How Painful Is Surgical Extraction?

Tooth extraction is a very common treatment used when no other restoration is possible. An extraction may be necessary due to extensive decay, trauma, gum disease, or even to prepare for orthodontic treatment. The most commonly removed teeth are the wisdom teeth, which most people do not have enough room in their mouth for. A surgical extraction is different from a simple extraction because the gum tissue is cut to allow access to the affected tooth. Wisdom teeth typically require surgical extraction because they are more often than not impacted below the gum line.

How painful is surgical extraction?

The procedure itself is not painful at all because a local anesthetic is administered before treatment begins. It is normal to experience some level of discomfort after the anesthesia wears off, but most patients can manage it with over-the-counter pain medication. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication to get you through the first couple of days as well as an antibiotic to prevent infection.

You may also experience minor bleeding and/or swelling at the extraction site, but this should all be resolved within a couple of days. Your doctor will provide postoperative instructions to aid in the healing process and minimize discomfort. One such direction will be to avoid smoking or using a straw. The sucking action can result in a painful complication called dry socket. Dry socket is when the blood clot that forms over the extraction site becomes dislodged. When the clot is lost, the underlying bone and nerves are exposed to air and anything that you can consume.

What is the procedure for a surgical extraction?

A surgical extraction does not typically require the patient to undergo general anesthesia, but is performed under local anesthetic. The doctor will administer the anesthetic with a small injection before proceeding. In order to access the tooth, an incision will need to be made in the gum tissue. In the case of a tooth that is impacted within the jawbone, a small piece of the bone will be removed as well. Your doctor will then use tools specifically designed to lift the tooth from the socket and extract it from your mouth. Once the tooth is out, they will put in a couple of stitches to close the site.

A surgical tooth extraction is a common and relatively simple procedure, depending largely on the location of the tooth and the state of the tooth. A tooth that is impacted below the gum line or within the jawbone or one that has broken at or below the gum line will require a surgical extraction to access the entire tooth. When a tooth is fully erupted above the gum line, your doctor may be able to use a simple extraction procedure which does not require any incisions.

Having a tooth extracted is not the detrimental procedure that it was decades ago. Most patients experience only mild discomfort and that usually goes away after a few days. It is important to pay attention to your extraction site and to let your doctor know if you experience extreme discomfort or ongoing pain that lasts longer than three or four days. In this case, you may have developed an infection or other complication that needs to be addressed to ensure that your extraction site heals properly.

What is the Difference Between Simple & Surgical Extraction?