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Upper right first molar removal, anxiety and some questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter simcopters
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simcopters

Junior member
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Feb 3, 2025
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Location
UK
Hi all,

Last week I felt a crack in my upper right first molar while eating. There is no pain but you can definitely tell there's a crack in the tooth at the front inner corner that goes down to the gum and feels uncomfortable sometimes. I went to a dentist appointment the next day, and based on the Xrays they said the nerves had receeded from that part of the tooth on the inside and it would have eventually got infected or fallen out anyways, so they reccomended removing the tooth.

I was really nervous going to a new dentist for the first time since I had moved cities a few years ago, though the rest of the checkup was fine, just three small fillings I'm reccomended to sort out once the extraction is healed... I have autism, so I'm really sensitive to sounds and uncomfortable physical sensations... I was pulling away from the dentist gently poking at the affected tooth just because it felt strange and made me very anxious even though there was no pain. I also have anxiety dreams about crumbling or breaking teeth and a bad childhood experience of getting a filling where the novocaine didn't fully kick in so it was painful and drawn out.

I'm nervous about the extraction (mainly not being able to get fully numbed and experiencing pain/anxiety from strange sensations but not being able to get the dentist to stop), and also have some questions about afterwards.

What is a first molar extraction likely to be like? Is it an extra difficult tooth or pretty routine to a dentist? I'm scheduled into a 30 minute slot. Also, the dentist said I will probably be ok missing just one upper first molar, but if the gap was still bothersome after a few months I could look into getting a bridge or implant. Is this true? I am worried about my second molar and wisdom tooth behind it shifting around, or the unprotected teeth near the gap being more easy to damage. Basically I am worried that even if the extraction isn't that bad it could cause more painful issues down the line.

Thanks for any thoughts or advice!!
 
Upper first molar is normally not a problem to extract and heals well and easily. Should not need a replacement and anyway should be left for a year to heal and bone remodel before doing anything. Ian Robertson retired dentist
 
Thanks Ian, it helps to hear the same about the gap likely being ok in a second opinion!
 
So, this did not go so well... the tooth is gone at least but after half an hour of wrangling there are still apparently pieces of root left... I'm feeling depressed being sent home with a big wad of gauze in my mouth but the issue not fully resolved. I took some ibuprofen as soon as I got home to get ahead of the local anaesthesia wearing off but I'm so afraid of dry socket and the pain... just feeling really down. Apparently a root below the gums healing over can either be fine or cause pain later, and if it does I'll need a specialist to do a sedation proceedure. I just wanted to get it over with and now it just feels like it's getting stretched out forever and more and more complicated.

What is the likliehood I'll be ok if the gums just heal over this piece of root left? there was no pain/infection in the original tooth just a crack and general weakening which meant it couldn't be saved with a filling/crown.
 
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Thanks, I guess I'll have to wait and see. The dentist seemed on the fence as well. Halfway through they said we can stop here and see if the roots bother you down the line or get rid of them now... I said the latter because I was desperate to get it fully fully over with once I was already in the chair but then they were unable to be fully extracted
 
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