Just in need of some kind words

[turtlelove]

I'm going in for an extraction soon. I have been fighting what seems to be a losing battle with my panic disorder. This tooth has become my almost every thought. It severely broke a while back and I saw the dentist when it happened. He told me it had to be taken out sent me home with antibiotics and said come back next week long story short. I had a very traumatic experiance with an extraction just a few years before. And never went back worst pain I have ever felt in my life.

my only question is should I expect pain like that again I layed in bed unable to eat or move my jaw for days. In all my 25 years of experiance I've been through several actual surgeries but the extraction was the worst experiance of my life? Should I expect that same amount of pain again?

 

[misti]

Hi Turtlelove,

Not all extractions cause so much pain. If it were, none of us will dare contemplate going to the dentist at all. I have had numerous extractions. At most, there is some tug-of-war when a stubborn tooth refuses to budge on initial pull (but after that it's ok because the tooth would have been loosened). The only time I had more pain was when the tooth was abscessed and the dentist had to inject more. A couple of minutes after that, the pain will be manageable and the dentist can work his way to getting it out without too much discomfort.
After the extraction, just be sure to take the painkillers as advised. There may be a bit of ache in that region depending on the kind of work done, but it normally is manageable for most patients.
I hope that answers you a little and assures you that not ALL extractions end up as you have suffered.
I wish you a better experience this time round. A BIG HUG to you too.

 

[sharon]

No, hopefully you won't have pain like that again. There is usually some discomfort afterwards though. Do you know what it was about that particular extraction that made it so painful? Was there an infection or was it an impacted wisdom tooth, or just a bad dentsist? Tell the dentist before he starts what you are afraid of, explain about your last experience and ask him what he can do to ensure that doesn't happen again. You shouldn't have to suffer either physically or emotionally.

Sharon