant. Guess it will depend on what the jaw looks like when its x-rayed again.

 

[earlene]

I used to think I wanted implants. But after 3 attempts at a root canal, and ongoing discomfort in the bone even after the tooth has been gone for over a year (maybe 2 - I am in no hurry to have anything more done) I have decided implants are not for me. It was an upper molar and yes, too close to the sinus.

 

[Obsidian]

Thanks for the info about the sinuses. I'll make sure to ask the dentist about it and make sure its not a issue.

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

And I said "bridge please!"

years ago I had a bridge done on the top that wound up needing a root canal and they didn't pack it enough when they did it. went back in to have them repack it and what should have been a 15 minute fix turned into a 3 hour nightmare. he wound up cutting into my sinus cavity and I was choking on the blood going down my sinus cavity. I physically shook whenever I was in a dentist chair for years after.

 

[Obsidian]

Thats awful, I don't blame you for have dentist anxiety.

One of the reasons I don't want a bridge is the damage they have to do to the neighboring bridge and they can fail or get decay under the cap.

With a implant, it's permanent and nothing can decay. I know it will take longer to heal and be more painful but its a better long term solution.

My dentist is awesome too so I trust him to do a good job. I've also spoken to someone who has 3 implants he did and she is really happy with them.

 

[MGM]

You will likely have no problem at all! I knew one person with a damaged sinus and one with a bone infection, but there are literally millions of people walking around with lovely implants.
BUT, last horror story I will give you: ask your doctor about "dry socket" for your wisdom tooth removal. Decades ago when I had my wisdom teeth out on a Thursday, I had a lot of severe pain afterwards. Well, it's supposed to hurt, I thought. But I went through all my painkillers and had a friend call for a refill on the Friday and spent the weekend in bed or throwing up. When I went to my post-op follow up on the Tuesday, the assistant said "Oh you have a dry socket" (essentially an exposed nerve, for which no painkiller works). She wadded up some gauze and stuck it in the hole in my mouth and I had instant relief. WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THIS MIGHT HAPPEN? "Oh, it only happens in about 10% of cases, so we don't want to worry people..."
So I've taken it upon myself lo these past 25 years to personally warn anyone who will listen about dry socket....coffee lines, bus stations, concerts...anywhere I hear people discussing wisdom teeth removal

 

[shunt2011]

Hoe it works out well for you. I am terrified of the dentist. I’ve got a tooth that’s needed to be pulled then a bone graph and finally an implant if the graph works. I also just broke a tooth. Going to have to suck it up and get it taken care of. I hate the cost for everything even with good insurance.

I had all 4 wisdom teeth removed years ago. Got dry socket in 3 of them. It was so horrible.

 

[MGM]

I had all 4 wisdom teeth removed years ago. Got dry socket in 3 of them. It was so horrible.

OMG, I only had it in one (maybe 2, can't remember). Had they at least told you about the possibility ahead of time, or were you as in the dark as me?
Honestly, knowing about it is 99.9% of the battle....

 

[Obsidian]

They told me all about dry socket and how to prevent it, I'm being very careful as it sounds awful.

@shunt2011 a bone graft isn't bad at all if you can get through the extraction. They pack the root hole with a paste, then cover it with a bandage thing and stitch it. After a week or so, they remove the bandage.

I actually take valium, a double dose of what is normally given since I have anxiety. Find a dentist you like and who has experience with anxious patients.

They could have pulled all my teeth yesterday and I wouldn't have cared, as long as it didn't hurt.
It wasn't until I got home and saw the blood that I started feeling sorry for myself.

 

[shunt2011]

OMG, I only had it in one (maybe 2, can't remember). Had they at least told you about the possibility ahead of time, or were you as in the dark as me?
Honestly, knowing about it is 99.9% of the battle....

I was young and no they didn’t tell anyone about it.

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

Got dry socket in 3

I have never had them but they sound awful

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

whats this bone graft you all are talking about? when I got the teeth pulled that I have had pulled they took out big chunks of bone and just told me "oh the bone will grow back" well guess what didn't grow back? I am wondering if I even can get implants

 

[Mobjack Bay]

I hope it all works out okay for you. Asking lots of questions and being persistent if they don’t seem to be willing to give complete information is one way to put them on notice that they better do the best work possible.

 

[Obsidian]

whats this bone graft you all are talking about? when I got the teeth pulled that I have had pulled they took out big chunks of bone and just told me "oh the bone will grow back" well guess what didn't grow back? I am wondering if I even can get implants

They take ground up bone from a cadaver, make a paste with saline or your blood and pack it into the area where there is missing bone.
Sometimes they use small slivers instead of the powder. They used the powder on me so they could really pack it in.
I had absolutely huge roots, no way I could do a implant without a graft.

If you have a large area with no bone, you may well not be able to get implants but you might be able to still get a graft if you really want to go that route.