WHEW! It's over. The tooth extraction went fine.

[Lil Missy]

The extraction went so fast I didn't realize it was over till he moved away. Is it done already, I asked? Yep!

I'm still numb so feeling no pain. Waiting on the Novocain took longer than the extraction did. I am SO relieved this is over.

I have pain pills for a couple days but haven't needed any yet. My face on the left side is pretty swollen, but that's temporary.

It's OVER! I SURVIVED!!!!

Thanks everyone that offered support in the previous thread. This infection has finally been put to rest.

Here is the previous thread.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018563402

[Scuba]

1. Told ya!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Yay! I'm glad for you!

[mnhtnbb]

3. Did the dentist give you instructions to ice it?

The oral surgeon suggested ibuprofen--to reduce inflammation--and ice every
20 minutes when I had my infected, previously root canal tooth extracted. I used a small ziploc of frozen corn. Worked great. I only used pain pills at night so I could sleep.

[Lil Missy]

4. Yes, cold packs 15 minutes at a time.

I'm taking Ibuprofen now but have pain pills for if I need them.

[dawg]

5. I know you must feel relieved.

I had one taken out a couple of years ago, and dreading it was the worst part. (Although the actual extraction wasn't exactly fun either - it was like pulling teeth!)

[TorchTheWitch]

6. told ya. haha!

The first one of mine I had pulled I said the same thing because it went so fast... "is it done already?"

Take the gauze out soon and let it bleed freely so it clots up good. Chomping on the gauze all day until it's totally done bleeding can pull out the clot when you take it out finally or encourage it to not clot well at all so it just keeps bleeding into the gauze. I think that's how I got my two dry sockets - biting on the gauze for hours and hours until it was totally done bleeding so it never formed a good clot or I pulled it out when I finally took the gauze out. Don't chew food on that side for today and tonight at least unless it's soft foods for the same reason.

The two dry sockets I got were both in canine teeth with the longggggg roots, and I bit on the gauze until they were done bleeding - a good 10 hours or more. For today and tonight if you get through fine with no pain then you should be ok for not getting a dry socket as long as you don't do any kind of sucking like smoking or drinking through a straw for several days. It's that sucking through your mouth that can pull out the clot after it forms, but leaving off the gauze after a few hours to make sure that one forms and doesn't get pulled out when you take the gauze out or it just never forms one to begin with because of bleeding everything into the gauze is probably more important.

The last teeth I had pulled I had to get four pulled in one session for my dentures. I had the surgeon put in stitches so I wouldn't get a dry socket. I don't know why that isn't standard for having a tooth pulled anyway. It should be. I don't think they personal know how horribly agonizing a dry socket is. Just putting in one good stitch to close the hole in the gum up will keep you from getting a dry socket, and after getting a dry socket twice before I'd pay ANYTHING for that one stitch.

Glad you got through it fine, and you won't be so scared if you ever have to have it done again.

[In_The_Wind]

7. Told you not to worry.

[Lil Missy]

8. UPDATE: Now I have my answer ..... "Is a tooth extraction more painful than a root canal?"

It has been 11 hours since my tooth was extracted .... I'm having NO. PAIN. WHATSOEVER. NONE!!!

There's *some* swelling, but this swelling isn't even close to what it was when I first started with the antibiotic for the abscess. And again when the infection broke through to my gums and wouldn't pop open - I had to go to ER to have it cut so it could drain, and that got all swelled up.

Tonight I'm feeling like a million bucks! No tooth. No pain. No problem!

[TorchTheWitch]

10. Awesome!

I knew you would. After the first bad tooth I had pulled I spent days kicking my own butt for all the misery I put myself through just putting off doing it because I was so anxious about having to have it done. Having a bad tooth pulled out is like instant relief. Like you said... no tooth, no pain, no problem.


The swelling should go away now really fast. A nice frozen bag of peas on your face will work wonders for that and get rid of any residual soreness, too.

Don't you just want to run through the neighborhood shouting "I FEEL FABULOUS!!!" now? I know that feeling very well myself.

[Lil Missy]

11. Yes I do feel very energized!

I don't know about running through the neighborhood, lol. But I am jumping up and down doing a lot of little things around the house that got put off when I was feeling so punk. I have a couple bags ready for the Salvation Army and soda bottles loaded in the car for returning tomorrow. I'm also doing some laundry and working on a 1000 piece puzzle!

I could have worked today. I do go back to work tomorrow, and I'm feeling great!

[rurallib]

9. O What A Feelin'!

[Lil Missy]

12. I'll dance tomorrow!!

The song is how I feel, but I don't want to overdo and loosen the blood clot. I'm following instructions to prevent dry socket!

neighbor

[840high]

13. Told 'ya. Glad it's over.