~ ulp ~

Aw, gosh, what an ordeal you went through! I've been relatively lucky in the past -- a few crowns, wisdom teeth out, nothing really serious. And I know extraction is all I can afford to do, even if it turns out there is an option.

But y'know... the prospect of just giving up instead of fixing this tooth... it makes me feel like what I'm really doing here is accepting that I'm old now, the process of deterioration has begun, and now things are going to just keep falling apart faster and faster...

It's silly, I guess, that losing a tooth should make me feel like death is imminent... but it sure seems to be having that effect.

1 - so which tooth is it - a totally back, back tooth? I wouldn't think it would make much difference to your bite or your chewing your food if it was...

2 - I've done that - swallowed part of a tooth at night...did it go through your digestive system? Mine did, although you've got a lot more complications...

3 - I know it feels like giving up - I remember my parents having problems with their teeth, and thinking that they were just OLD lol...and then remember the movie Peggy Sue Got Married? The big thing her grandpa said in retrospect is that "he would have taken better care of his teeth."

and

No, it's the first molar (as opposed to the bicuspid) on the upper right side. But the way my face is made, it doesn't show when I smile, and y'know what? I didn't even know it until she mentioned it last night, but my mom has the very same tooth missing! Had it pulled when she was about 20, back before dentists had so many other options.

And the bite issue doesn't worry me... the less efficient I am at eating, the better!

So I'm not quite so gloomy this morning. But I did remember that I have Mitral Valve Prolapse and have to take antibiotics before dental procedures -- so I'm going over there early to do that.

But apparently, I'm in no hurry, because here I am using TCS as a delay tactic. Did I mention how fond I am of nitrous oxide?

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for you my friend,....

Wow. That was a lot worse than I expected! I had a babytooth pulled when I was a kid, and I remember that as being not so bad... but this was downright violent!

I'm sure part of the difference is that, back then, the dentist told me when he put the topical anesthetic on my gums, "This is going to soften everything up so the tooth will just slide right out," and I believed him. Now I know better, but... I wish I didn't!

It really wasn't painful, so much -- but I have such a terrible anxiety problem to begin with, and this triggered an all-out panic attack, hyperventilation, the works. I was ice-cold and shaking all over for an hour afterward. What a wimp I am.

And now it won't stop bleeding, and that's my own stupid fault -- I forgot and took my daily 81mg aspirin last night, which of course interfered with clotting.

But at least it's out. The dentist said he probably could have saved it with a root canal and a crown, but of course that's out of the financial question. Just $105 is all he charged, which surprises me, because my old dentist years ago used to charge $50 just to hook up the nitrous oxygen! So I think he went easy on me.

Afterward, the nurse started talking about what a sweet man my father was, because they had him as a patient, too -- and in my already-hyperanxious state, that completely broke me down, so I just sat there for awhile crying and bleeding, bleeding and crying...

Anyway, thank you all for your moral support. You're nice people.

Oh honey ... what an ordeal! I am glad it is over for you now though.

Bless your heart, I remember when the back molar on my right lower broke into what seemed to be a thousand pieces ... it hurt so bad that I didn't mind having it extracted, even though I wasn't properly numbed and I did feel it. I didn't care. It hurt, but I knew the pain was temporary and so that's what I focused on. It did help, or so I convinced myself anyway ... *grin*

I hope you are feeling a little better now that this is all taken care of ... again, what an ordeal!

Oh Carol! How did I miss this? I'm so sorry you had this ordeal and I'm glad you are on the healing side of it! I wouldn't worry about the part of the tooth you swallowed... most people don't chew their food that well and swallow chunks bigger than that with no problems.

Your baby tooth didn't hurt when it was pulled because the root is dissolving as the adult tooth comes in. Adult teeth, though, have long roots.

How are you doing today?

Aw, thanks for your concern, you guys -- I'm such a big baby! I'm okay now, although it still doesn't seem to have closed up entirely... but y'know what? I think they must use some kind of device that fits around your head when they do this, something that gives them leverage, because I'm all bruised and sore around the back of my head on that side, and I remember feeling something hard there during the extraction. I guess they conceal these details from us so we won't be any more scared than we already are.

SW, I'm sure you're right -- that makes perfect sense! But I guess I'm glad I didn't think of it beforehand... I might've been too scared to go in. I've always considered that I have a high pain threshold, because I give blood all the time, and I've removed my own stitches a couple of times, that kind of thing... but maybe the truth is that I'm actually a total wimp, and I just talk myself into doing these things anyway!

I sure hope this thread doesn't scare anybody out of having dental work done. Just bear in mind, I really didn't have that much pain -- it was dumb fear that made it so hard.

Oh honey, you're not a wimp! There a big difference between giving blood and having someone messing around in your mouth. I mean..it's your MOUTH! I feel more violated going to the dentist than I do going to the gynocologist!

I've had 6 teeth pulled so far (5 at one time..all molars) so if I had to have many more pulled I'm going to have to get partials, and I'm only 38. So, it has nothing to do with age. It's more the kind of teeth you are born with, and unfortunately mine are week and crowded. Heck, when my dad joined the navy when he was 18 they took one look at his teeth (crowded too) and pulled all over them and gave him dentures.

At least it's over now.

Originally Posted by calico2222

...I feel more violated going to the dentist than I do going to the gynocologist!...

Click to expand...

Oh gosh, for some reason that made me laugh hysterically -- but I do understand it, y'know? And in both cases, no matter how you prepare yourself, there's always a moment in the middle of things when the thought flashes in your head, "Oh my god, what if these people don't know what they're doing and it all goes horribly wrong?"

I can't imagine five extractions at one time. I think I'd have to be unconscious for a thing like that. You must be one brave soul!

Bella, yes, it was nice of that woman to remember him... and she correctly assessed his nature, too: "a sweet man."

Yes, Laureen, no apparent trouble with the swallowed tooth, thank goodness! -000000000000000000000000000000000000000pppppppppppp= [<--- that was Clydie, passing through to say hi!] Once it got past the band, I figured I was home free.