Does Tooth Extraction Hurt?

The pain involved in having a tooth extracted is one of the biggest concerns people have. While it is true that you will experience some discomfort, both during and following the tooth extraction port huron michigan process, the overall experience is very manageable. Best of all, there are several different ways to reduce your discomfort and make the tooth extraction process far less painful than it needs to be.

One of the ways procedural pain is reduced is through administration of a local anesthetic, which will numb the area that is being worked on. Most patients can be sufficiently numbed with two shots of anesthetic, though more may be necessary for patients with extreme sensitivity. You will experience some mild pressure while the local anesthetic is being administered, but the discomfort is minimal and momentary.

For patients with extreme sensitivity or who have significant anxiety about having this procedure performed, dental sedation is also available. Dental sedation can be administered two different ways, oral sedation, which is typically taken one hour prior to your procedure and will put you in a more relaxed state, or conscious sedation administered through an IV.

Once the anesthetic and/or sedation is administered and you are numb and comfortable, your periodontist will begin by detaching the gum tissue around the tooth. This will be a gradual process, with only small amounts taken initially to ensure the anesthetic/sedation is working and to preserve the aesthetic appearance of your smile. Once ready, the tooth is extracted using an elevator and forceps.

Aftercare Instructions  

Following the extraction of a tooth, it is important to closely follow any aftercare instructions that are provided to you to ensure that you have a fast recovery that is free of complications. The healing process following a tooth extraction will generally take three to four weeks to completely heal. How long the healing process will take will largely depend on factors such as your body’s natural healing ability, the size of the wound, the difficulty in extracting the tooth, and the underlying reason for needing to having a tooth extracted (preventing crowding, infection, trauma, etc). Your level of self-care, age, and lifestyle habits will also play contributing roles in how quickly you heal following the extraction of your tooth.

Discomfort or pain around the extraction site will begin to fade as the healing process progresses, but it will remain tender to the touch for some time. If you are given a prescription for painkillers, be sure to take the prescribed dosage until complete. Otherwise, over-the counter pain relieving medications are usually sufficient at managing the pain. Mild bleeding following the procedure is also common, but should stop within three or four hours, during which gauze can be used to manage the bleeding. If bleeding continues after 24 hours, contact your periodontist.

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