Tooth Extraction: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

[Spinney]

Bummer, how did they find out about your heart rate?!? Never had mine monitored in a Dentist\Max Fax - I can't stand sedation lack of control and all that. It was the afternoon appointment plus sitting in the waiting room for a long time that pushed you over. That's the other benefit to mornings they can't start the day behind. Gawd the waiting room is the worst. I have been known to drop the receptionist my mobile and ask them to call me when they are ready and I wait in the car park lol The smell and sounds and waiting do my head in, take me to the limit! I arrive bang on my appointment time never before

Oh yes they can! I've been kept waiting over 20 mins for a 9 am appointment. I've walked out before now when kept waiting with no explanation. On the other hand I once got a free upgrade from bog standard NHS filling to a white one (so they said) for not throwing too much of a wobbly when they were running very late.

 

[Andrew_P]

I live less than a 10 minute walk from the surgery so I can time my arrival very accurately and get there with 2 minutes to spare.

I am one of the first patients in so there are never many others waiting when I get there.

The sounds of dentistry would not yet have started and anyway they would be masked by loud music played from my phone through earbuds.

I play Sudoku on the phone until I am called in and that helps prevent negative thoughts.

You are right about the smell of dental practices though. I had a 30 year gap between dental appointments but was immediately transported back to youthful trauma by the first whiff of it! I reckon a dab of perfume on the upper lip might help with that?

Guessing we are all from the same age group. I have allergies to strong perfumes but I do actively try and mouth breath at least until I am in the chair, although that can carry on for a few minutes even once they start they have asked me to stop as I am misting up the mirror. My phobia started @ 9 years old :-(

 

[Andrew_P]

Oh yes they can! I've been kept waiting over 20 mins for a 9 am appointment. I've walked out before now when kept waiting with no explanation. On the other hand I once got a free upgrade from bog standard NHS filling to a white one (so they said) for not throwing too much of a wobbly when they were running very late.

My surgery starts at 7.30am and 8am those are the only appointments I take!!

 

[Spinney]

My surgery starts at 7.30am and 8am those are the only appointments I take!!

Ah, I'll check what the earliest one is next time! I assumed at the time that the dentist was late for work. But the thing about dentists is that you don't want to make a fuss and annoy someone who is going to poke around inside your mouth with sharp instruments!

 

[PhilDawson8270]

Bummer, how did they find out about your heart rate?!?

I'm a natural worrier, I was checking heart rate with Apple Watch. They noticed when I went in, and stuck one of those finger clip things on. I must have looked obviously nervous, as they didn't question anything when I asked for sedation.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

I can't stand sedation lack of control and all that.

I'm the opposite, when something is out of my control. I am usually just happy to let it happen, because it HAS to happen. I had no issues with surgery when I broke my arm, or anything related to that. As by that point it was all out of my control, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

Once I am given enough to drugs to not care, I will be fine (I hope)

 

[ColinJ]

Once I am given enough to drugs to not care, I will be fine (I hope)

I felt tempted to spend a few pre-dentist minutes inhaling deeply while standing next to some of the omni-present skunk smokers hanging about in the town centre!

 

[adamangler]

I bottled an extraction twice not long ago. I suffer with anxiety and panic attacks. first time I felt great right up until he pulled the injection needle out, I couldnt do it,started sweating and could feel myself going into panic I had to leave.

Second time I got as far as the surgery,tried to psyche myself up for 5 mind then legged it.

It's horrible having the anxiety, not at all worried about the pain. I don't know what I'm afraid of it north rational at all.

 

[ColinJ]

I bottled an extraction twice not long ago. I suffer with anxiety and panic attacks. first time I felt great right up until he pulled the injection needle out, I couldnt do it,started sweating and could feel myself going into panic I had to leave.

Second time I got as far as the surgery,tried to psyche myself up for 5 mind then legged it.

It's horrible having the anxiety, not at all worried about the pain. I don't know what I'm afraid of it north rational at all.

Adam - I was the same when I had 2 teeth out in 2001.

I was a bundle of nerves going in and told the dentist that I had a history of fainting but he told me that he would tip the chair right back to ensure plenty of bloodflow to my head; no problem - I would be fine.

He started doing the injections and I felt each one going in and coming out. I stood it for the first 12 but number 13 got me ... I came round a couple of minutes later dripping sweat, and with a very scared looking dentist and dental nurse staring down at me!

My new approach seems to work - I don't look, I don't listen, and with the aid of the gel stuff on my gums - I don't feel anything either. I don't even know when the needle is being used. The dentist puts the anaesthetic in and gives it a few minutes to take effect then he pops one of my earpieces out and asks me if I can feel him probing the gums. Once he is sure that everything is ok, I put the earpiece back in and let him get on with it.

 

[keithmac]

As soon as I'm sat in the chair my eyes are firmly shut until I get out of it again!.

Been watching a few videos of wisdom tooth removal and they look oddly satisfying for some reason..

 

[ColinJ]

Been watching a few videos of wisdom tooth removal and they look oddly satisfying for some reason..

I would rather watch racer snakes chasing baby iguanas!

 

[keithmac]

I'd love to have my bottom right wisdom pulled but it would involve cutting the gum etc so I'll quietly bide my time it think...

 

[PhilDawson8270]

I thought I would update this.

I went to the pre-op. During this they did my height, weight, etc. Then they began to explain the procedure.

She paused for a moment and went to see the dentist next door. She said that I still seemed extremely anxious about it, so have offered to do the procedure under general anaesthetic. Which I graciously accepted.

Quite an amazing experience so far, and every dentist, and nurse I have seen have been very understanding and doing what they can to make me comfortable.

For me, this is the best possible outcome, go to sleep, wake up with a sore face and it's all done.

 

[adamangler]

On the third attempt (after I bottled i it twice) today I had my wisdom tooth removed.

Almost fainted after the injections, room started to spin a bit. After that it was fine, hurts a fair bit now the anasthetic has worn off mind.Painkillers and a bag of frozen peas for the rest of the day. Glad it's all over.

 

[ColinJ]

On the third attempt (after I bottled i it twice) today I had my wisdom tooth removed.

Almost fainted after the injections, room started to spin a bit. After that it was fine, hurts a fair bit now the anasthetic has worn off mind.Painkillers and a bag of frozen peas for the rest of the day. Glad it's all over.

Good news, Adam!

I really like having a healthy mouth again after many years of increasingly bad problems with my teeth.