trying to decide which hurts worse -

[Strings]

Having dealt with extremely bad teeth, I feel for you. I had several abceses when they were finally pulled.

I still remember calling the dentist's office to make an appointment, and telling the receptionist that the pain was at "eat a bullet" level...

[Monkeyleg]

I have terrible teeth. There's a few gone now, and more that should be gone. Maybe 20-24 or so are in decent shape.

The odd thing is that I've rarely experienced pain. By the time the tooth is bad enough to require attention, the nerves have died.

The most unpleasant procedure was the extraction of a molar. The tooth cracked off, leaving roots deep into my jaw. The surgeon had to crack the roots with a pliers. The noise was awful.

[gunsmith]

I have terrible teeth. There's a few gone now, and more that should be gone. Maybe 20-24 or so are in decent shape.

The odd thing is that I've rarely experienced pain. By the time the tooth is bad enough to require attention, the nerves have died.

The most unpleasant procedure was the extraction of a molar. The tooth cracked off, leaving roots deep into my jaw. The surgeon had to crack the roots with a pliers. The noise was awful.

same here, if I avoid soda then I hardly ever have bad toothaches, last yr I moved into a household that has a lot of soda and paid a terribly painful price-now I avoid it ...

[HeroHog]

While in the Navy I was once sent out to sea with a ½ finished root canal... that's right. the roots were drilled but not filled! SURPRISE! They got infected! That was a full 2 weeks of screaming pain with no real relief until we hit port...

[AmbulanceDriver]

Having had both tooth problems and kidney stones....  I'll take a bullet to the brain pan, thanks....  

But yes.  Narcotic painkillers take it down to, "Just beat me over the head please..."