Reaching the Back Upper Wisdom & Molars

[nervnelly]

Finally broke down & went to dentist after 30 years -- the pain was greater than my fear, I guess! Anyway, many of my teeth are pretty badly decayed/broken. The dentist put me on antiobiotics for infected lower molar. Went back week later, and he pulled out the molar as well as the wisdom tooth next to it, which had erupted but was badly decayed. The dentist had me take valium and then used novocaine, and the process wasn't so bad. So far, so good. Week later & I'm feeling pretty good other than one spot on the lower jaw which is sore to the touch. Suppose to go back and get my upper right wisdom tooth, which is also erupted and decayed/broken, along with a badly decayed/broken upper molar pulled. However, I am really anxious about how this dentist is going to be able to reach back their and pull those teeth, especially the wisdom which is very hard to see, even with my mouth wide open. Thought I saw something on the internet about some type of jaw opener tool, the thought of which scares the living daylights out of me! Kind of wish now the dentist had just referred me to an oral surgeon, so that I could have been put under and had all these extractions done at once as even after these are pulled, then we have to go to work on the left side with some molars. How will the dentist be able to reach that wisdom tooth and pull it, without damaging the molar next to it, which isn't the molar that needs pulled? Sorry, this post is so long and that I don't know the teeth #'s like I've seen some of the posters use.

 

[Gordon]

It's easy if you have the correct tools

Seriously, there's a photo of me out there someplace extracting a tooth with my eyes shut!

There was a very good reason for it. The patient had severe spinal problems and we couldn't get him in any sort of position where I could see in his mouth properly, I was working purely by feel and realised that if I closed my eyes I could picture the tooth as I was extracting it... so I closed them. The anaesthetist I was working with was so impressed that she took a photo with her phone.

So relax and get it done

 

[carole]

Well there is good and then there is GORDON

If I ever move to Scotland I am searching for you, if you can do that we would get on fine, I also shut my eyes when in the dental surgery, so it would be a case of the blind leading the blind.

 

[nervnelly]

It's easy if you have the correct tools

Seriously, there's a photo of me out there someplace extracting a tooth with my eyes shut!

There was a very good reason for it. The patient had severe spinal problems and we couldn't get him in any sort of position where I could see in his mouth properly, I was working purely by feel and realised that if I closed my eyes I could picture the tooth as I was extracting it... so I closed them. The anaesthetist I was working with was so impressed that she took a photo with her phone.

So relax and get it done

You mention that you were working with an anaesthetist, but my dentist is planning on giving me valium and use novocaine, which worries me. Have you heard or ever use any kind of jaw manipulator or opener?

 

[FearfulInMA]

nervnelly,

I'm just another phobic, but wanted to give you this info in case you are interested. In the US at least (I've seen folks on here from other countries refer to them differently), here's an easy way of knowing which tooth is which. Start with your upper right wisdom tooth -- that's #1, from there, each upper tooth gets a number across until you get to the upper left wisdom tooth which is #16. So, your 2 front teeth are #8 (right front) and #9 (left front). Then, on the bottom, the left wisdom tooth is #17 and you work your way across from left to right with the bottom right wisdom tooth being #32. More briefly, start with the upper right wisdom tooth and start counting counter-clockwise. I'm not sure if you were looking for this info, but I thought I'd post it just in case.

Also, I had extremely impacted, very difficult to reach wisdom teeth removed with local anesthetic (like Novocain) only. There were no jaw opening devices used -- only a "bite block" (a hard piece of rubber that I bit down on to hold my mouth open -- for me, this is FAR preferable than having to keep my mouth open myself). No damage was done to my adjacent teeth (except for a SMALL chip in a filling).

Best of luck to you!

 

[Gordon]

You mention that you were working with an anaesthetist, but my dentist is planning on giving me valium and use novocaine, which worries me. Have you heard or ever use any kind of jaw manipulator or opener?

Why does that worry you in particular?

Yes, you need to use jaw openers (we call them "gags" but please don't google this you'll terrify yourself for nothing!) when a patient is under a full general anaesthetic, they aren't able to open themselves because their muscles are usually parlaysed, so it's needed to open the mouth.

It's never ever used on a conscious or a sedated patient though.

Sometimes if a patient has a long procedure being done, like a molar endo, then we use rubber gadget called a "prop" which basically takes the load off the jaw muscles and helps to prevent aching and soreness later. You might be offered one of those if you're having a long procedure done, but they are entirely voluntary and actually very comfortable in use.

 

[nervnelly]

I just worry about the dentist just using valium and novocaine to get this wisdom tooth that seems so far back and with a molar seemingly in the way. Think I would rather have gas or iv sedation, but he doesn't do either. I asked him if it wouldn't be difficult to extract, but he said that uppers are easier, but in holding my mouth open in the mirror, it looks as if it would be easier to get to the lowers. It is when brushing. I know I should probably just trust him, but then again, he had first made it sound like when he pulled the lower wisdom and molar next to it (which he did last Thursday), that it would be a piece of cake, but the extraction of the molar wasn't. Just wondering if he's telling me if won't be difficult so that I don't sit here and worry about it, but I would rather be told the truth. Plus, wondering if I should go to another dentist who does iv sedation or gas. It really did make me more nervous to see him holding those "big pliers" -- at least that's what I called them!

By the way, thank you so much for your advice. I am so thankful that I stumbled upon this website when I did.

 

[Patti]

I had a molar extracted in April and they used a prop. I actually liked it because I didn't have to hold my mouth wide open myself. I asked my new dentist if he would use one for my fillings (because.... I guess I'm lazy? LOL) and he said he would rather not because it gets in his way. He said he would use the prop if I insisted, but I didn't. It's really nothing at all to be afraid of. It's like biting down on a piece of rubber, no big deal, I promise.

I am having both of my upper right wisdom teeth removed in Sept. Only there is nothing left of them so my dentist will have to root around for the pieces that are still under the gum. The fun never ends! Just know that you will be COMPLETELY NUMB and you shouldn't feel anything but a little pressure... but not pain. I am actually glad to finally get mine out of there. Those teeth have given me nothing but grief on and off for years. Good riddens! If it makes you feel better, see if you can get them out with sedation. Personally, I don't like the idea of that.

 

[FearfulInMA]

I think what Gordon and Patti are referring to as a "Prop" I referred to as a "bite block". I also found it quite comfortable both during my wisdom teeth extractions as well as during 2 root canals. I think that if you feel really strongly about needing nitrous or IV sedation, you should research your options. As others have said, it is definitely possible to do wisdom tooth extraction with local anesthetic. Best of luck with whatever you decide.

 

[shaw]

I've had my lower and upper right wisdom teeth out - lower one was much more difficult (the dentist sent me to the hospital to have it done).

The upper one I had done around four weeks ago and the dentist did it himself - it went very easy (wish all teeth came out like that...). It was also pretty far back and hard to see - he told me there was a huge hole in it and I did not expect that, as I (and my wife) never really got a good look at it.

But one shot of LA and about 15 minutes later (til it started working good) and he had it out in less than 10 seconds. Pain free and seemed to heal a lot more quickly than lower teeth. Also had molars in front of it - but the way the wisdom tooth is pointing, it was not hard to get it out from behind.

Good luck - hope it goes quick and easy for you.