Two Tooth Extractions on Tuesday - Terrified!

[Firstextractionfears]

Hey everyone! About 9 months ago I was eating and the molar next to my bottom right wisdom tooth cracked in half. I'd not been to the dentist in over 20 years, but with the help and support of my lovely partner and this website, I've since had a checkup, cleaning and filling. Now the only thing left is to remove the broken tooth and (because of the angle of the wisdom tooth), the wisdom tooth next to it.

I'm having this done under local anaesthesia only and it's being carried out by a top oral surgeon. I've read lots of success stories but still can't shake the fear that somehow mine will be different and will be a horrific, traumatizing experience. I've got a few different fears, so I'm just gonna put them down as a bulleted list - if anyone can reassure me, that would be amazing!

• I've never had lower jaw anaesthesia before (I'm going to have a nerve block), and I know that it makes part of your tongue go a bit numb. Will I still be able to swallow and talk, when I need to?
• I'm scared that the bleeding won't stop - irrational I know, but I'm still worried about it.
• Will it take long for me to get used to the gaps where the teeth used to be?

Thanks everyone!

 

[night_natter]

@Firstextractionfears Hi there. I can answer your first question. I have had extensive work done on my lower jaw over the last three months - 5 fillings and two crowns. So, yes I have had a few of the nerve blocking injections. They don’t hurt, but yeah your tongue in cheek/jawline will be numb for a few hours after your procedure.
You might not want to eat for maybe up to a day after your extractions, so the numbness will be well over by the time you are ready to eat. Normally, the dentist will tell you to be careful eating and drinking with a numb mouth due to not having feeling. It can feel strange to drink, for instance. Nothing to worry about, just be careful with biting on anything with a numb lip/tongue.
You can still swallow and talk. You might sound a bit weird for those first 2-3 hours as the numbness calms down.

I hope this helps. All the best with your extractions! I also need my wisdom teeth out. All four! Not looking forward to that part of my treatment.

 

[Firstextractionfears]

Just to update everyone: it was so easy! He numbed me up, prodded and pulled and they were done. I was so scared and I want you to know that if that sounds like you, you’ll be fine too!

 

[night_natter]

@Firstextractionfears Fabulous news!! Well done.