Why Are Tooth Extractions Painful and How to Prevent It?

June 1, 2022

Your teeth are part of your body, similar to your arms or fingers. Therefore, you will likely express fear if a medical professional recommends surgical removal of any part of your body, and your teeth are no exception.

If your dentist recommends tooth extraction near you, wondering why you must have your tooth removed remains the primary question in your mind. At the same time, you also wonder how painful the tooth removal procedure is likely to be. However, you can put your fears to rest because dentists are professionals and will ensure you don’t experience any pain during the removal.

This article explains why tooth extractions cause pain and how they can be prevented in some circumstances.

Why May You Need Tooth Extractions?

The dental office near you doesn’t recommend tooth extractions because they favor the procedure. On the contrary, tooth extractions become a necessity when you have excessive decay, infections, injuries, crowding, or unwanted teeth in your mouth.

For example, if you have a crowded jaw with extra teeth and must undergo orthodontic treatments to straighten teeth, the dentist in Port Richey might recommend you have a couple of teeth removed to make space for your remaining teeth to move into their correct positions. Similarly, if you have impacted third molars, causing pain and infections in your mouth, the dentist recommends you have them removed to overcome the complications they create.

Sometimes tooth extractions become inevitable, especially if infections in your mouth compel you to frequent the emergency dentist near you for unexpected treatments. Therefore you must understand tooth extractions are recommended as a last resort after all other restorative options are exhausted.

Are Tooth Extractions Painful?

Whether tooth extractions are painful or not and the severity of the discomfort depends on the tooth targeted for removal. The extraction procedure by itself isn’t likely to cause any pain because you receive adequate anesthesia to control anxiety and pain simultaneously. You will likely feel some pressure when the extractions dentist in New Port Richey, FL, works in your mouth to remove the tooth. However, the anesthetics you receive will keep you oblivious about the procedure because they relax you entirely and make you feel the dentist completed the extraction procedure in a few minutes when you have spent over an hour in the dentist’s chair.

Any pain you expect will only start after the anesthetics begin wearing off. Fortunately, you receive adequate after-care instructions from the dentist besides pain relievers to ensure you can manage pain comfortably.

Pre-and Post-Operative Suggestions

When recommended tooth extractions for any reason by Dr. Srividya Vulugundam, you must understand the removal is suggested to benefit your oral and overall health. Instead of remaining concerned about the pain from the procedure, you help yourself by inquiring how you can prepare for the removal before and after the process.

Dentists understand no one likes tooth removal or dental visits and provide you with sufficient instructions on preparing for the extraction before and after the procedure. Depending upon the type of anesthesia you will receive, the dentist might recommend you fast for at least six to eight hours before your appointment. In addition, the dentist suggests that you stock your pantry with soft foods to have after tooth removal and not indulge in strenuous activity for at least a couple of days to prevent dislodging of the blood clot in the extraction site. So long as you follow your dentist’s instructions diligently, you can rest assured you will feel minor discomfort after the extraction and minimal before.

Are Tooth Extractions Preventable?

No one prefers losing a tooth or two to extractions, accidents, or other reasons. While most cases of tooth loss are preventable by wearing mouthguards and other protective devices when playing contact sports, cycling, et cetera, some conditions make it necessary to have teeth removed for the benefit of your dental health.

Besides the above, you can also ensure you don’t fall prey to infections like tooth decay, gum disease, et cetera, the leading causes of tooth removal in America. To accomplish your goal of preventing infections in your mouth, you must maintain excellent dental hygiene by brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing them at least once, steering clear of sugar and starchy foods, and getting twice-yearly dental exams and cleanings from Orange Groove Dental without exceptions.

You must also invest in dental appliances that help protect your teeth and gums if involved in sporting activities and remain cautious when biting on complex foods. However, we can confirm tooth extractions aren’t painful during the removal and only cause minor discomfort later, comfortably managed by pain relievers recommended by the dentist.

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