How Painful is Surgical Extraction?
When the dentist has examined your broken tooth and has determined that you will need a surgical extraction in order to help your surrounding teeth and gums stay healthy, you are focused on the word surgery. You’re going to need to have a procedure, medication, and the pain that comes with any surgery. A surgical tooth extraction is more complex than a simple tooth extraction, but it does not necessarily mean that you will be in pain and discomfort for weeks on end.
Pain During the Surgical Extraction
First and foremost, you will not be in pain during the procedure when the dentist is removing the broken, damaged, or impacted tooth. The dentist will administer local anesthesia to the area of your mouth where they will be working and depending on your specific needs, the dentist may even suggest sedation to help you sleep or relax during the procedure.
If you do not require sedation, you will feel pressure in the area of your mouth where the dentist is working but it will not be uncomfortable. If you are sedated, then you may not even remember the procedure.
Pain After the Surgical Extraction
The local anesthesia will start to wear off between 20 minutes to an hour after the procedure. This is when you will start to feel the discomfort of having a tooth (or teeth) removed, but there are many ways to address this pain before it even starts. There is not one specific level of pain that everyone experiences because each extraction is unique, but most people consider it to be manageable and short lived.
Be sure to talk to the dentist about your complete medical history, any other surgeries you may have had, any history of infections, and any anxiety or concerns you have about pain management post surgery before the scheduled surgical extraction. The dentist will give you a treatment plan specific to your extraction with instructions on how to remain comfortable and heal quickly. Most people are able to use over the counter anti-inflammatory pain medication successfully, but the dentist may prescribe a stronger medication for short term use immediately following the procedure.
How Long Does the Pain Last?
If you follow the aftercare instructions and are free from infection and complications, your pain should be nearly gone in just a few days. Your swelling will decrease, your mouth will continue to heal, and you will be more and more comfortable. In the cases of complex surgical extraction, you may find that your jaw is still tender for the week following the procedure. If the dentist needed to use stitches to help your extraction site, you may find that the area in your mouth around the stitches needs to be treated more gently. After a week, the dentist may need to remove the stitches or the dentist may have used stitches that dissolve and do not need to be removed.
Conclusion
It is overwhelming to hear that you will need to have surgery in order to be healthy and to know that you will be without a tooth that you had in your mouth prior to the extraction. It does not mean that you will be in pain and unable to think from the discomfort. Dentistry techniques and medications have improved greatly offering you the chance to remove a damaged tooth without disrupting your life in any dramatic way.