These nightmare cases exist but thankfully are relatively rare.
I recall a coworker telling me about his wisdom teeth removal--right before I was to get mine removed. He apparently woke up with an incredibly sore chest--and he was one of those rare ones who got the nerve nicked from pulling the tooth. Years went by and one day he saw one of the assistants in a store or something. Once she recognized him she was quite flustered, but finally spilled the beans. His chest had hurt so much because the surgeon(?) had climbed onto his chest in order to get enough leverage to yank on the tooth.
Thankfully all I had was one dry socket... although I still have fears about being put out again, and have been putting off colonoscopy the last couple of years.
Anyhow. I just want to say, you guys have gotten really good with numbing up teeth for drilling. [Although sometimes I think you guys must be running a tap in afterwards, for all the work it takes.] What it was like 30 years ago is not what it is like today. Solid thumbs up.
I'm young but surprised hearing how many have implants on here...outside of trauma cases is this due to improper care over many years? Genuine question. My parents nor grandparents have needed dental work so is part of this genetic?
No idea, but I recall my grandparents stating that they had all of their teeth pulled and just lived with their dentures left in around the clock. My father has had a good portion of teeth pulled, but, he has had some heart problems and medications can change saliva in the mouth and that can change tooth health (in my case of my dad, I think years of not having insurance did not help).
No implants for me, a number of cavities when younger, but things have settled--but I can tell that over the years that my teeth have gotten rather translucent, and I fear breaking a tooth on something hard more than when I was younger. Waiting to see if dad's problems trickle down to me. I've heard from two dentists differing opinions on the concept of "soft" teeth.
Interesting that implants are "that good". Will file away for the (hopefully far away and distant) future.