Goodbye Errant Tooth

[MichaelJH]

Some of you may recall I got my "Fitness for Surgery" about a month ago. Just over two weeks ago a tooth flared up. My dentist referred me to a dental clinic for extraction (this seems an increasingly common practice these days). I think it was infected and my dentist felt it was only inflamed. After what seemed a long wait it was extracted yesterday. It was not a pleasant experience, although the staff were wonderful, as the tooth disintegrated and it took 40 minutes to complete. Today I am feeling quite battered (it is stitched and slightly swollen) and tired. If all goes well I will get my "Fitness for Surgery" back in about ten days.

As an aside it was the only 'gold tooth' I have ever had done. I still have the gold bit - does anybody know if it is worth anything?

[IanGordon]

Hi MichaelJH. I've had my precautionary dental check and move forward to my pre op appointment next week with AVR surgery just a few weeks away now.No dentistry required but advised to ramp up the use of antibacterial mouthwash to reduce bacteria and likelihood of infection. Seems sensible. With the price of supplements, I could have done with a gold strike like yours although probably not heavy enough to register on the scales! Barring further infection you should get your Fitness for Surgery badge and soon be on your way. Wishing you good luck.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to IanGordon]

Thanks Ian. The mouthwash seems a good idea - will look out for it later. I do the shopping late Saturday to avoid the rubbish on TV! It's all very sore today (the teeth adjoin the gap being very sensitive) but I think I reduced the painkillers to quickly - I was told it would be 7 - 10 days before it fully settled...

[IanGordon in reply to MichaelJH]

Just look upon it as a rehearsal for dealing with the discomfort of the forthcoming main event! Seriously though, good luck with the 4x CABG.Recently heard a paramedic on TV refer to it as "cabbage". Professional shorthand , I guess.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to IanGordon]

I rehearsed for it thirty years ago when a car fell on me breaking and cracking ribs on the right, and also displacing my breastbone! Ouch!!! It took three months before I could raise my arm above shoulder level. One person said after CABG he felt as if "Big Daddy" has subjected him to the "belly splash".

[Hidden in reply to MichaelJH]

Mouthwash is not a good idea for a recently extracted tooth - your densal surgery hospital should have advised you to wash mouth with a warm salt wash for as long as you think fit - at least a week.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Hidden]

I used warm salty water after extraction until I had completed the course of antibiotics finally prescribed two weeks after extraction. The antibacterial wash was only used for five days before surgery to reduce infection risk.

[Nettyanne]

Hi Michael, glad you have got rid of the problem tooth. I should be having my MVR on Tues 17th Apr and I have been using Oraldene mouthwash as a precaution for the last week.

Hope your pain is soon under control and you are soon "fit for surgery ".

Best wishes

[jimmyq]

I had my 4 cabbages in June 1997 and went back to work in the November. By September I was feeling so good that I thought I would be going back to work. Doctor said "Not yet". So, bottom line, it took a few months to get better but when I did I felt great. Good luck guys!

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

I was back at the dentist today. The stitches had not dissolved as expected and were taken out. Whilst healing slowly the area is still very inflamed and painful. A "no" again to antibiotics. So "Fitness for Surgery" is still a week or more off!

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

So today I was given a course of antibiotics. I will not comment further!

P.S. This was the first visit I did not ask for them.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Finally I have been able to reduce the painkillers by half. Staggering the issues one tooth can cause!

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Just an update. I am now due for a six-month check-up. When I tried to make an appointment I found out my dentist had been sacked by the practice (I saw them for the first time in the run up to "Fitness for Surgery". I have never heard of this happening before and do not know the reason. However, when I think of the pain I suffered for weeks I cannot say that I will miss them!

[Speakeazi in reply to MichaelJH]

The dentist is still responsible for the treatment you had. Regardless if they were under an FTP process.

Contact the GDC if you want any sort of redress.

I do hope you find a better dentist and you haven’t lost all faith in the profession.

[Hedgehoglady07]

Sorry to hear about the problems with the dentist. I lost two when I had endocarditis recently, one of which was a badly fitted crown done 13 months previously. It was part of the reason I got the gum infection which kicked if the infection together with the but of Walkers Crisp that got stuck in it. 😡 would like to take it further but I have a similar situation as the dentist us no longer with the practice.

[Speakeazi in reply to Hedgehoglady07]

Hello. If you feel that a dentist has let you down or that treatment has caused a problem, you can contact them directly or speak to the GDC as to how to find her/him.

Treatment is usually the responsibility of each dentist not the practice.

Dentists should all carry indemnity policies which stay active even on retirement.

Take care

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Speakeazi]

Thank you for the information. I now suspect there were some issues before I got the original sign off for surgery. At the moment I will not say more in case I decide to seek compensation for malpractice!