Dental treatment, reassurance needed for a terrified Nidan!

[Shotokan-kez]

Hello all!

I am terrified. I am going into hospital on Friday for two teeth out. They are my upper left wisdom tooth and the tooth next to it. I am absolutely ashamed of myself for being so scared and i know for a fact that i will give the doctors a hard time. My dentist has already attempted to remove the wisdom but i wouldn't let him.

So i have been sent to the hospital to have local anasthetic and IV sedation. I have palpatations just thinking about it. I think because i am having two removed it's heightening my anxiety.

Does anyone here suffer with dental phobia? Any GOOD experience of tooth extractions? How long will recovery take. I am having this done on friday but on the sunday i am supposed to be judging a kids comp! Please all i don't want any horror stories i just need reassurance, i am so scared!

Kez x

[joesteph]

My dentist has already attempted to remove the wisdom [teeth] but i wouldn't let him.

So i have been sent to the hospital to have local anesthetic and IV sedation.

It was a number of years ago that I had all four wisdom teeth taken out, Kez, and the dentist used both a local and a general anesthetic. I didn't have it done in the hospital (they weren't as vigilant then regarding an anesthesiologist), but when I woke up, it was done and over with. Now, it's probably much more advanced than when I had it done, so I'll bet your recovery time will be even quicker. And it's two teeth, not four, that you're having out.

I think you're being sensible and brave to have it done. The only caveat is to check with the dentist about the Sunday competition. You might be tired, since any surgery, even dental, does tax the body.

Good luck.

[Tiger1962]

Hello all!

I am terrified. I am going into hospital on Friday for two teeth out. They are my upper left wisdom tooth and the tooth next to it. I am absolutely ashamed of myself for being so scared and i know for a fact that i will give the doctors a hard time. My dentist has already attempted to remove the wisdom but i wouldn't let him.

So i have been sent to the hospital to have local anasthetic and IV sedation. I have palpatations just thinking about it. I think because i am having two removed it's heightening my anxiety.

Does anyone here suffer with dental phobia? Any GOOD experience of tooth extractions? How long will recovery take. I am having this done on friday but on the sunday i am supposed to be judging a kids comp! Please all i don't want any horror stories i just need reassurance, i am so scared!

Kez x

I can relate to your fears because I used to be the same way as you many years ago. What cured 95% of my fear is that I found a terrific dentist. My regular dentist (who is a great guy) referred to me a specialist who does extractions (pulls teeth) and gum surgeries only. After having one wisdom tooth pulled a few years ago, my fear of that specific procedure is not what it used to be. I really do think that having the right doctor matters a lot when you are nervous. My tooth was not impacted and the doctor told me that he promised I would not feel any pain other than the pinch of the injections to numb the area. I didn't want to be sedated because even being sedated scared me. I took 2 or 3 Advils one hour before the procedure, and then the doctor gave me several injections to numb the area. I honestly did NOT feel ANY pain during the extraction - what I feel was a pushing and pulling sensation but that I assure you, was NOT pain. It was as if someone had their hand on my cheek and was pushing it away gently.

After it was all over, I also did not have pain which surprised me because I certainly expected to feel pain afterwards. The only soreness I felt was my jaw from having my mouth open for so long. Plus, I have a small jaw to begin with.

So, whether my positive experience was because my tooth wasn't impacted or not, I don't know. But my doctor was very compassionate, friendly, answered all my questions before and after the procedure. Talked to me during the procedure to let me know how it was going. I refer people to him all the time. If I were you, I was have a few consultations with a few dental surgeons and explain your fear. It's nothing to be ashamed of because there are a lot of people the same way. Once you find the right doctor, trust me, it will help a lot.

What hurt me was his fee $$$$ because my health insurance didn't cover dental surgery !!!

[Lord Yasai]

I had 4 wisdom teeth removed last December. I was extremely anxious before the operation, too. They gave me general anesthesia through an IV, so I don't know what local with sedative would be like. The operation itself went fine, but I had soreness and swelling in my mouth for the next week. Luckily, the doctors gave me painkillers to help with the pain. The total recovery took about 2 weeks, but your recovery should be shorter because it's just two teeth, not four.

[bushido_man96]

I have had one tooth pulled before, and I don't remember having too many problems afterwards. But, it wasn't a wisdom tooth, it was an absessed tooth that was causing me a lot of headaches. I hear that wisdom teeth are different, and require a different procedure.

Look at this little experience as a testing; get through it, and you pass.

[Shotokan-kez]

Haha thats one way of looking at it Brian It hurts this morning. I can actually put my tongue in the hole! Oh well fill myself up with painkillers again.

[Rateh]

I had two molars removed once. And another time 3 wisdom teeth and another molar. Both times under IV sedation. Different doctors. Both times I woke up with a "wow your done already" feeling.

I took the pain medications they gave me for one full day both times, then not again except an Advil here and there for mild pain.

The only problem I had was keeping the area clean, they gave me a syringe for that though and it worked perfectly.

I missed work for two days, the day of the extraction and then the next day (but I really could have gone in if I wanted to...). In fact I distinctly remember having some sort of karate event 2 or 3 days after the last time, and it didn't effect me one bit.

[Lord Yasai]

Oh, and about martial arts, I think I had my teeth pulled on a Monday, and then I had a class the next day on Tuesday. I decided to skip that lesson, but I was feeling well enough to go to my Friday class that week.

[Shotokan-kez]

Thanks everyone! It's a bit strange really that i can walk into a fight to help someone but i am petrified of the dentist. Or any hospital environment for that matter. I think it's the crunching and cracking that makes me cringe.

I have been in pain for four days now, ive been taking solphadol and it's taking the edge off.

[bushido_man96]

Not too strange, really.

Some magazine did a pole one time, asking what people's number one fear was. #1 was public speaking. #2 was dying.

People would rather die than get up and speak in public! So, it isn't really all that odd to be a bit jittery about something like that.

Most of us MAists will step inbetween some big dudes fighting to break it up, or stare down someone trying to intimidate us, or stand and face a drunk wanting to attack us or our family....

.....but if a wasp comes flying by, I do that slapping-the-air-and-skipping-away jig....