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Extraction of tooth

I was wondering if you can tell me if my tooth is infected, and where it has to be removed will the novocain work?
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228686 tn?1211554707
I don't think lidocaine will work either. It's not the type that's the issue, it's the infection creating the problem. If it's got "caine" on the end, the problem will still exist. Mind you, it won't KILL you to have a tooth extracted without Novocaine, it will just p*ss you off and hurt for a bit... :)

Also, you almost never need pain killers with dental work unless severe trauma from the dentist screwing up happens. I know it's hard to believe, but ibuprofen or the like works best. Perc's and the like can't really deal with the pain, they just make you somewhat numb to it. I used to get vic's all the time for dental work and one day I realized it didn't seem to help as well as the aspirin. Then again, the pain will be as bad as you make it out to be in part. So it's somewhat up to you and how you react to it.
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176495 tn?1301280412
Billstrong1969...thanks for that description...precisely why I go for the nitrous...I'd never survive that stuff.


Jim
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221913 tn?1372276661
Boy have I had my share of dental nightmares and proceedures.  First of all the response that one reader gave you above is absolutely correct; if it's infected it's called an abcess and that infection will have to be treated 1st before they can extract it.  Now ideally they would prescribe you an anti-biotic to get rid of the infection and then if it's a descent dentist they'll precribe you some pain killers to go with the anti-biotics with a refill to be filed after the tooth is extracted.  Usually Tylenol #3 w/codeine or Vicodin 500's. Now believe it or not I have had some dentist get very eager to pull the tooth knowing darn well that it's infected!  I'm not sure why this is, other than the risk of losing my business in case I go somewhere else?  I've had a molar pulled that was infected once and it was still infected, so when the gum tissue closed up it closed in the infection and the whole side of my face swelled up the size of an apple.  It was aweful!  Now had he have given me the antibiotic 1st to get rid of that infection instead of getting all up in a tizzy to pull it out right away that would not have happened.  Goodluck, and don't be afraid to ask for pain killers afterwards if you suspect that it might be sore in that area of the extraction.  And it will be if they had to wiggle pull, wiggle and pull, move and yank, push and pull, and wiggle and push, then finally a tugg, then a sudden yank.  It's going to be sore afterwards believe this.  Goodluck and remember that your teeth effect your over all health so if your teeth are unhealthy chances are that you may be as well.

billstrong1969
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Avatar universal
mosts dentists use lidocane now it works much better, so yes it will.......
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176495 tn?1301280412
somehow I skipped the infected part (must have been because I was trying to do some work stuff and watch baseball at the same time)..Yep, you need antibiotics
before anything.  

Jim
Helpful - 0
230262 tn?1316645934
Ive had several wisdom teeth pulled and 3 molars too, one was just about a month ago now. My infection wouldnt go away despite antibiotics and the novacaine did NOT WORK, it was awful! He did finally use a different way deep down at the root to finally get it partially numb and got it out. I also am a dental phobiac and it was terrible, but all my dental appts are, lol. ANyhow, get the tooth out -- keepign it in is just delaying your suffering, its not gonna get better on its own, trust me. Even the post extraction pain is not as severe as the toothache you have when it hurts from being infected and still sitting in your head rotting away.  (just try not to get dry socket, which i also always get, but Im a smoker). Good luck to you!
Helpful - 0
228686 tn?1211554707
If it's infected they WON'T take it out. They'll prescribe antibiotics first to knock out the infection. NO, the novocain WILL NOT WORK. So make sure you get the infection knocked out. My wife just went through a terrible experience where she had a two teeth pulled for replacement and they missed a small infection....so they had to finish despite the lack of novocaine not functioning.
Helpful - 0
176495 tn?1301280412
I have horrible teeth and have had to have a few removed.  Being an anti dentite to quote a seinfeld
episode, I opt for lots of novocaine and nitrous.  That's the only way they can stick all that junk in my mouth and start drilling around in there without me leaping out of the chair and commiting horrible violence on the poor dentist.  Advil or something similar should help with pain or if you must have something narcotic follow the dosage instructions or have someone hand them out to you on schedule.  When the pain is ultimately gone, flush what ever is left.

Jim
Helpful - 0
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