The prospect of getting a tooth pulled is scary enough to keep some people away from the dentist altogether. After all, it must be incredibly painful, right?
The truth is that tooth extraction doesn’t hurt nearly as much as people think it does. While it’s not a pain-free procedure, it’s nothing to be scared of. Let’s take a closer look at some of the things your dentist will do to make your tooth extraction more comfortable for you.
Why Teeth May Need to Be Pulled
Having a tooth pulled is a highly invasive procedure that permanently changes your body. It’s not a treatment dentists recommend lightly, but sometimes it’s the best way to deal with the problem at hand.
We might recommend extraction if:
- Your tooth is cracked or broken below the gumline
- Your tooth is heavily decayed
- You have extensive gum disease
- You don’t have enough bone left under your tooth to support it
Extraction is also a cheaper alternative to more expensive treatment options like crowns. If you can’t afford to crown a tooth that’s causing you pain or may get infected, it might be best to get it pulled instead.
So How Much Pain Will You Feel?
You won’t feel any pain during your tooth extraction if you are put under general anesthesia. However, this type of pain management is very risky compared to safer alternatives – especially for patients with certain health conditions.
Instead, you’ll usually be given a local anesthetic before the procedure. Your dentist will numb your gums with a numbing gel, then inject a strong but controlled dose of anesthetic right near the extraction site. This option is slightly less potent but much safer. You’ll still feel pressure and some slight discomfort while your dentist is working, but you should feel very little pain.
If you’re still nervous about getting your tooth pulled, your dentist may also offer you an oral sedative or nitrous oxide sedation to help with the anxiety. This won’t directly reduce your pain, but it will calm you down and make you less aware of what’s going on.
Post-Appointment Pain Management
After your appointment, you’ll need to take oral painkillers prescribed by your dentist. These will get you through the first few days without too much discomfort. By the time you run out, the pain should be nearly gone. You’ll still feel some aches and twinges as your body heals the extraction site, but you shouldn’t need anything more powerful than over-the-counter pain medication to manage them.
If the pain from a tooth extraction doesn’t go away in a few days, you may be experiencing complications. See your dentist right away to get the extraction site checked out and receive further treatment.
Visit Us for (Almost!) Pain-Free Tooth Extraction
Getting a tooth pulled doesn’t have to be a painful experience, and our team here at Ouellette Family Dentistry will be glad to show you so. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and see why our patients trust us to put their health and comfort first.
