Wisdom tooth pain
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Discussion

Marf

Original Poster:

22,907 posts

270 months

Wednesday 14th September 2011
quotequote all
Lower left wisdom tooth is hurting like a bd, has been for four days now. Left side of my face aches, the gum is sore where it's cutting through and it hurts to swallow on the left side. It has flared up in the past, but only lasted a day or so and ibuprofen took the edge off, not so this time.

I want the bugger out, as such I've booked an appt for tomorrow afternoon, but I have a feeling that I'll get a referall for surgical extraction as only the front half of the tooth is visible, the rest is under the gum.

Am I right in thinking that the only way forward here is surgical extraction?

MacGee

2,513 posts

259 months

Wednesday 14th September 2011
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probably...take a hot salty mouthwash to help cleanse it...

ClassicMercs

1,703 posts

210 months

Wednesday 14th September 2011
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I 'don't do' hospital. So an alternative had to be found.

There are some clinics that specialise in problem cases - but you need to be referred to them by your normal dentist. This was 15 years ago - but I know the specialists are still there - my old dentist went off recently to be one.

Marf

Original Poster:

22,907 posts

270 months

Wednesday 14th September 2011
quotequote all
Yeah my sister was referred to a place to have hers out under sedation last year. I'm not too bothered about being sedated so long as the local anaesthesia is sufficient. Plus I don't like the idea of being "awake" during the sedation but not remembering what the fk I was saying laugh

I'm hoping they might just whip it out tomorrow, but thats unlikely I think.

I've now resorted to teething gel, which is working quite nicely

Zad

13,005 posts

265 months

Wednesday 14th September 2011
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A professional dentist will be along to give an opinion shortly...

In the meantime, I suspect it will depend on what the X-rays say as to if an extraction is needed. When I had wisdom tooth problems, I found cocodamol was much better than ibuprofen. It is worth getting hold of some clove oil, it is an old "remedy" and tastes utterly vile, but it acts as a local anaesthetic and provides temporary pain relief which is surprisingly good.

Marf

Original Poster:

22,907 posts

270 months

Wednesday 14th September 2011
quotequote all
Thanks Zod, the teething gel(contains lidocaine) is working really well too so will stick with that.

I don't really like taking cocodamol as I've found it ruins my ability to concentrate at work.

I hope they can take it out, like I said I've never had the pain last so long, and this is the first time it's flared up in 2 years or so. Before I'd get some pain for a day or so and it'd pass.

wendyg

2,071 posts

272 months

Thursday 15th September 2011
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Sound like a proper infection (pericoronitis). Antibiotics in the first instance should clear it up, but if it has flared up a few times then it's likely to keep doing it, so extraction would be the way forward. An xray will give an idea of the position of the tooth and relationship to important structures like nerves. This will give an idea of how easy or difficult the removal will be, and how risky the procedure will be in terms of damaging important things.

Some lower wisdom tooth extraction are straightforward and low risk, and may be possible to do in surgery, others are more complicated and should be done by a specialist oral surgeon. Depends a lot as well on the experience and confidence of your GDP, some like and are good at this sort of stuff.

Marf

Original Poster:

22,907 posts

270 months

Thursday 15th September 2011
quotequote all
Thanks Wendy. It's particularly bad this morning, the whole lower left side of my jaw is aching and the tissue around the jaw where the tooth sits is sore.

Appt is 14.10 this afternoon, will report back when I know more.

Marf

Original Poster:

22,907 posts

270 months

Thursday 15th September 2011
quotequote all
OK - had the appointment, there is an infection, hence the soreness, achy jaw, pain swallowing etc.

Prescribed 7 days of anti biotics, applied topical cordosyl(sp?) and said that yes the tooth should really come out.

The appointment today was with a private Dentist, so I mentioned that I'd managed to get back on an NHS list at my usual dentists with an appt this coming Tuesday. He said that by that point the swelling should have gone down as the infection will have subsided and the NHS dentist can take an X-ray and go from there.

I asked if in his opinion the removal could be done at the dental practice and he said likely yes, though it depended on the angle of the root, but yes, likely it'd be fine based on what he saw today

So, hopefully Tuesday I may be able to get the bugger out to avoid this happening again in the future.

steve_bmw

1,591 posts

204 months

Thursday 15th September 2011
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good luck with the tooth mate, I am having my wisdom tooth taken out next tuesday too.


Marf

Original Poster:

22,907 posts

270 months

Thursday 15th September 2011
quotequote all
Cheers steve, I cant wait to get the little bugger out!! Hope yours go smoothly too.

Marf

Original Poster:

22,907 posts

270 months

Tuesday 20th September 2011
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Saw NHS dentist this morning. Been referred for surgical extraction. Should get an appointment in 4-6 weeks.

How did yours go Steve?

steve_bmw

1,591 posts

204 months

Tuesday 20th September 2011
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Marf, Everything was perfect, went realy well, no pain whatsoever and I havent needed any painkillers at home either and its been 5 hours since removal!

So glad its done! Ill never be afraid of the dentist again!

take care buddy!

Marf

Original Poster:

22,907 posts

270 months

Tuesday 20th September 2011
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Good to hear it all went smoothly smile Done under local?

Mines a little more involved as the tooth is not proud of the jaw yet so some jawbone may need chipping away to get access :/

steve_bmw

1,591 posts

204 months

Tuesday 20th September 2011
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Yes it was local, took about 20 mins for tooth out.

Yours sounds a bit more involved than mine, my tooth was fully exposed and was not impacting into another tooth.

Dont worry, I am sure yours will be fine though, keep us posted on how it goes!

I am getting hungry now, should I attempt some porrage smile


Marf

Original Poster:

22,907 posts

270 months

Tuesday 20th September 2011
quotequote all
Yeah I'm sure it'll be fine, QE East Grinstead have one of the best maxillo facial depts in the UK.

Tip: dont make the same mistake I did last time I had some teeth out - absent mindedly buy some salt and vinegar crisps 3 days post removal and end up with a salty acidy shard of potato wedged in the hole where the tooth was boxedin

Edited by Marf on Tuesday 20th September 15:52

E21_Ross

36,729 posts

241 months

Tuesday 20th September 2011
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Marf said:
Good to hear it all went smoothly smile Done under local?

Mines a little more involved as the tooth is not proud of the jaw yet so some jawbone may need chipping away to get access :/
i had to have that on either side for my lower wisdom teeth. it's really not as bad as it sounds and you feel very little with the anaesthetic, just a pressure sensation during extraction. the drilling sounded worse than it felt.

i've had 3 out of 4 wisdom teeth out and the last remaining bugger still gives me pain every now and again frown

Marf

Original Poster:

22,907 posts

270 months

Tuesday 20th September 2011
quotequote all
Good to hear, thanks Ross.

The best bit of news from the appt today is that there is no right lower wisdom tooth evident. I was concerned that I'd be in the same boat sometime in the future when it decided to show itself, but its not there on the X-Rays

Marf

Original Poster:

22,907 posts

270 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
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Bump!

Saw the Maxillo Facial doc at the local hospital today, booked in for an extraction on the 30th of December under local anaesthetic.


The Ferret

1,288 posts

189 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
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They've got a lot to answer for these fckin wisdom teeth rage

Mine have been giving me grief for years without me even knowing. I used to always catch the side of my mouth when eating, but everyone told me it was because I eat too fast. It was only when I went to see a new dentist this year he pointed out how the top wisdom teeth are on a slight angle, and each time I bite down there is a chance of it catching something.

He told me they would need to come out, but that I would be the one to decide when (i.e. when I've had enough of them tearing lumps out of my face)