1st extraction as an adult

[User42]

I just got back from my yearly checkup and the dentist told me that one of my molars (where I've previously had a root canal treatment and fillings) needs more fillings and they can't get to it because the last tooth is grown in at the wrong angle and pushing up against it, also making it impossible for me to brush or floss that part where they contact, so they've said I have to book an appointment to get that tooth extracted so they can get in about to fill the adjacent one.

I asked about the procedure, they said they might have to cut the gum to get at it, and they'd book me in with the head of the practice who's most experienced with this. They said if I didn't get the one tooth taken out, it's very likely I'd need both out at some point.

I haven't had any extractions as an adult yet. When I was a child I had at least 3 and I was crying and sick afterwards and bleeding for hours and now thinking about it I'm having panic attacks, and a lot of difficulty getting to sleep at night. I haven't booked the appointment yet.

 

[brit]

As a child were you given gas GA, hence the sickness?
As an adult just using local anaesthetic there's no reason you would be sick whatsoever. I might want a second opinion though before extracting a tooth simply to get to another to fill it (again). If it is a molar tooth it may well have benefitted from a crown after the root canal - this could have prevented the subsequent decay issue as it provides a seal.

Ideal treatment in this situation (=what the dentist would do for a close family member) may not be what has been offered to you here (if under the NHS for instance).
It may make more sense to retreat the root canal competently (best done by a specialist endo - all the moderators on this forum love endos can't you just tell lol), crown it and maybe also do the extraction. Just doing the extraction and then patching up the tooth may also lead to losing both teeth. Maybe the endo'd tooth would be better lost and the other one kept as it is cavity-free depends whether the wrong angle thing can be corrected I suppose. Is it a wisdom tooth?

Your doubts are sufficient to seek another opinion i.m.h.o.

 

[User42]

Yes, as a child I was given GA gas which made me feel really sick after coming around. But in addition to the sickness I remember a lot of blood and pain and swelling. I don't know how good my memory is. This time around I don't expect sickness but I'm expecting worse blood and pain and swelling because I'm guessing adult teeth are harder to extract? I dunno. Also they said they might have to cut in to the gum, so I'm afraid of that but because I've never had anyone have to cut in to me for any reason before, unless they did that with my childhood extractions, I don't know.

They said I've be given painkillers to take at home, so it must be bad. Plus I read online about infections and nerve damage and other complications. It's scary. I also feel slightly disturbed by pulling. Whenever they have to do something that feels like pulling (e.g. I'm having impressions taken for a crown and the putty stuff sets and they pull it off) that feels scary. I imagine this will be much worse, I'm picturing them having to pull very hard for 15-30 minutes or something and I'll be freaked out but the pulling, maybe it's not that bad.

I don't know exactly what they want to do to the molar they're trying to save, maybe they want to put a crown on, my brain stopped listening properly when I heard they were going to do an extraction. But if they want to put a crown on it, how do they get a strong support if that tooth has had a root treatment? The filling from the root treatment might not hold the crown. I had a front tooth crown break off because it was put over a very week tooth post root canal.

This is a private dentist, not NHS, and my dentist wants to let the head of practice do it as he's most experienced with things like extractions and implants and such. My regular dentist is going to do the rest of the work I need (apparently I need another 6 fillings) I've no idea what he's like with nervous patients, I had him once for a crown refitting at short notice and he didn't talk much, just business, but in that case I didn't mind.

The tooth to be filled (or crowned maybe) is the lower-right-6th and the one they want out is the 7th. Unless I'm mistaken that's not a wisdom tooth and they are the 8th. I have 28 teeth even though I'm passed the age they should have shown up by. Is it possible that could affect the decision to pull this tooth? Would the wisdom tooth decide to come through after pulling the 2nd molar, and then mess up my mouth?

The molar which needs the filling has previously been root treated I think (unless I'm mixing it up with another tooth, I've a lot of dentistry and forget which is which). I have no idea what endo is, sorry. I just know I was a root treatment of some sort. They put and awkard metal clamp on, drilled a lot, put something in there that they melted/burned with a fancy sort of lighter, and filled it. It was probably a year ago, I forget the details and I just sat there. I haven't had any problem with it, they just say it needs filled again because I've let it decay more. I think they'll put a crown on to prevent it having to be filled over and over. Not sure.

 

[User42]

Oh, also I'm going to see them next week to ask about the details of my treatment. So, I'm not sure what I'll ask, but I need to ask about it since I'm unsure.

I would maybe like to get a second opinion but I'm not sure where to go and I'm otherwise happy with my current dentist and don't want to have to have to find another dentist. And I feel awkward about letting them know anyway. My brother wants me to get a second opinion because he thinks the work is completely unnecessary and thinks another dentist would just recommend keeping an eye on it and not do the fillings, since I'm not having any pain or sensitivity.