Extraction fear

[Ribbo]

I had a traumatic experience when I was a young child which left me with the fear of uncontrolled bleeding.  I have attempted to overcome this fear through therapy and work in medical and dental offices.  However, it returns to paralyze me at times.  I need a molar extracted due to an abcess and the fear of bleeding has returned. I have had extractions in the past and obviously I survived but the anxiety continues to be huge. In reality, what are the risks of uncontrolable bleeding from and extraction?  I am hoping that looking at this realistically will be helpful.

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

The risks of uncontrolled bleeding is very very rare.That being said it is something that I am sure you can deal with logically but emotionally is another story. I think you need to go to a very good oral surgeon who will sit down with you and be empathetic with your fears and explain that the extraction will be done with the least amount of trauma for you.

[siren of the sea]

if your not on blood thinners id say you shouldnt worry. there are dentists that use "sleep dentistry" that may make your experience more comfortable. hopefully you have discussed this with your dds and he/she has explained all and every possible thing that can happen. i was an rda for 16 years and the chances from what i experienced are not great at all. maybe they could give you a prescription for something to calm you prior to your appt to help you get through this. try not to worry (easier said than done i know). my specialty was assisting with patients that needed love and support from previous traumatic exp. dentistry has definatly changed in the years and i wish you the best of luck!

[Ribbo]

You are so right about emotionally being terrified. As a child I believed blood resulted in death and although I have realized as an adult that is child thinking...it is still there. I will speak to the surgeon about this thank you. Knowing it is rare is helpful too.

[siren of the sea]

if i can make one more suggestion. if your dds gives you an antibiotic prior to ext(not always needed) please take all of your Rx and see him as scheduled. it takes much more than bleeding from an extraction to be of concern. talk to him about what to do if bleeding is more excessive (biting on gauze or a tea bag will stop it) and possibly not do it on a friday as they wont be there on the weekend to answer your questions should you have any. you are going to get through this fine ok!

[Ribbo]

Thank you. I suspect I will need antibiotic since there is an abscess. I complained about pain following filling a year ago and he xrayed and found nothing.  Pain subsided but he exrayed this time and found it. Said I could consider root canal or extraction but feel extraction...although terrifies me...is the best route (pun not intended). Thanks for the input. I wish I could have overcome this anxiety but the amount of blood I saw as a child has never left my mind's eye.

[Ribbo]

Thank you. I suspect I will need antibiotic since there is an abscess. I complained about pain following filling a year ago and he xrayed and found nothing.  Pain subsided but he exrayed this time and found it. Said I could consider root canal or extraction but feel extraction...although terrifies me...is the best route (pun not intended). Thanks for the input. I wish I could have overcome this anxiety but the amount of blood I saw as a child has never left my mind's eye.

[2 Sensitive]

May I suggest that your oral surgeon stitch up the empty socket where the tooth was extacted to minimize bleeding..I remember having no bleeding at all from 3 wisdom tooth extactions because the sockets were all stitched up.