If your dentist recommends a tooth extraction, you might be worried about pain and recovery. That is a natural reaction, but your dental team will ensure your comfort and smooth recovery. It is likely that you won’t be awake during the procedure—depending on your type of extraction. This is because you will receive sedation to avoid pain during your procedure.
First, your oral surgeon will numb the surgical area. Then, you will likely receive sedation in the form of nitrous oxide or an oral sedative. This will help you to relax during your procedure. Next, your dental team will take several steps to make sure that you are pain-free and comfortable. As a result, you will not feel any pain during your extraction.
Most likely, you will only feel sore after your procedure is finished. However, to minimize your discomfort, it is important to follow your dentist’s instructions for recovery.
After your procedure, your dentist will prescribe you a couple of medications to help aid your recovery. One of the medications is an antibiotic. It is vital that you take your antibiotics as your doctor recommends. If a dentist removes a tooth, there is always a possibility of developing an infection. Therefore, antibiotics will reduce your chances of developing an infection.
Also, your dentist will likely recommend an anti-inflammatory medication. This will help reduce your pain and inflammation from your surgery. If you do not wish to use prescription-grade painkillers, you can use over-the-counter medication from any pharmacy. For example, Tylenol and Advil will work to minimize your pain and swelling.
After your extraction, you will develop a blood clot where your dentist removed your tooth. It is very important to take care of this blood clot. Otherwise, it can lengthen your recovery. Additionally, damage to the blood clot may cause pain or lead to infection. Therefore, you should watch the foods you eat. For example, hot foods can damage or dissolve the blood clot. Also, eating sharp foods, such as chips, can hit the surgical area, causing pain.
It is best to eat softer foods at a mild temperature.
During your recovery, you should avoid using a straw or simulating a sucking motion. In addition, you shouldn’t drink with a straw because the blood clot can become dislodged. This is called dry socket. When this happens, you can experience extreme pain. If you have a dry socket, you must return to the dentist for treatment. This is because your chances of developing an infection increase. Also, once you experience a dry socket one time, you are more susceptible to it in the future.
You should take it easy in the first couple of days after your extraction. This means that you should avoid any activity that will increase your heart rate. When your heart rate increases, your blood pressure rises, heightening your risk of bleeding after your procedure.
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