My wisdom teeth have started to make my other teeth shift. I really don’t like going to the dentist, so I read about what to do on the Internet and decided to start pulling the teeth myself. I started with the bottom left tooth. I found some dental tools online and used one that looks similar to pliers. The tooth broke before I could get a good grip on it, so I didn’t really get to pull it out. Most of the tooth is left. Now I am scared to keep going. The tooth is starting to hurt. Now I figure that I should see a dentist, but I don’t know how to tell a dentist that I was trying to pull out my own wisdom teeth. Is it possible that if I do nothing the tooth will be okay? Syl
Syl – It is best to see a dentist right away. You may have damaged the wisdom tooth roots or nearby teeth. A dentist who accepts emergency visits has scheduled time in his or her daily schedule to examine and treat urgent dental issues.
What Will an Emergency Dentist Do?
- An emergency dentist will numb the area around the wisdom tooth and relieve the pain.
- He or she will examine your tooth and x-ray it for its overall condition and for signs of trauma. It is possible that the adjacent teeth were damaged while trying to extract the wisdom tooth. So those teeth will also be examined for signs of trauma.
- When there are problems with a wisdom tooth, it may be difficult to extract. If so, you will be referred to an oral surgeon for the extraction. Your remaining wisdom teeth will also be examined to determine their condition, their effect on your other teeth, and whether or not they need to be extracted.
Although you’re hesitant about visiting a dentist and explaining what happened, it’s best to seek care right away.
This post is sponsored by David Potts, DDS of Lake County Family Dental Care in Libertyville, IL.