Tooth extraction looming - help!

The worst part of any tooth removal is the anticipation, once it is all over you will feel such relief. Very best of luck.

I would much rather have an extraction than a root canal done . Extractions are pretty painless nowadays. You just know someone is doing something in your mouth but only feel pushing .it's done in no time.
Good luck for Friday . Get some paracetomol in you may need it.

Thank you both for your words of wisdom (no pun intended!). You are right, and I have survived a root canal a few years ago with a very sympathetic dentist . Have arranged t meet someone for a catch up on Saturday so will just go armed with painkillers and hope for the best.

I paid up for a twilight anaesthesia and it was worth every penny - but I have to admit I was having more than one out. You're very brave granfromafar. I'm a real wimp when it comes to teeth

I am extremely nervous really really scared I had to have a back tooth extracted earlier this year as I d had an ongoing infection for about 6 months I was in a real pickle about it but it was absolutely fine and as others have said the anticipation is by far the worse part you will be fine it was out in minutes and no pain

I too am a very nervous patient, I had a tooth extracted last year and because it had caused me so many problems over a long period it was a relief when the day came and it was taken out. It definitely is the anticipation that makes it worse, we build situations in our minds up to such an exaggerated extent the actual procedure is rather a surprisingly painless event. Good luck!

Having been on steroids for a long time it affected my teeth and my dentist worked hard to save a couple of molars. One had to come out.
As pp posters have said, it is the anticipation that is worse. Yes you will feel the movement as the dentist works but no pain. Sometimes it cannot be tender for a day or so and I've found ibuprofen to be better than paracetamol as the ibuprofen works on inflammation.
Honestly, you will be ok.
Come back and tell us how you got on.

Can .... not cannot

I am a total baby as far as going to the dentist is concerned , an I too am going this Friday afternoon for a crown removal (nothing like having a tooth out I know ) .. but granfromafar , like others have said , it's the anticipation and worry that is the worst thing.. Once you are there all will be fine.. and I wish you good luck .

Goldengirl what is twilight anaesthesia please?

I had 2 messy wisdom teeth removed at my local dental hospital. They both came through very late and were soft and crumbling so dentist unable to remove. I had a gentle sedative (twilight anaesthetic) then can only remember dentist saying open you mouth, move your head slightly etc. was happily oblivious to the rest. Would recommend it granfromafar

Just noticed your question to Goldengirl. I think it was what I had. you are not fully asleep like in a normal anaesthetic but kind of on the borderline but "away" enough to be oblivious as to whats going on.

Correction.... maybe not totally oblivious... just couldn't care less. Like everything is fuzzy and soft. sorry not explaining it very well.

I had a wisdom tooth extracted with just a local anaesthetic. It wasn't painful at all. The worst part was the sort of cracking noise made as the tooth came out. I would not be at all anxious if I had to go through it again and I'm quite a wimp about going to the dentist.

Good luck, granfromafar, you will be fine, and so proud of yourself when it's all over. Best wishes.

I am an ex dental nurse so hopefully I can put your mind at rest. Firstly, you are doing the right thing by making an appointment to have this broken tooth extracted. Waiting until you have severe pain and requiring the tooth extracted as an emergency is never a good idea. You have been booked in with a dentist who is used to dealing with nervous patients too so that's another plus. The removal will be under local anaesthetic but if you feel you will still be very nervous you could ask for sedation. This is a simple injection in the arm and puts you into a twilight sleep which means you are completely relaxed and it has an amnesiac effect so you won't remember anything about the procedure. This is available on the NHS but you need to arrange to have this before your appointment so that the dentist has everything ready and your appointment is long enough. If this has not been suggested to you by your dentist it could be that he does not think it will be required because he feels it will be a simple straightforward procedure. Most extractions are very quick and simple, and even if the tooth is badly broken down your dentist has the equipment to remove it simply and easily. The worst part for you will be having the local injection, most people dislike having this but dentists are doing g this every day and are very skilled at giving the injection painlessly so try not to worry too much. Once you have the tooth removed you will wonder why you were so worried about it! Good luck and best wishes.

Thank you, thank you to all for the very positive answers which have reassured me no end. I will phone tomorrow to ask whether I will be given sedation which sounds like a good idea. Good luck to Sheena too for Friday's appointment. Just wondering why a crown would need to be removed?
Hopefully I will be reporting back here on Friday to tell you it all went ok. Silverscarlett - you put my mind at rest too.

I too used to hate going to the dentist....but still went! I then changed my dentist and last year had the confidence to have 4 implants. I had to have 1 tooth extracted before this treatment. I was given an oral sedative to take half an hour before the treatment. It was so effective! I was aware of what was going on but didn't care!!! Good luck granfromafar we will all be thinking of you on Friday, but do ask for a sedative before hand.

Just a point Granfromafar and silver I asked for sedation but would have had to go to a hospital 30 miles away as I couldn't be given it in the surgery I was also told by the dentist as my tooth was also broken and the way it lay in my gum it could have damaged nearby nerves if it was taken out without care and my dentist said he would do it slowly and carefully but under sedation it may be just whipped out It all went very well

I also asked my doctor for a calming tablet to take before the extraction and he refused point blank and said doctors were not giving them any more ?...maybe I was just unlucky

My dentist sent me to another surgery to have a difficult tooth removed and I was amazed how quickly and easily it was done. I'd been dreading it beforehand.

Granfromafar ... I found out at a routine check up a couple of seeks back that the crown had to come out having been nicely settled with me for over 30 years ... I had noticed a few twinges of late and when anything cold hit it it would feel uncomfy... the dentist has found the tiniest little void after taking an xray and says that food etc will seep through and cause decay the longer I leave it so.... out it must come.

I am just so anxious about and (probably stupidly ! ) have googled and "you tubed" the procedure . Aaaggghhhh !
But nowhere near like having a complete tooth out and you have my sympathies .. but will send you positive vibes ... you will be fine. Picture yourself going through this full of confidence and relaxed ...

Good luck tomorrow and apologies for a wee hijack of your post with my story

I had a local anaesthetic and although I had been told to book a half hour appointment it only took a matter of minutes.Feeling that I had not had my money's worth( only joking!)I expressed surprise whereupon the dentist said"I am very experienced"!

Well the deed is done and I survived, though can't say I enjoyed it. Was only in the dentist's chair for about 15 mins and the first 5 he just explained what was going to happen and general chit-chat. The fact that he was young and handsome did help take my mind off the procedure and also counting up in (slightly rusty) Spanish which I read somewhere would help. It was a very snazzy surgery with TV on the ceiling above the chair but I didn't really want to watch athletics! (I go to an NHS dentist but was sent to this private surgery for the procedure)
The local anaestheic hasn't worn off yet so not in any pain thankfully. Painkillers at the ready when I need them. I have to admit I 'googled' the dentist first, as it was at a different practice and didn't know him. Turns out he's won all sorts of awards and is a specialist in his field which definitely inspired me with confidence.
Hope you get on ok too Sheena - let us know later how it goes.

Also forgot to mention that was I worried when I saw that side of my face looked so swollen, then realised that there was loads of wadding stuffed in there!

Sheena twilight anaesthesia is an anaesthetic administered by a canula so it can be topped up and is light enough for you to respond to instructions - but you don't remember anything!! It doesn't hurt and the effects wear off pretty quickly but you have to be accompanied home and rest up for a few hours. I've had it twice and highly recommend it

Just another comments: It had to be administered by an anaesthetist but he came to the surgery on both occasion and he was lovely - as is my dentist!