[Chocaholic]

Thanks again to those who offered advice (and moral support). Perio used conscious sedation and novacaine, and I'm glad. Seems it took about 2 hours (!) to remove the tooth. He said it broke apart and was quite a challenge to completely remove...and I felt nothing. Woke up a few times during the tug-of-war but they knocked me back, probably to shut me up. Hurt like hell after the nova wore off at home. Endocet didn't help much.

Was packed with "graft substrate" and stitched up. Feel like I lost a fight with Mike Tyson. Cheek all swollen, jaw sore, etc. Actually, the tooth immediately adjacent is also sore when I press it with my tongue. I'm guessing it took a beating during the extraction. I suspect (hope) that as bone fills in and things heal, it will stabilize. Thoughts?

The event was about 30 hours ago and I'm certainly feeling better. Occasional Ibuprofen is all that is needed. Living on soup, yogurt and amoxicillin until things heal a bit more. Still look like Marlon Brando in the Godfather on my left side, but it seems to be slowly going down.

Will see how life is without ol #19 before deciding if an implant is in the cards. Looking forward to being healed and back to abnormal!

Thanks again!