First surgical extraction on remaining tooth from root canal, scared!

[alessadry]

This would be my first surgical extraction and I am scared! I had a negative experience years ago where a dentist in Italy had a hard time extracting a tooth, and the anesthesia was wearing off and it felt like he was trying to pull my head off and the dentist gave up. Well, now it's a tooth that had root canal over 10 years ago. Pieces of this tooth with the post have been falling off over the years. A piece fell off about 10 days ago and now I am left with a piece embedded in the gum. Well, after the piece fell of 10 days ago, I am getting pain on and off and now Wednesday will have the remaining piece extracted. My biggest fear is having to have the gum cut open in a flap, getting the part extracted and then getting the stitches. I know most likely I will not feel pain, but just seeing the scalpel and thinking of the stitching makes me freak out. I don't want sedation as I am terrorized of anything other than local. So I guess I will have to deal with it. Anybody had this done? I hate long surgical procedures and imagine this would take some time. I have had many root canals, regular extractions and crowns done, but because this is new and there's the word 'surgery ' in it, it makes me freak out.

 

[alessadry]

Anybody have some experiences to share? Extraction of broken root canal tooth that is barely above the gum line? Anyone? I am soooo scared!

 

[penny_e]

Anybody have some experiences to share? Extraction of broken root canal tooth that is barely above the gum line? Anyone? I am soooo scared!

I had a root canal tooth extracted it was broken at the gum, it was a simple extraction, surgical really quick too surgical means its going to take a little longer to pry the tooth out then most likely stitches my dentist put in an antibiotic foam inside the whole it healed up really quickly, they scrape out the whole a little bit its pretty quick and easy you wont feel any pain its the idea that got me too. Just bring some music a headset if you have one and try and put yourself in a meditation state of mind within 10 min you'll be done. Just don't overthink this, its what a surgeon does all day long they have all the tricks to make it easier on them with a root canal tooth the tooth is more brittle I think it helps to come out of the hole easier.
Just breath and you'll be fine, talking from a dental phobic I am so glad I brought my headset.

 

[alessadry]

Thanks Penny-e! I think I will bring my headset then, I was planning to, but at times I feel more comfy if I am hyper vigilant--I know odd...but I think it may be better to not feed my anxiety and just try to relax. They told me it should last up to 15 minutes max 20 after the numbing starts. My biggest fear now is if they must cut through the gum. I tortured myself yesterday and watched You tube videos and it looked scary to watch the scalpel peel off a piece of gum and fold it to remove the tooth! At least though it's stitched back. I had a big mole removed years ago from my tummy area and I was calmer than now, but in that case the scalpel was used to remove the whole piece of skin! Thank you for the reassuring words!

 

[penny_e]

Thanks Penny-e! I think I will bring my headset then, I was planning to, but at times I feel more comfy if I am hyper vigilant--I know odd...but I think it may be better to not feed my anxiety and just try to relax. They told me it should last up to 15 minutes max 20 after the numbing starts. My biggest fear now is if they must cut through the gum. I tortured myself yesterday and watched You tube videos and it looked scary to watch the scalpel peel off a piece of gum and fold it to remove the tooth! At least though it's stitched back. I had a big mole removed years ago from my tummy area and I was calmer than now, but in that case the scalpel was used to remove the whole piece of skin! Thank you for the reassuring words!

They don't cut thru the gums, he prys the gums to get ahold of the tooth if you don't have any tooth to grab onto, mine was at the gumline no tooth to grab onto, he slid down the tooth and plucked it out if he cut the tissue I didn't know it, I had the music on and dark sunglasses didn't see any implements at all it really is not bad what tooth is it? I had number 13 premolar taken out then because of the extraction I was chewing on the opposite tooth number 3 crack several places and had to have it removed 6 months later now in another dental hell have several cracked teeth and one fractured need 5 crowns afraid to eat anything until I can afford a mouth full of crowns. Are you getting a partial immediately if I had to do it again I would have had that in place the day of the surgery your bite is going to be off because of the missing tooth wish my dentist would have suggested it, now its too late I need crowns on the adjacent teeth and was told to get partials after the crowns. Hope you researched this wish I had of.

 

[alessadry]

Mine is 13 as well, the second pre-molar on the left. it sounds like it's a tooth that has only one root and should be easy to extract. Prying the gums is so much less scary than cutting a flap! I have an evaluation Wednesday and he will give me all the details , if it's just prying I think I will have enough courage to just get it done that same day. The receptionist made my appointment so that I have an evaluation and then extra time for the extraction if I decide to do it. To answer your question, I am not sure about the partial. You say it's needed as the bite may be off because of the missing tooth, but this tooth is barely there anymore, it's just a small piece left at the gum-line, I have been missing it for so many years and been eating on the other side for very long. I am planning to get an implant done by a great dentist by the Mexico border that charges 1/4 of what American dentists do. People flock to his office because he is so good. I hope you can get your crowns done, maybe a little at a time. That's what I have been doing-getting one like every 6-12 months.

 

[alessadry]

This is the procedure I am scared of: the peeling away gum, this makes me cringe. I so hope that he doesn't have to do this.

Dental stitches (dissolving vs regular) & gum tissue flaps used with extractions.

Learn about stitches (dissolving vs non-resorbable) and gum tissue flaps used with extractions and wisdom teeth surgery. | Placement. | Kinds of suturing materials. | Time table for removal.

www.animated-teeth.com

 

[penny_e]

Mine was flat with the gum line nothing to grab onto, he slid down the sides of the tooth it was under 5 min. I had stitches but after 2 days I felt nothing, the stitches fell out on day 5 I would be very very surprised if this was the above procedure. My dentist was a cosmetic dentist not a surgeon like you have, yours is even more experienced with extractions. There is something about cleaning out the ligament? Because it was a root canal tooth I think that's why my dentist put in a foam antibiotic inside the extraction site, I think that's why I had stitches for the foam plug to dissolve it healed up perfect no problems at all. When are you having it done?

 

[alessadry]

Was planning on having it done this Wednesday but I think I should see my doctor first tomorrow or after tomorrow because in the last few surgical procedures I had done the wounds had to be cauterized cause they were bleeding more than usual. I will keep my dental appointment though so he can do an evaluation and discuss what needs done and perhaps schedule at a later date depending what my doctor says.

 

[alessadry]

Well, saw a physician assistant and she looked at blood work I had done a few months ago and said my platelets are fine and therefore, there shouldn't be any problems. I asked online though to an online surgeon and instead he said to see a hematologist and see if he/she suggested any specific tests. Now, I am wondering who is right. I guess the best I can do is also inform the surgeon doing the procedure, so he can decide if the platelet count is enough, or if more should be done. My husband told me though "what if the surgeon just wants to get it done so he can get the money.?" But then, I think no surgeon would take a big risk. Then, maybe I am exaggerating, if I really had a serious bleeding disorder, I would imagine copious bleeding to the point of needing a transfusion, versus in my case getting the wounds cauterized and then slight bleeding persisting for a week.

 

[penny_e]

Well, saw a physician assistant and she looked at blood work I had done a few months ago and said my platelets are fine and therefore, there shouldn't be any problems. I asked online though to an online surgeon and instead he said to see a hematologist and see if he/she suggested any specific tests. Now, I am wondering who is right. I guess the best I can do is also inform the surgeon doing the procedure, so he can decide if the platelet count is enough, or if more should be done. My husband told me though "what if the surgeon just wants to get it done so he can get the money.?" But then, I think no surgeon would take a big risk. Then, maybe I am exaggerating, if I really had a serious bleeding disorder, I would imagine copious bleeding to the point of needing a transfusion, versus in my case getting the wounds cauterized and then slight bleeding persisting for a week.

Keep in mind and ask your surgeon a root canaled tooth for some reason I didn't bleed much at all one gauze and it was hardly anything on it maybe because the roots were already dead? I have no idea but the bleeding was literally next to none. The tooth is basically dead or killed after a root canal, it just sits in the socket I don't think there is any nerves sending blood supply to the tooth, I may be wrong but if you think about it, the roots of the tooth are killed during a root canal, hence the tooth gets brittle and dies and we break them off at the gum line. That tooth was so much easier of an extraction then a non root canaled tooth the opposite one premolar. You have to relax and let it get done, get reassured from your surgeon, its going to only be a few min. deal hopefully and your out of the chair. Are you going to get grafting put in the socket after the extraction? If you are that would mean less bleeding also the whole will be filled with bone graft material. My dentist put in a foam antibiotic it looked like a cigarette but with no paper on it, he stuffed the hole with it and put in a stitch he did this because it was an old root canal extraction and it was an upper tooth and he was protecting me from dry socket, I am a smoker. I thought your were getting the extraction done on Wednesday did you mean this Wednesday?