Removal of Root Canalled Tooth - Possibly Surgical?

[TwoThirty22]

Last month an old root canalled tooth which had always had a long vertical crack in it, finally gave up the ghost.

I'm a former phobic, but generally just thought of myself as nervous now. Until this happened!

I had a phobic specialist dentist but they have left the practice. The new dentist is lovely but not a phobic specialist. He actually spent longer listening to my fears than the old dentist did, to be fair and I feel I can trust him. Sort of.

He tried to patch it up with another filling, but it started wobbling and has cracked some more. He temporarily fixed it up again, virtually glueing it to the tooth next door but says it will have to come out. I'm booked in for Friday.

I am not scared of needles, or pain afterwards, or embarrassed - although I get incredibly nervous at the dentist. All that worries me is pain and the thought of feeling something. The last extraction I had was with IV sedation. My new dentist doesn't want to go down that route which suits me as I had got to the point I tolerated even a root canal with just LA and it worked fine. I think for me having sedation will just feed the phobia, long term and my dentist agrees.

What's scaring me is he 'warned' me it could be a bit tricky and a long process, as it has a long, thin and fragile root. (It's a lower front tooth, the first one after the two central front teeth so a single root). I did something stupid and Googled and it looks like it could be a surgical extraction. Is that likely? The tooth has now cracked just below the gumline, so it is fragile to the point it's not likely it will come out in one piece.

And I'm scared stupid at the thought of it being carved up whilst still in my face or removed by the gum being cut into...

I've never been this scared before. But am determined to do this. Not sure how I will find the strength.

Has anyone here had (or done! this kind of extraction and what should I expect? Could it be more painful?

I'm also scared as my old (supposedly phobic friendly) dentist told me the more nervous you are, the less likely the LA is to work. Which has now given me a whole new fear! That said I am always nervous as hell and modern dentistry has never hurt me yet.

Any reassurance would be gratefully received.

 

[ScaredyCat22]

the only extraction I was ever awake for was the surgical extraction of a root canaled tooth which had a vertical root fracture. it was the fastest easiest most pain free appointment I have ever had. it was done in less than 2 minutes
\also a surgical extraction does not involve carving up your face.

 

[TwoThirty22]

That's reassuring! Thank you!

Mine was just vertically cracked but now has a horizontal crack and the dentist told me is cracked below the gum-line, which is why I'm worried it may come out in several pieces and the roots may need to be removed surgically. (If I'm making sense?)

I think he thinks it might be a bit complicated, or he wouldn't have let it drop that it might take longer than normal. He seems fairly confident I shouldn't feel anything - I just want to feel a bit more confident that if someone's cutting into my gum and possibly doing stitches afterwards, it will be no different, from my point of view, than a straightforward extraction!

 

[ScaredyCat22]

are you having it done by a dentist or an oral surgeon? I was sent to an oral surgeon due to their expertise at dealing with more complicated extractions, and I would prefer it over a general dentist.
I was terrified as well but they were still able to numb me.
My heart was pounding nearly out of my chest and I gripped the arm rests on the chair so hard I am surprised I didn't break them. but before I knew it, it was over. I had 4 stitches.

 

[TwoThirty22]

Aw thanks, that does reassure! No, it's a new partner at my usual dentist but they are private, not NHS, and he must feel he can do it himself, or am sure he might have referred me..? They have booked me a 45 minute appointment, so I don't think it will be too 'rushed'.

 

[ScaredyCat22]

I will be sending you best wishes that all goes well. You will feel so much better when it's over with.
I don't know about you but my tooth was hurting me already, so I was glad to be rid of it.
I did have a bit of swelling after because of it being a surgical extraction but I did not even need prescription pain meds to deal with the pain after. It hurt less after having it out, because it is hard to eat with a fractured tooth

 

[TwoThirty22]

Thanks, Scaredy. Your reply really helps.

Yes, weirdly I have had a few extractions years ago under GA including one huge molar where they cut into the bone - then a single extraction but with IV sedation, a few years back and no pain ever came after surgery. Not even a twinge. I was always waiting for it to start hurting when the anaesthesia wore off - but both times, totally painless. So pain afterwards doesn't worry me ... just feeling something during!

If anyone else has experience of this or info to share, I'd be so grateful! (You can't get enough reassurance, eh?)