I don’t know what to do. I went in for a tooth extraction. I was nervous enough going in, but things went from bad to worse when it took an overabundance of shots to get me numb. I stopped counting at ten and could do nothing but cry. Now, It has been over five days since and there is a sharp bone-like thing which is making my life miserable. Did my dentist do something wrong?
Mary
Dear Mary,
I feel fairly certain that you had trouble getting numb because of the anxiety you felt. This is not your fault. I wish more dentists understood the impact anxiety has on numbing medication. Anxiety raises your metabolism which in turn will burn off the medication too quickly for it to remain effective.
As for the sharp bone you’re feeling, it is fairly common for there to be sharp edges after an extraction. You wouldn’t notice it at first because of the swelling of your gums. However, as the swelling in your gums reduces, it would become more prevalent. As it is a problem for you, your dentist can easily smooth it over or clip it.
While I don’t think your dentist did anything incorrectly, I think you would be better served with a dentist more compatible with your specific needs. The dentist you currently have either doesn’t understand dental anxiety or doesn’t have the means to deal with it.
In your place, I’d look for a sedation dentist. They will have nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, or both. These will settle your anxiety and allow you to be at peace during your procedure.
This blog is brought to you by Libertyville Dentist Dr. David Potts.