Wisdom tooth.

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Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 2:09 am

About a year ago, My final wisdom tooth decided to poke it's head up but didn't come all the way through. I went to the dentist, who X-rayed it and said it was impacted and
I should have it out. He gave me some anti biotics for a small infection in it. I refuse to have it out without a general anesthetic as I am a proper girl. The cost for this is $2,500. Shocked

Obviously, I don't have that kind of money!

Anyway, the anti biotics worked and it's not really bothered me since.
Until now.

It's killing me!!! I also have a lump on the side of it which really hurts. Another infection I presume! As I still don't have the money to go get it whipped out, I was wondering if you guys know of anything to help with toothache?
It's putting me in a really bad mood and I don't want to start taking painkillers like lollies!!

I heard clove oil might be good. Anyone tried it?

(If all else fails, I s'pose wine will help...)

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 2:18 am

Dormicum

You're out, but you're not. Costs about $30 extra.

I don't know what it's called in the States, but they *have* to have an equivalent.

Christ, for $2500 you can come here and have it taken out.

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 2:28 am

^^^Exactly!!

I'm not in the States, Im in NZ.

Also, as it's Sunday, can't do anything till tomorrow anyway, was just wondering if someone knew anything that could give even just a bit of relief Sad

Hubby says a hammer works really well...

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 2:32 am

^^^^ Use substitute medicine: hit your thumb with a hammer and you'll forget the tooth. Cool

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 2:38 am

There is NOTHING worse then toothache. If you explain the problem a pharmacist might give you some codeine or something?

Longer term I'm afraid the problem isn't going to disappear. If you have a deep rooted infection in the tooth/jaw then your only choice is to have it out. I had a widsom tooth out with local anaesthetic and didn't feel a thing - honest - although the sound effects were a little startling! It was a bit painful afterwards (as it would be with surgery) but nothing some pain meds couldn't fix.

Given the choice I'd probably go for general anaesthetic, but if you can't afford it the alternative isn't as gruesome as some would have you believe.

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 2:41 am

Hydrocodone!!! Works miracles for every injury I ever had...

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 3:07 am

Holy crap, 2500 for one tooth!?

I had mine taken care of (in the states) a few years back for about $400 (I had insurance, so I don't know if that's the difference). I did all 4 at once. No way was I gonna do two and come back in a couple weeks. They knocked my a$$ out (local wasn't good enough for me Wink

).

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 3:24 am

One year ago, I had one thoroughly rotten lower-right-molar extracted, the lower-left-molar a root canal, and both lower wisdom teeth removed all in a 4 hour sitting. I had this procedure done in a large Mexican city along the U.S./Mexico border and all four procedures were done with copious amounts of local anesthetics (using an old-style syringe and plunger). The total cost of the four was only 9500 Mexican Pesos (about US$922) in all! Add to that about 200 MXP (US$18.29) worth of 500mg Ketorolac, 500mg Ibuprofen, and Erythromycin, and it surely beats the hell in terms of price of any dentist across the border in the U.S.

I had no medical/dental coverage at the time (as I was still a poor college student), but many of my college friends from places like New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Saudia Arabia, and even one from France thanked me for pointing out the clinic to them to augment their heavy drinking-and-partying habits. Laughing

One thing that you may want consider is the fact that any tooth infection can spread like other infections. And any such spread can possibly spread to your brains. If such were to happen, you would have a real life or death medical emergency on hand. Shocked

Anyhow, if you fancy a trip to the U.S./Mexico border region, call 'em: +52 656 632 1504 or 1505.

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 3:27 am

When I first came to NZ, I got private medical insurance that covered everything, except dental. That was extra. Seeing as I've never really had that much of a problem with my teeth, I didn't bother with the dental. Crying or Very sad

@Gnasher - You are the first person I've heard say it wasn't that bad with a local. My sis had hers out years ago and gave me a horror atory that's stayed with me! Something about the dentist just about sitting on her chest and pulling her tooth with pliers!!

The two things I've always shivered over anyone going near are eyes and teeth!

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 3:37 am

That is precisely why I didn't want a local. I was told since all 4 of mine were impacted, they would need to use pliers to crack them (and whatever else they did). No way would I want to be awake for that. Counting backwards, I don't think I even hit 7. Back at work the next day.

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 3:46 am

Good luck, girlfriend! Sad

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 3:53 am

If the pain is actually in the tooth, then oil of clove can give you some relief. If the pain is from the infection/swelling of the gums, then try a saltwater rinse. Mix salt with water, until it is as salty as you can stand it. Rinse/gargle with this mixture about every fifteen minutes. The salt water will not only reduce the swelling, but will actually help to kill the infection.
This has woked very well for me in the past.

419Eater Admin Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 7469

Alcathiax wrote:

One thing that you may want consider is the fact that any tooth infection can spread like other infections. And any such spread can possibly spread to your brains. If such were to happen, you would have a real life or death medical emergency on hand.

Thanks for scaring the shit out of me Alcathiax! I had a real bad toothache about 6 weeks ago. There's nothing worse. I'd rather pass a bowling ball through my penis than have toothache. Fortunately for me, my dentist pulled the little bugger out for a little over �60. If I was asked to pay $2,500 for a tooth job I'd probably faint (it would save on the anaesthetic).

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 18313

I've heard of Clove Oil working, it's supposed to have a numbing effect.
Also, once when I had an infected tooth that affected more than just the tooth, I held a hot pack on the outside of my face/neck and it seemed to make it feel better. I don't know if it's clinically accurate though.

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:52 am

it wasn't me wrote:

@Gnasher - You are the first person I've heard say it wasn't that bad with a local. My sis had hers out years ago and gave me a horror atory that's stayed with me! Something about the dentist just about sitting on her chest and pulling her tooth with pliers!!

Everyone just loves to tell their dental horror story, it runs a close second to childbirth horror stories.

Like I say, it wasn't exactly enjoyable but neither did it involve the excruciating pain and trauma that people talk about. It took about 10 minutes for the novocaine to kick in and about 2 minutes to get the tooth out. So no, it wasn't that bad really. I have 3 more wisdom teeth that the dentist is nagging me to have out but none of them are giving me any problems (yet) and certainly no infections or other complications so I'm leaving them be. If and when they become a problem I will obviously have them out but it will be all of them and probably by a surgeon.

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 7:00 am

I had three wisdom teeth removed with a local only. I really wasn�t bad at all. It sounded painful but that�s about it. The last one was impacted enough that the dentist said I could have it removed under general if I wanted. I chose a local and he removed it that day. He did seem to have a bit of a problem and said �oops� while banging and pulling on it (which in no way freaked me out I assure you) but he got it out.

If I had or could choose between a general and local I would choose a local. Not only is it cheaper but much less inconvenient. The only thing I would do different is I would have asked if I could listen to an MP3 player to reduce/obscure the noise.

For nerves ask if he will give you a little Versed (Midazolam) to take the edge off. They gave my kid that when he had some work done to the back of his front teeth. They gave me the same stuff at the ER when I had a dislocated elbow reduced. After being shot up with that stuff you aren�t nervous about anything.

** ACCOUNT CLOSED ** Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 766

Osteomyelitis of the jaw is a bad thing.

Aside from the disfigurement, the additional $$$--or is it beads that they use down there for barter?--there is the possibility of worse repercussions:

Have someone look at it who can recognize an infection.

As for the rest, agree with local. One of the few times you can be legally "high."

--J. "Come On! Get Down with the Sickness!" D.

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:03 am

Alcathiax wrote:

One thing that you may want consider is the fact that any tooth infection can spread like other infections. And any such spread can possibly spread to your brains.

That could explain alot about me...

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:38 am

It wasn't me, have a good chat with your dentist. As Gnasher pointed out before, people love horror stories. A story like: well, I had a local and didn't feel anything, mouth was a little sore the next day, but with a simple painkiller got through the day alright and I am fine now..................they just don't SWING at parties. Not to say that none of the horror stories are not true, but if it is that bad 99 out of 100 times, they would have stopped doing it the way they do it, right? Seriously, you may be driving yourself batty with concern, when it is not necessary. Maybe your dentist has an alternative, or maybe get a second opinion from another dentist.

As for the pain at the moment - drop into your local pharmacy or go to the GP on duty for the weekend, whatever is common in NZ. You can get some painkillers to get through the weekend.

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 11:03 am

I had 4 teeth taken out in my teens when I got braces, because of over-crowding in my mouth. The worst part is obviously the needle going in your mouth, but if you close your eyes it's really not greatly more pain than stubbing your toe, or burning yourself on the stove, which we all do occasionally.

It's effectively the same as when you get a filling, just they rip your tooth out with pliers, there's a bit of blood, but nothing too dramatic. Laughing

But seriously, $2500 is NASTY for that kind of seemingly simple job.

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 11:12 am

^I think that enormous amount of money is just for the full anesthetic. I am sure that a local is not that expensive. Remember: IWM would have to be in the hospital, get a person to put her out (full requires a bit more than a dentist putting a needle in your mouth), and actually having surgery. It would no longer be something that can be done in just half an hour at the dentist office.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Quote:

The two things I've always shivered over anyone going near are eyes and teeth!

I'll add a third. I just turned 40 and the good Doctor advised me that I will be enjoying a colonoscopy soon.

Good luck with the tooth, I have had some killer toothaches in the past and I feel your pain.

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 12:27 pm

Colonoscopy? I've had several (family history of colon cancer). You won't know anything about it. PM me for reassurance and get over the freak out factor of something going up THERE. It might save your life Laughing

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

I had two impacted wisdom teeth taken out with a local anaesthetic. I'd lived with them for years no problem but they started getting infections so dentist said they had to go
Wasn't too bad but did hurt in the days after as the stiched pulled a bit.
Didn't cost me anything as I'd a child under a year old so was free on the NHS ( hurrah)
Try ibuprofen or a ibuprofen codeine mix for the pain.
Clove oil helps numb the gum
Bonjella rubbed on the gum might help
Salty mouth washes may help with infected gums as amy heat packs
Nothing worse than toothache.
My sympathies

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 12:49 pm

persephone wrote:

^I think that enormous amount of money is just for the full anesthetic.

My brother is a consultant anaesthetist and he's doing VERY nicely thank you. You could have a team of the best surgeons in the world, but without the gasman the operation doesn't happen. So they charge accordingly Mad

This is why I take pleasure in having medical proceedures done WITHOUT having to pay an anaesthetist - and yes, my bro would charge his standard rate. He has an ex-wife and 4 kids in private school to support Laughing