Broken wisdom tooth at root...with pulp polyp.

[cdugue]

Hello everyone,
I have a wisdom tooth (top, right) that had been giving me problems for about 6 years. It was decayed at first and constantly breaking. I got it checked out a few times, but because of either being pregnant (so no xray) or busy with a baby the last 5 years i never got it taken care of. It never really hurt so i just left it alone.

Fast forward to yesterday, i noticed the area was inflamed. So for the first time in a long time i took a look at it. There was no tooth...just a pink/black mass! I freaked out! I got to see a dentist today and she took xrays. The wisdom tooth is broken down to its root. And the mass is a pulp polyp she believes. I was put on antibiotics for the week, and referred to a specialist.

My question is:
How does the surgeon take care of this? I havent seen him yet so no consultation. Im so scared i'll have to under or something. I'd much prefer local like novocaine. Plus how will he get past the polyp and get to the root...then how will the root come up with nothing to pull on?? ? Im so nervous. Im more afraid of this, than childbirth!! And ive been through that 5 times haha.

 

[FearfulInMA]

Hi! I don’t know anything about the pulp polyp, but oral surgeons don’t actually pull on teeth to get them out. The lift them up from under the tooth - so not having a tooth there usually makes it easier. I’ve had all 4 wisdom teeth (2 fully impacted) and 1 second molar pulled with local - so it definitely can be done.

Best of luck!!

 

[cdugue]

Hi! I don’t know anything about the pulp polyp, but oral surgeons don’t actually pull on teeth to get them out. The lift them up from under the tooth - so not having a tooth there usually makes it easier. I’ve had all 4 wisdom teeth (2 fully impacted) and 1 second molar pulled with local - so it definitely can be done.

Best of luck!!

Thank you I've had wisdom pulled before...but never by a surgeon. Didn't know if they did things differently!
Apparently polyps are uncommon.

 

[Enarete]

The word 'surgeon' sounds pretty scary I think, but in fact he/she is still a kind of dentist, who specialized to a certain kind of work in the mouth. If you prefer local anesthesia instead of being put under, then it's fine. Hope you have your consultation very soon, but keep in mind that you won't notice much during the procedure anyway - you are not looking at you at the tooth but just lying there + you will be completely numb. Even when you know the actual steps you won't be much able to discern them while the procedure is done.
I have read several times here that extraction with no tooth above the gumline are the easier ones, as FearfulInMA suggests. My wisdom teeth (all 4 at once) were out in 5 minutes and I didn't noticed much.

All the best and keep us posted.

 

[gentledental]

Re: Pulp Polyp in broken wisdom tooth

*I have posted this in the Wisdom Tooth forum as well, thought i could probably get some answers in the forum as well*

Hello everyone,
I have a wisdom tooth (top, right) that had been giving me problems for about 6 years. It was decayed at first and constantly breaking. I got it checked out a few times, but because of either being pregnant (so no xray) or busy with a baby the last 5 years i never got it taken care of. It never really hurt so i just left it alone.

Fast forward to yesterday, i noticed the area was inflamed. So for the first time in a long time i took a look at it. There was no tooth...just a pink/black mass! I freaked out! I got to see a dentist today and she took xrays. The wisdom tooth is broken down to its root. And the mass is a pulp polyp she believes. I was put on antibiotics for the week, and referred to a specialist.

My question is:
How does the surgeon take care of this? I havent seen him yet so no consultation. Im so scared i'll have to under or something. I'd much prefer local like novocaine. Plus how will he get past the polyp and get to the root...then how will the root come up with nothing to pull on?? ? Im so nervous. Im more afraid of this, than childbirth!! And ive been through that 5 times haha.

Teeth with pulp polyps will usually resolve pretty quickly after removal of the tooth. I find that teeth that have had long term inflammation tend to be a little easier to remove because there is usually bone loss around the roots.

 

[cdugue]

The word 'surgeon' sounds pretty scary I think, but in fact he/she is still a kind of dentist, who specialized to a certain kind of work in the mouth. If you prefer local anesthesia instead of being put under, then it's fine. Hope you have your consultation very soon, but keep in mind that you won't notice much during the procedure anyway - you are not looking at you at the tooth but just lying there + you will be completely numb. Even when you know the actual steps you won't be much able to discern them while the procedure is done.
I have read several times here that extraction with no tooth above the gumline are the easier ones, as FearfulInMA suggests. My wisdom teeth (all 4 at once) were out in 5 minutes and I didn't noticed much.

All the best and keep us posted.

Thank you for the reply

I went in to make my consultation appt today! Its for Wednesday at 11:30. The poor dentist will have to hear my bajillion concerns lol. Fingers crossed it wont have to be a complicated extraction, and i wont have to have any sedation!

 

[cdugue]

Re: Pulp Polyp in broken wisdom tooth

Teeth with pulp polyps will usually resolve pretty quickly after removal of the tooth. I find that teeth that have had long term inflammation tend to be a little easier to remove because there is usually bone loss around the roots.

Thank you for replying

That would sure be nice if it were easier to remove!!

 

[Dg6300]

I don't have any advice to offer, but I certainly send sympathy and encouragement.

Frankly, when I read that you are on antibiotics I was pleased. They should put you in good shape.

I was under for my wisdom teeth, and it was okay.

Whatever you face, I'm sure it will be with courage. Keep posting here. You're going to make it.

 

[cdugue]

I don't have any advice to offer, but I certainly send sympathy and encouragement.

Frankly, when I read that you are on antibiotics I was pleased. They should put you in good shape.

I was under for my wisdom teeth, and it was okay.

Whatever you face, I'm sure it will be with courage. Keep posting here. You're going to make it.

Thank you!

 

[Enarete]

Its for Wednesday at 11:30. The poor dentist will have to hear my bajillion concerns lol. Fingers crossed it wont have to be a complicated extraction, and i wont have to have any sedation!

Wednesday 11:30? So tomorrow? Holding my fingers crossed for you.. you'll be fine with just a local

 

[cdugue]

Wednesday 11:30? So tomorrow? Holding my fingers crossed for you.. you'll be fine with just a local

I have a consultation tomorrow Not sure if they will do the extraction tomorrow or not...but hopefully it won't be too long.

 

[cdugue]

Mini update: My appt is this morning at 8am...super nervous, but the specialist was very reassuring during the consultation. Im only going to need local anes. so that was a bit less anxiety causing. I will update when i get home. ?

 

[Enarete]

All the best wishes for the procedure, will hold my fingers crossed for you, may it be quick and comfortable. Keep us posted.

 

[cdugue]

And she is out! It was a very easy procedure, and very quick. I was worried for nothing! The freezing went really well. He numbed the area really well and i felt no pain at all. The tooth was out in about 5 minutes.

I'll add this in the right forum (but figured i may as well post here as well in case):
But if anyone is in the Newmarket area in Ontario, Canada...i highly recommend Dr. Brian Wong, and his staff. They were so kind and friendly

Thanks for all the encouragement

 

[Enarete]

Great to hear that! Congrats, well done and thank you for the update!