Tooth extraction

[FelixDeCat]

Due to lack of time and free unallocated funds, Ive scheduled an extraction for tomorrow morning at 8:45 am. I was up last night every hour on the hour with a throbbing jaw. I think it might have abcessed already. The pain pills, they do nothing! Although I did find some relief (a numbing effect) from gargling some Listerine. Finally I threw in the towel around 5:00am and simply let my mouth wrestle with the pain w/o taking any action. It finally wore off......for now. But I know it will be back.

 

[SandEagle]

Yes. Don't worry. Its painful as hell and very uncomfortable. I would rather die than go through that again.

Anyhoo, good luck!

 

[FelixDeCat]

Yes. Don't worry. Its painful as hell and very uncomfortable. I would rather die than go through that again.

Anyhoo, good luck!

lol thanks for the encouragement. Luckily I have about 60 tabs of Vicoden left from the sugery, so its not that bad for now. Ive been reading however that the longer the nerves, etc, are left exposed that they begin to break down and rot causing all sorts of wonderful things to happen to the jaw, etc.

 

[feralkid]

lol thanks for the encouragement. Luckily I have about 60 tabs of Vicoden left from the sugery, so its not that bad for now. Ive been reading however that the longer the nerves, etc, are left exposed that they begin to break down and rot causing all sorts of wonderful things to happen to the jaw, etc.

Had one 2 1/2 weeks ago.

Not bad, actually.

Pain meds for 2 days, antibiotics until gone.

Novocain and skilled Orthodontist, I guess.

$1000 out of pocket is a bit high, especially with insurance.

I would never consider a simple extraction...not only for bite issues, but often the remaining teeth will start to "migrate" towards the hole.

Think dominoes.

 

[DaveSimmons]

They cost around $1,200 here in the Seattle area.

I've had a couple. With the proper amount of Novocaine they really aren't that bad, it was less painful than the ache and pressure from having the abscessed tooth. I didn't need more than ibuprofen for the pain afterwards. The ache was gone after 4-5 days.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

I've had 7 root canals thanks to a nasty car accident in my 20s that messed up my teeth, among other things.

They really aren't all that bad, particularly in relation to an abscessed tooth. I actually enjoy them if I must have one done because my endodontist is spectacularly milfy and has a huge rack. Lessens the pain of it all for some unknown reason.

 

[sjwaste]

I had one when I was younger, tooth had internal resorption - rare, and just my luck.

It was uncomfortable, but really not that bad. They numb you up really well. You generally don't feel much. The uncomfortable part is the fact that they're spending so much time with hands and tools in your mouth.

You should just suck it up and do it. Every dentist I've talked to has said it's always worth saving the tooth if possible. If you're apprehensive, talk to the doc first and tell him that. They can either gas you, or if you're really nervous, give you something in advance for the anxiety.

Will your dentist be doing it, or is he referring you out? If he's referring you out, meet with the guy first. I've found that once I'm comfortable with a dentist, my apprehension goes way down. I just went for a cleaning for the first time in years, and I need 3 fillings this week, but my first visit went well enough that I'm not really dreading it.

 

[feralkid]

They cost around $1,200 here in the Seattle area.

Wow, that's a bite.

I had no idea.

Here I thought my insurance was crappy...I guess maybe not.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Thanks for the input guys. Hopefully I can get this resolved in the next two weeks BEFORE my next surgery. My current outrageous medical expenses are what is keeping me from just doing this (and the fact I dont have dental insurance).

I was checking into dental discount plans. You pay like $130 upfront for something like 30-60% off a procedure. Im still investigating this. It might get the cost down to $600 or so.

 

[steppinthrax]

As you may know things have not been a barrel of monkeys for me healthwise lately and so far Ive spent over $100,000.00 (insured) this year on surgeries (next one is December 28th), monoclonal antibodies, other medications, etc on various maladies that have long plagued me.

Now I have the choice between a root canal or getting the tooth pulled permanently. The root canal procedure on the upper left molar in front of the wisom tooth has an OOP of $1000. Or I can get an extraction for $80. The extraction would not be wise as most food is chewed with the back teeth.

In the meantime, Im looking for ways to setup payment plans or negotiate the fee down by shopping around. I already have three gold crowns and at least 20 fillings going back a couple of decades. Just when I think I got a handle on things, one damn thing after another pops up! D:

Has anyone had one of these things?

One of the major problems in tooth restoration is the fact that once your dentist performs this procedure you teeth will truly never be the same again. He will need to "open up" the tooth, he will use a series of files (increasing in mm each time) until he's made the root canal smooth. Pray that he removes all roots or you’re in for a re-treat. He will then insert metal pins (build up) for re-enforcement. He will then fill with some inert filling and use resin to restore the crown of the tooth.

You need to factor the cost of the crown, which will be another 1K or so (depending on your insurance). You will come back in where he will grind the crown down until it becomes a "nub" then he is going to take an impression (sent to the lab) and install the crown once it gets back. Here's the problem, there is a small opening between where the crown and the gum called the margin. Eventually food and acids in your mouth get underneath the tooth and wear away the cement causing bacteria to get underneath the crown. Usually whenever a crown comes off (which is bound to happen), there is almost always decay underneath the crown. Crowns can also fracture and cause other problems in the mouth. Dentist look at crowns as money makers, because they know for a fact you will eventually have to come back for a new crown once that one wears out.

 

[Wreckem]

As you may know things have not been a barrel of monkeys for me healthwise lately and so far Ive spent over $100,000.00 (insured) this year on surgeries (next one is December 28th), monoclonal antibodies, other medications, etc on various maladies that have long plagued me.

Now I have the choice between a root canal or getting the tooth pulled permanently. The root canal procedure on the upper left molar in front of the wisom tooth has an OOP of $1000. Or I can get an extraction for $80. The extraction would not be wise as most food is chewed with the back teeth.

In the meantime, Im looking for ways to setup payment plans or negotiate the fee down by shopping around. I already have three gold crowns and at least 20 fillings going back a couple of decades. Just when I think I got a handle on things, one damn thing after another pops up! D:

Has anyone had one of these things?

Modern root canals do not hurt unless the Dentist serious screws up.

I've had two root canals in my life. The first one, when I was a child was sort of painful. That was 16 years ago. The second was last year. The only pain I felt was the local numbing agent. No pain killers, no anything.

 

[Adul]

been there, done that, now man up and do it.

Granted I didn't feel any pain except for one time, but nothing I couldn't handle.

 

[Wreckem]

One of the major problems in tooth restoration is the fact that once your dentist performs this procedure you teeth will truly never be the same again. He will need to "open up" the tooth, he will use a series of files (increasing in mm each time) until he's made the root canal smooth. Pray that he removes all roots or you’re in for a re-treat. He will then insert metal pins (build up) for re-enforcement. He will then fill with some inert filling and use resin to restore the crown of the tooth.

You need to factor the cost of the crown, which will be another 1K or so (depending on your insurance). You will come back in where he will grind the crown down until it becomes a "nub" then he is going to take an impression (sent to the lab) and install the crown once it gets back. Here's the problem, there is a small opening between where the crown and the gum called the margin. Eventually food and acids in your mouth get underneath the tooth and wear away the cement causing bacteria to get underneath the crown. Usually whenever a crown comes off (which is bound to happen), there is almost always decay underneath the crown. Crowns can also fracture and cause other problems in the mouth. Dentist look at crowns as money makers, because they know for a fact you will eventually have to come back for a new crown once that one wears out.

Crowns need to be replaced every 8-12 years. A ~$500 a crown beats $10k and tons of suffering with an extraction and implant.

 

[Wreckem]

I had one when I was younger, tooth had internal resorption - rare, and just my luck.

It was uncomfortable, but really not that bad. They numb you up really well. You generally don't feel much. The uncomfortable part is the fact that they're spending so much time with hands and tools in your mouth.

You should just suck it up and do it. Every dentist I've talked to has said it's always worth saving the tooth if possible. If you're apprehensive, talk to the doc first and tell him that. They can either gas you, or if you're really nervous, give you something in advance for the anxiety.

Will your dentist be doing it, or is he referring you out? If he's referring you out, meet with the guy first. I've found that once I'm comfortable with a dentist, my apprehension goes way down. I just went for a cleaning for the first time in years, and I need 3 fillings this week, but my first visit went well enough that I'm not really dreading it.

Root canals take much less time than they used to. I was in and out in under a hour. The "files" they use these days also aren't what they use to either. Much less prone to breakage. They also have a digital xray machine that allows them to see what they are doing while they are doing it.

 

[Anubis]

Actually i had one on Friday, Was at the dentist on Thursday when we discovered i would need one, got in the next day at the specialist. my normal dentist did not do it, she refereed me out because i have extremely deep roots that pretty much go into my sinus. 3 roots 24 24, and 26 mm long

tooth #2 (upper right in the back), its NOT painful at all, your jaw will be sore for a day or 2 thats about it.

mine cost ~1100, Insurance covered 80%

i get the prework for a crown next week and will do the crown after the first of the year so its on next years insurance

 

[steppinthrax]

Crowns need to be replaced every 8-12 years. A ~$500 a crown beats $10k and tons of suffering with an extraction and implant.

If your numbed properly your only supposed to feel "pressure" during an extraction. I would only get a crown if it's a tooth in the front, but if it's in the way back I would just pull it. Especially if your older.

 

[Wreckem]

If your numbed properly your only supposed to feel "pressure" during an extraction. I would only get a crown if it's a tooth in the front, but if it's in the way back I would just pull it. Especially if your older.

If you are older and have other appliances. Sure pull away. But if you want the tooth, its either save it by root canal + crown or extract and implant. Its the implant that is expensive and painful, not the extraction.

 

[Strk]

I had one in what sounds like the same spot as you. It didn't really hurt. I would just get the tooth pulled now, but the caveat is I broke my jaw a few years ago. It just hurts too much to keep my mouth open. And I can't even open it as wide as they make you for a root canal anymore.

 

[bobeedee]

Ask for nitrous, when its running tell the assistant you can't feel any difference and she will usually turn it up. Some of the best highs I have had, have been in the dentists chair.

 

[PottedMeat]

Make sure a pull or root canal are your only choices. I asked for a 3rd option and got a 'pulp cap' - depends on where the damage is and how deep it is. I think it cost ~$300. Seems to have worked fine.

 

[rcpratt]

$1000, holy crap, that's crazy. I wonder what my insurance coverage is for root canals, now I'm curious.

95% covered, apparently.

 

[grrl]

I'd always heard horror stories about them but had two last summer and they were absolutely painless. Once the novacaine wore off I didn't even need an aspirin.

 

[AlienCraft]

Yeah, You'll want to get that done soon. I don't think oral surgery is recommended close to scheduled major surgery.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

I had one back when I was 15 (I'm now 33) on on of my incisors. Wasn't that bad. Didn't get a crown either. They just drilled out the roots, plugged to hole, and covered the front of the tooth with resin. That resin is now falling a part, but an 18 year life span for resin ain't bad.

 

[mizzou]

hmm

If it was just one molar, way in the back, i would just have it pulled and then go spend the rest on a nice TV