Terrified of possible wisdom tooth extraction
 

Hi everyone. I'm, perhaps due to some unpleasant experiences when much younger, terrified of pain and dental complications. I've also recently developed a cyst due to an impacted lower wisdom tooth and have read so many, countless really, horror stories regarding complications due to dry socket. Also, I've some TMJ and sinus issues and my grandmother essentially died of trigeminal neuralgia.

What I'm wondering is this - is there any other way to address/monitor the cyst created by my molar other than removal of said molar? I'm so terrified from all the stories that I cannot bring myself to schedule an extraction.

Hi NervousMess,

Most people are afraid or apprehensive to get in the dental chair. Even those of us who work in the profession don't look forward to it! So fear, anxiety, even terrified are all very common issues that are dealt with in every dental office. So hopefully you will find some comfort in knowing that you are not alone in feeling this way.

I assume you know about the cyst because you went to the dentist and it showed on an x-ray?

There are all kinds of stories to read about wisdom teeth removal on the internet. MOST of the time, the surgery goes fine and there are no complications. Some ways to cut down on post op complications are...... be as healthy as possible going into the surgery.....prepare your post op diet ahead of time with a nutritious soft food diet rich in protein, which you will be eating for about 2 weeks .... religiously follow the post op instructions given to you by the surgeon... and be able to just relax for 2-3 days after the surgery.

The problems with leaving a wisdom tooth in the mouth that has developed a cyst around it is that the area can become overwhelmed with infection which could compromise the adjacent teeth and jawbone. If it is a lower tooth, the infection can cause a huge swelling that could close off your airway. If it is an upper tooth, the infection could infect the sinuses and beyond.

So it is wise to seriously consider the risks associated with leaving this tooth in the mouth. If you are at all in doubt about removing it, get a second opinion from a different oral surgeon.

I know this is scary.... but you are definitely not alone, your situation is dealt with every day in every dental office so we do understand and most offices take your fears and concerns into consideration.

Please let us know how you're doing...

Bryanna

Thank you so much Bryanna for your reply, and I will certainly discuss the comparative risks of leaving the tooth (from what you've said, I'm guessing the OS will almost certainly refuse).

That said, developing dry socket terrifies me. I suppose there's no way to know the "odds", but at 38 years with an impacted lower wisdom tooth, would you estimate the chances at at least below 50%? Failing that, what are the chances of coping with such pain for possibly weeks/months? From what I surmise it's the sort of thing that could drive people far more tolerant than I to shoot themselves.

Hi NervousMess,

The odds of having a dry socket cannot be given in percentage amounts because depending on the individual case, there could be several contributing factors. With that said, people who are reasonably healthy... take little to no medications that compromise the immune system or decrease the salivary flow... do not smoke ... do not drink alcohol during the healing phase.... follow a healthy diet post operatively... and follow the post op instructions... rarely develop a dry socket. Sometimes the condition develops because the surgeon was a bit lax in cleaning out the socket and/or didn't achieve a healthy amount of blood to create a good size clot.

I always suggest that the patient be the one to bring up the subject of dry socket and make it clear that they are concerned about it and want every precaution taken to avoid getting one. In doing this, the patient feels empowered by making their concerns known ahead of time and the surgeon knows the patient has done their homework!

If you should develop a dry socket, do not wait to get it treated. The earlier the treatment, the faster it heals. After a tooth extraction, the first and second day you feel sore, a bit swollen and just tired. By the third day into the fourth the surgical site should be feeling much better. If it starts to become painful after it felt better, then see your surgeon asap.

Some people have a good amount of pain with a dry socket.... others have very little. Generally the acute pain of a dry socket eases up when it is treated, then comes back a little less painful and is treated again.... this may happen 2-4 times. The lengthy "pain" that you have read about can occur in people who did not seek treatment right away or were told they didn't need treatment... or have other contributing factors that decrease their healing ability. Pain can also occur in the TMJ area which can linger for weeks/months, especially in people who already have TMJ problems. That's why it's a good idea to tell the surgeon if you have TMJ problems prior to the surgery.

It is difficult to anticipate the what if's... but as I said, most people do not have long term pain or complications after wisdom tooth removal.

Try not to be too scared.... I understand how you feel... been there, done that and look... I'm okay ;)

Bryanna

hello nervousmess
 

I too have been in touch with Bryanna a time or two. I feel the same way you do about dentists. I had a terrible time in my youth, and never got over my fear...untill...I talked to Bryanna, and she convinenced me to look around for the proper care and proper surgeon. One that I could relate all my worries too. This happened for me over the course of a year. I went to three different doctors, and found one, that for sure, is helping me to put all the fears and worries aside, and get my mouth fixed. It had been 10 years, and I was in some bad trouble. Today, I have a new smile, yes I had extractions, NO complications, and I do have an immune system problem on top of it all. What Bryanna said to you is absolutely correct. You really don't want that tooth in your mouth. Don't let fear rule you as it did me for so long. This dentist I found is a gem, made of solid gold, who treated me as a human being, and did address my fears and worries first. She made me comfortable before she did anything at all. If you can find this kind of help, the removal of the tooth will be a snap. Get rid of that old infection, and get healthy again. If I could do it, so can you. Find the care your need to feel confident, and then get healthy. Please keep in touch and lets us know how you are doing. I am here for you anytime you need to talk or express your fears. I am 60 years old, and just now starting not to fear the dentist. I have my smile and oral health back. I cannot tell you how relieved I am! Take care of you, and i do wish you all my best. ginnie

thank you
 

Ginny and Bryanna, thank you both. Part of my panic was/is due to not only past experiences but also because I was originally rather eager to have my wisdom teeth removed (in the admittedly naive hope it might ease my mild yet chronic jaw tension) and the sudden shift from anticipation to dread left me reeling. Also, the fact that my dentist in no way suggested that there might exist a quite real chance of serious complications (even aside from the potentially extreme pain of a dry socket) from such a procedure made me question whatever faith I should have in him or really the dental profession in general.

Anyhow, to be fair, I think I now more or less understand why my dentist did not tell me "everything" about the procedure - generally speaking, the more I know the more difficult it is for me to actually make and keep the appointment! That said, I'm going to reschedule the extraction ASAP with a hopefully relatively humane Oral Surgeon and in the meantime try as best I can to whatever can be done to make the experience as tolerable as possible.

Again, thank you both - Bryanna, you should be very proud of how many people you have obviously helped here in times of trouble, and Ginnie, your wonderfully positive spirit should be the envy of anyone of any age.

Sincerely,

- Me

NervousMess,

Dental patients should probably be given more information about their dental problems and a clearer explanation of most dental procedures. However, I believe the details and depth of the information needs to be tailored to the individual patient.

Make sure you tell the surgeon about the chronic jaw tension that you have and if possible, point to the area(s) that are bothering you.

Prepare your post op diet and whatever else you need to alter prior to the surgery date. This way, you will feel less stressed during that time.

Keep in touch....... :)
Bryanna

keep going miss nervous mess
 

I am going to pray you find that person to put you at ease. I will be here for you and so will Bryanna. Keep in touch, I will be thinking about you. ginnie:hug:

Thanks, I'll definitely mention it. Btw, would the fact that I tend to feel tension in both jaws (often near/under/behind the ears) suggest something other than TMJ? I'm also wondering if it might be something vaguely sinus-ish (sinusoidal?) in nature - I once had a deviated septum, and I also might be grinding my teeth due to an overbite, and, ergh, there's probably lots of other stuff that I don't even know about, some of which may not yet be known medical conditions like, er, I dunno, impacted eyebrow herpes, chronic ear scurvy, ingrown tongue, lazy moustache syndrome, total head failure, inability to dance well, Satanic Nostril Possession, etc.

Sorry, I sometimes babble. Anyhow, thanks again, you two.

- John

John,

Some of the tension you feel in your jaw could be coming from the impacted wisdom teeth.

OR.....perhaps it's from the eyebrow herpes or any one of the other unusual things you may have.........

Bryanna ~'.'~