Scared of Tooth Extractions: What You Need to Know

Scared of Tooth Extractions: What You Need to Know

May 1, 2023

One dental procedure that many people fret about is tooth extraction. This is because of the thought of having a tooth pulled out of the socket and the pain that is accompanied by this action. Furthermore, people are afraid of having a missing gap after the extraction. The good news is that we will help you prepare for this procedure, knowing what to do before, what happens during the extraction, and what to expect afterward. So, let’s get into it.

What Happens Before and During My Extraction?

What Happens Before Tooth Removal?

Toothache can force you to look for a dentist who performs tooth extractions in Yuba City. This is after you’ve tried over-the-counter painkillers and they’ve failed to lessen the pain. However, you should know that toothache does not necessarily mean that your teeth need to be removed.

Therefore, before a tooth extraction is performed, the dentist will examine your affected tooth and the surrounding gums. An oral exam will also be performed to check the level of damage or if there’s an underlying issue that the dentist has not noticed. The oral exam entails taking dental x-rays that assist in evaluating the oral problem. After all, the information has been collected; the dentist has a clear picture of whether or not tooth removal is necessary.

The dentist will then notify you of the various treatment options, and if a tooth extraction is needed, the dentist will schedule a day for the extraction.

What Happens During Tooth Removal?

When you go to the dentist who carries tooth extractions near you, they will first administer local anesthesia around the treated tooth on the gums. Next, the dentist will use special dental instruments to loosen the tooth gently. Once the tooth is loose enough, it is pulled from the socket.

If the tooth is severely damaged, the dentist will make incisions in the gums to make the tooth accessible. Once the tooth is extracted, the area is cleaned and disinfected, and the incisions are closed using stitches.

In other cases, the dentist may notice that your jaw bone has a significant bone loss. In such a case, dental bone grafting will be carried out to prevent further bone loss.

Should I Be Scared of Tooth Extraction?

Most of the time, kids are more scared of tooth extraction than adults. This is because they are faced with baby teeth falling out. After reading the above procedure, you should be more confident that the pediatric dentist in Feather River Kids Dentistry of Yuba City will do a good job of keeping your child calm during the procedure, as it is painless thanks to the local anesthesiaadministered. However, slight pain might be experienced afterward.

However, it is essential that you look for a qualified dentist in Yuba City who performs tooth extractions. This is because they have the expertise to remove even the most problematic teeth. Therefore, you’re assured that the extraction process will be smooth with no complications.

Additionally, the advancement in sedation dentistry means that you can discuss the different sedation methods and which one will suit you. If you’re always nervous during a dental visit, the dentist may administer nitrous oxide to make you calmer. On the other hand, if you have a more serious dental anxiety problem, the dentist can use intravenous sedation; therefore, you will be asleep during the extraction procedure.

Here are tips that can help you overcome dental anxiety:

  • Inquire about sedation dentistry options- if you cannot cope with the anxiety, you can talk to your dentist about the sedation dentistry options and which one will suit you.
  • Remember, you will feel better once the tooth is removed- at times, you might feel nervous due to the tooth loss while forgetting the pain the tooth caused you. Therefore, you should focus on the thought that you will feel better after the dentist removes the tooth. You might experience a little pain afterward, but it is nothing compared to the pain the tooth caused you.
  • Talk to your dentist about your concerns- talking with the dentist helps a lot as they will be able to help calm you down as they care about your well-being.

Can I Go to Work After the Tooth Extraction?

As mentioned earlier, tooth removal is a very straightforward procedure. However, there is excess trauma in one area (tooth extraction site). So, you might think that returning to work is okay, but it is not.

Why not? It all depends on the kind of work you do. If you have a desk or an office job with little physical labor, you can resume working the next day. However, if your work demands a lot of physicality, you need to rest for two to three days. This is because doing a strenuous job can get your blood moving, and the pressure will cause more bleeding at the extraction site.

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