I have been very lucky in my life with my teeth. I had my first cavity at 18 or 20 and have had few since. Have straight teeth and never had braces. I did have two wisdom teeth removed when I was in my 20’s and one was impacted. Not even sure if I remember what that means. I seem to remember having to go to the dentist ( oral surgeon ?) every day for awhile. All visits in my adult life have been a cleaning and a clear to go.
But I have always hated going to the dentist. I have a phobia but have forced myself to go.
So I went last week, addmittedly after missing a few exams because they cancelled and I took my time to reschedule, I was told I have a cracked molar that needs to be extracted. The crack is into the root. I can then have an implant. The implant will involve drilling into my bone and then yada, yada.
I am soooo stressed. I know I cannot ignore this. But it freaks me out.
Any experiences? Be gentle if they are bad please.
The thing I fear is pain. The dentist I go to now (after years of not going because of the expense and my fear) and the endodontist who did the root canal I needed after years of not going were both very accommodating about my concern about pain and told me that they would make sure to give me enough anesthetic (local). The fillings and root canal weren’t fun but I probably felt as calm as possible, because these two gentlemen and their assistants were so kind to me.
I have had two implants. One was in front, and there were a lot of issue with that tooth. The extraction was hard because the tooth had broken off. The implant took a long time as they have to put in the screw part, let it heal, and then put in the cap.
The one in the back (molar) was pulled about 2 years before they did the implant. The dentist had to build up the bone, wait, put in the screw, wail, and then finally put on the crown. That took about 5 months.
It’s not pleasant but I’ve had worse dental pain. Financial pain? Quite painful, and it took me another 2.5 years (I’m not kidding, 2.5 YEARS) to get the dental insurance to pay because the office kept submitting it wrong. I went through 4 'insurance coordinators at the office, and talked to a dozen people at the insurance company. Finally wrote the ‘I am reporting you to the insurance commissioner’ letter and it was recently paid.
If you are totally stressed, ask if you can take something to relax you. We seem to be that age, I have several friends who have recently gone through or are going through the implant process.
The good news is that you have not paid for a root canal and a crown only to discover a cracked root, all that money down the drain. Plus, if your root is not abscessed, that, too, is good news. If there is no infection they should probably be able to do the implant at the same time as the extraction & hey, no worries about dry socket because you are stitched up.
My DH had an implant and said the whole feeling of a ratcheting socket wrench was weird, but the worst part of the experience in his mind was the shots to numb it!
Talk to friend and neighbors in your location and get a good referral. I I finally talked DH into it after two or three other friends had implants done at the same dentist. Don’t delay the implant, your bone degrades over time and you could need grafting etc if you wait too long.
There are huge price discrepancies geographically.
I had a molar removed, bone grafted, and a screw in. Currently waiting for the crown. It was no hassle. not all that painful. I had to eat soft food after each procedure but no big deal.
morrismm, I have not had an implant but, if somemom’s DH’s experience is common, that the worst is the shots to numb the area, I just had those shots a few weeks ago. They do hurt but, at least for me, the pain lasted maybe 5 seconds. I needed a second shot but, truly, the time I was in pain couldn’t have been more than 15 seconds total for the two shots. Maybe, just maybe, that’s the worst of it? I hope so. I’m sorry you’re going through this.
I am your person to talk to about all things dentistry! First, fantastic that you have been lucky with your teeth! My husband is the same way - I envy you people! I just finished the implant process and let me tell you it is a piece of cake! Nothing to it.
First, make sure you are going to an outstanding Oral Surgeon who is board certified. Avoid cosmetic dentistry or general dentist who have recently gotten into implants. Its is such a growing and lucrative field that I know a few who have gone for some “speedy training” to get in on the gig. This must be done by a specialist. I repeat…Board Certified.
Next, the process is a long one and make sure your surgeon does it in this manner to ensure best results. The tooth will need to be extracted and then there needs to be up to a six months wait before putting the posts in for the implant. This is especially important if you have any type of bone grafting or sinus lift (might be needed for a top molar). This give the bone time to heal and infuse property before implanting the post.
Your first surgery will be to take the tooth out. You’d be shocked how easily they come out! Treat yourself to “going under” if you are really uneasy. But honestly in a healthy tooth it really won’t be a big deal. A cracked tooth is still healthy. You don’t have an infection. You will be amazed how quickly the gum tissue will begin to fill in and heal. It is a very quick procedure to remove the tooth. If you go under that will take more time than the actual extraction.
The next step (many months later) will be to drill the posts into the bone. Nothin to it. I had this done with just novicane. It is so simple you will be amazed and I promise you it is pain free.
The last step 10-12 weeks later is to expose the posts, move gum tissue around and sort of "tweak the foundation (I don’t know how else to describe it) so the tooth can be attached to the post. Then you wait at leas two weeks, see your regular dentist for the big finish. Again, this is done with local and is quite simple. Its just a “procedure” and not surgery.
The whole process is amazing and the only downside is that it is a long process. Don’t worry about the length of time without the tooth. You really do get used to it. I promise you the pain and agony is virtually non-existent. There really is nothing to it. Just beware of any surgeon who wants to do this process quickly. To do it right, it takes a period of time. The other downside is that its very expensive.
My husband recently had an extraction followed by an implant. He worried about the implant procedure for months but it turned out to be easy (except on the bank account – our dental insurance isn’t particularly good).
I second the advice to go to an oral surgeon. They do this stuff for a living. And go NOW. Oral surgeons are exceedingly busy during the summer and during colleges’ winter breaks because that’s when young people get their wisdom teeth extracted. It’s much easier to get appointments at other times of the year. You can get your extraction done now (and you probably should because you don’t have an infection now but you are at risk of getting one, which just makes things more complicated). And you can probably get the implant done in the spring.
The only problem with oral surgeons is that these procedures are so routine for them that sometimes they forget how disconcerting they may be for the patient. You may have to make an effort to extract (sorry) the information you need about the procedure from the dentist.
As someone who has had more than her fair share of dental procedures, I can say that these days, there is no pain associated with anything. Someone remarked that the novocaine “shots” hurt. IMO, they hurt no more than your annual flu shot, and the pain lasts – really – all of one second. I’ve had cavities filled, crowns, posts placed, root canals, gum grafts, periodontal cleanings – all sorts of terribly expensive procedures. I haven’t had an implant (yet) because my periodontist is doing everything possible to avoid that, but I have had just about anything else one can imagine. I am not afraid of the pain, because I know there will be none.
I hope you get lots more posts on happy implant stories. My orthodontist just set up my consult for mine. Unfortunately I had ortho the first time in the late 1970’s and he pulled my 4 bicuspids, setting up a lifetime of bone and gum loss, narrowed airway, TMJ, etc.
I’m 52 and in braces and expander appliances again. I say I look “just like I’m 12, only this time with wrinkles!” The orthodontist has been able to get the space back for the upper bicuspids. He keeps telling this is good and better than anticipated. I’m withholding judgement until I have the implants!
Hoping I don’t have to have the bone grafts, but I’ve lost so much bone I won’t be surprised if I do. I won’t go so far as to say there’s NO pain with dentistry, but I do think it’s better than 20-30 years ago.
DH had a back molar taken out for the same reason. He decided to not an get implant. While the dentist is still saying he can do it, he has decided it’s just not necessary. This tooth was the back one though if it had been between 2 teeth he would have had it done.
I’ve never had implants, but I do know you don’t have to put up with pain. Go to a board-certified oral surgeon for this procedure and you will have access to a variety of pain and anxiety relief medications. My MIL gets a Valium prior to every dental procedure, and then whatever local anesthetic is necessary on top of that. Unless you have a history of addiction, don’t hesitate to ask for what you need!
I would get a second opinion. I have several “cracked molars.” One dentist told me it’s nothing unless it is causing pain. He said it is very common for molars to crack around fillings. I had one that was causing pain and I got a root canal and a crown. I was told the root canal was probably not even necessary, that the crown would have taken care of it, but the tooth hurt so much I wanted the root canal. The others are not causing pain and until they do I’m not planning on doing anything about it.
I have unfortunately needed a lot of dental work in recent years (due to dental phobia thanks to a family doctor who reminded me of Dr. Zell in “Marathon Man”). For me it mostly was about weird sensations, I had teeth extracted, had one crown replaced and another one done with a root canal, and when numbed it was mostly about the feeling of someone yanking and whatnot. For me the yuckiest part was the stuff they numb the gum with before the shot (they use a swab), it usually tastes crappy, and then the aftermath of the novocaine (I don’t react well to anasthetics in general). It isn’t painful, just a lot of sitting at weird angles and having someone poke and prod:). I do find it funny dentists love to talk to the patient who can’t respond, guess people who go to dental school are people who love to hear themselves talk:).
Cracked molars can be saved, cracked roots cannot be saved.
Regarding the process, there are advertisements for dentist who do all the work immediately so you are not toothless, that does not seem smart.
Our guy puts the implant into the jawbone immediately at extraction or later, depending on the specifics but when he can implant immediately, he likes that there is less trauma to the patient, digging around in there just once. It makes sense to me to let the bone grow strongly around the implant for months so that when you get the crown everything is strong.
DH said the shot area in the upper palate felt sore later that day, that was the only pain.
You need to deal with this situation ASAP. Cracked roots can become infections. Periodontal infections get into your bloodstream and cause heart valve infections that can permanently damage your heart. It's not just an inconvenience to have a bad tooth, you're risking your health. Particularly, if you've had a pustule, or the dentist sees infection on the radiograph...you need to act. At least get through the extraction stage. The rest can wait if you want, but getting the extraction done protects your health, and that's important.
I slipped on the ice and cracked the root of a very problematic tooth. I ended up with a pustule that turned into a tiny little drain hole. I thought it had healed, because it was causing me no pain, but the dentist showed me a magnified photo of this little pin hole in my gum leaking puss…yuck. He said I needed an implant. Irritated me, because I don’t like procedures, either…and my tooth seemed solid and didn’t hurt at all. He showed me statistics on heart valve issues and other systemic problems caused by blood borne infections from teeth…not good. My dentist is a family friend, he genuinely cares about me…so I know it was sincere information and his concern was real.
Get an experienced reputable periodontist/oral surgeon. Implants are all the rage and a lot of dental care providers are branching into them. Make sure you pick someone with credentials and a good reputation. Implants can and do fail...typically because the bone walls are not restored adequately before moving to the next step of the process. You need someone with experience who is going to make the best choices for you, not the quickest to get paid choices. My implant restoration took 11 months from extraction to cap. It's done right, looks and feels great.
Research the process. Get educated. Education helps with fears. A big thing to remember about implants is that they don't tolerate teeth grinding, and trauma as well as regular teeth. A tooth in a socket has ligaments that give and move a little....an implant is directly in your bone. If you crack it loose from the bone, you have a big problem. Teeth grinding needs to be dealt with, or it can cause your implant to fail. Don't use your implant to chew off a bottle cap, avoid blows to the face.....common sense stuff. They're not delicate and they typically last a lifetime, you don't have to baby them....but there are certain stresses you want to avoid.
If your anxiety is bad...talk about it. Ask your oral surgeon if you can take a Xanax or other med to help with anxiety. Why suffer if you don't have to? Get a friend to drive you. Moral support helps, too. Wear comfortable clothes. Bring music that relaxes you.
Gonna be really honest here. The day they do the extraction and the day they set the implant...hurt. Not during the procedure, they've gotten really really good at less painful injection techniques. The procedure is pretty painless. But when it wakes up, it's gonna sing pretty loud. Stay ahead of the pain! See if you can get your post surgical pain meds before your procedure, or on the way home from your procedure. Keep ice on your face for a couple hours. I was given Vicodin for the pain, and it worked well. I only had to take it for about 24 hours before I was comfortable again. Yes, there will be pain, but if you're smart about staying ahead of it and managing it...you will do just fine. Plan to come home after your procedure and take it easy. Take a nap. The pain doesn't last very long.
Follow your care instructions to the letter. No activies that get your blood pressure up for 48 hours after procedures. Follow oral cleaning instructions to the letter. If you're told to...take your calcium supplement. Good results depend on good compliance.
You can do this. It’s scary and expensive, and the whole drawn out process seems like a total pain…but I promise, the results are terrific. Will feel so good to have it behind you, and have a healthy terrific smile.
MaryGJ is right, music on an iPod or a audiobook are great for pretending all that is not happening to you
Regarding pain, for my DH extraction and implant only required Advil
