I had four tooth extractions to make room for braces. Unfortunately, he left one of the roots and said it would fall out on its own. I got nervous about this and got a second opinion. That dentist thought the root should be removed. He also said that it would not fall out on it’s own. However, he did tell me that it is right next to a nerve and that comes with risk. I am already terrified of the dentist. Even getting those extractions had me a wreck for weeks with my anxiety. Now, I have to worry about doing this again and worry about facial paralysis. Is it worth getting this root out? It’s a back tooth so maybe it’s okay to just leave it there?
Adina
Dear Adina,
I’m glad you wrote. You’ve probably guessed that your original dentist was incorrect and the root will not fall out on it’s own. If it was a small root, or rather a root tip, there may be no problem with leaving it in. However, this sounds like it is from a back molar and you will want to remove it.
As for the nerve, if this is for a lower premolar, they are near a nerve that comes out of the bone, known as the mental foramen. With adequate x-rays, it is very easy to see and can be avoided surgically. Even if this were clipped, it would cause lack of sensation to the lip or chin, but not paralysis. Dentists tend to be afraid of lawsuits so they tend to over exaggerate risks to protect themselves. That doesn’t mean there is no risk, just that the danger is probably not as high as he made it sound.
I’d also like to address your dental anxiety. It is fairly common for people to be afraid of the dentist. For some, that anxiety can be debilitating. I would like to suggest you see a sedation dentist. They can give you a medication to take before your appointment which will completely relax you for your dental procedure. This has changed the lives of people with anxiety and enabled them to get the oral care they’ve needed without the fear they’ve always experienced.
This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.
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