You wouldn’t be the first patient to be nervous about their upcoming tooth extraction! It’s understandable why you might find yourself biting your nails at the thought; after all, removing a tooth doesn’t exactly sound like a pleasant process. While you can expect to feel some strange sensations, they likely won’t be as painful as you’re imagining. Keep reading to get a more realistic sense of what your tooth extraction will feel like.
Treatment Prep
The very first thing your tooth extraction dentist will do is take steps to ensure your comfort. They’ll administer a local anesthetic that will numb the treatment area – since it’s an injection, you might feel a small pinch or a quick sting, but then your pain signals will be effectively blocked.
Another thing you can do is discuss the possibility of dental sedation with your dentist. If oral conscious sedation or laughing gas is part of your treatment plan, they’ll also administer that before proceeding with your extraction. Different sedation types have slightly different effects, but the purpose of each is to dull your senses and help relieve anxiety.
Tooth Extraction Sensations
Once your dentist confirms that you’re numb or properly sedated, they’ll start the process of removing your tooth. Depending on your unique oral needs, this could go one of two ways:
- Simple extraction: Your dentist will gently wiggle your tooth back and forth with a tweezer-like tool called a forceps.
- Surgical extraction: Your dentist will make a small incision in your gumline so they can access the tooth trapped underneath. Then they’ll carefully section it into pieces for safe removal.
In both cases, you should only feel light pressure sensations like gentle “pushing” or “touching.” That’s the power of modern anesthetic and dental sedation!
Your Aftercare Experience and Beyond
The most discomfort you’re likely to experience is the oral soreness after the fact. Fortunately, a cold compress or over-the-counter pain relievers are usually strong enough to alleviate the mild aches. Just be sure to follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions to the letter – otherwise, you could dislodge the blood clot protecting your empty socket. Then you would have a painful problem on your hands.
Overall, tooth extractions aren’t nearly as intense as they’re often portrayed to be on television. If you are still nervous about your upcoming appointment, don’t hesitate to reach out to your dentist. They’ll be happy to work with you and provide dental sedation to help you have a positive experience!
About the Practice
Dr. Mu Salayta and Dr. Schuyler Pracht are dedicated to helping their patients feel confident in their oral care. To alleviate dental anxiety and provide stress-free treatment, they happily provide dental sedation options. If you’d like to discuss your tooth extraction in more detail, please contact Dr. Salayta and Dr. Pracht’s office at 918-299-2298.