Even if you know that a tooth extraction is necessary to protect the rest of your smile, you may still have some reservations about the treatment. Fortunately, there’s no need to worry; your dentist will do everything they can to keep you as comfortable as possible during each part of the procedure. To help you prepare for your upcoming tooth extraction, here’s a look at the steps involved and what you can expect to feel during them.
Step 1: Numbing Your Mouth for Your Comfort
To prepare your mouth for a tooth extraction, your dentist will administer a local anesthetic. Within minutes, the intended treatment site will be numbed. This will help ensure that you don’t experience any discomfort during the actual extraction process. Before moving on to the next step, your dentist may test the area to confirm that the anesthetic has successfully taken effect.
Step 2: Extracting the Tooth
A special instrument known as a dental elevator will be used to gently rock the tooth back and forth in order to loosen it. Eventually, the tooth will reach the point where it can be taken out with forceps. During the removal process, your dentist will be very gentle in order to avoid unnecessary damage to the tissues around the tooth in question.
Note that if your tooth is partially or fully trapped under the gums, a surgical extraction may be required. This typically involves making an incision in the gum tissue so that the tooth can be accessed. In some cases, the tooth will need to be divided into separate pieces that can be taken out separately.
While your tooth is being extracted, you may notice some pressure as well as a pulling sensation. However, thanks to the local anesthetic, there shouldn’t be any pain.
Step 3: Recovery
At some point after your extraction, the numbness in your mouth will wear off. Once that happens, you are likely to notice some discomfort and swelling. You can keep these symptoms under control by taking an over-the-counter pain reliever and periodically holding an ice pack over the affected area. You can typically expect the discomfort to subside within a week. Be sure to let your dentist know if it persists for too long or seems to be growing worse.
It’s completely normal to be nervous about having a tooth extracted, but you can rest assured that your dentist will make your comfort their top priority and take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that your treatment is as smooth as possible.
About the Author
Dr. Haiwen Zhang is a graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine. He continues to expand and enhance his skillset through continuing education courses from the Pankey Institute and Spear Education. At Juniper Dental in Santa Fe, he can offer gentle tooth extractions for patients with teeth that are beyond saving. If you think you might need to have a tooth removed, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Zhang by visiting his website or calling (505) 372-1121.