"A lot happier only half an hour after arriving"

I have been on the waiting list for wisdom teeth removal for over a year, but last month a molar in front of the wisdom tooth became infected. My dentist advised me to contact Edinburgh dental institute to see if my extraction could be done quickly and also to remove the infected molar too. When they saw I was in pain they quickly arranged an appointment the following day, giving me the slot freed up by a recent cancellation. The staff at reception were really helpful and kind. 

When I came for the extraction appointment I was still in pain but really happy that it was going to get sorted quick! The surgeon and assistant were very thoughtful, talking me through the process and making sure I understood the risks (but also taking the time to tell me the reasons why I was unlikely to develop complications as the x-ray showed my nerves are safely out of the way of the extraction site). They agreed to remove the extra molar and told me that if I had not requested it they would be advising me to do it anyway as the x-rays from my appointment a year earlier clearly showed the molar was damaged beneath the gum line and was not long term viable.

After talking me through, the surgeon and assistant did a kind of cross check on a white board, making sure both of them had the same understanding of the issue and the plan for extraction. It felt very professional and I was reassured that they were operating as a team and also making sure no mistakes are made!

My face was really swollen and my jaw wasn't opening properly which added to the difficulty of the operation. The surgeon said that to ensure I was anaesthetised fully she would like to give me multiple injections, and that this would be the most painful part of the operation but would make sure I didn't feel the main event. I agreed and the injections were not as bad as I feared. 

30 seconds later I could not feel a thing as they opened up my swellings to let some pus out, washed out the site and extracted my impacted wisdom tooth and the infected molar. The actual extraction process was super quick and I didn't even realise they had completed the process it was so fast.

They gave me some loose stitches and explained that as I was so swollen to start with I should expect blood and pus in my saliva for a few days at least after the operation. They encouraged me to not smoke or drink alcohol for a while and gave me info on NHS resources for stopping smoking. 

The whole extraction appointment took about 30mins start to finish.

I know the NHS is under a lot of pressure so I was happy enough being on the long waiting list when I was not in pain, but when I was in pain and went in to see them they were very efficient at getting me treatment really quickly. The treatment itself was fast and painless, and I felt in very good hands throughout the process. 

If anyone reading this is afraid of getting dental treatment I can confirm that they are very gentle and considerate, and you will probably be a lot happier only half an hour after arriving. 

I will be having a follow up appointment to remove another 2 teeth from the other side of my mouth in about 6 weeks, and now I know exactly what to expect I am not worried about it at all, despite me being a massive coward when it comes to needles and pain.

Great work, well done Edinburgh dental institute!