One of the main concerns patients have leading up to a marin county tooth extraction is how painful the tooth extraction process will be, both during and following the procedure. Prior to extracting the tooth, a local anesthetic is administered to reduce or eliminate pain and discomfort during the procedure. You will experience a small pinch once the needle is inserted, but this discomfort will quickly go away as the area becomes numb.
Dental sedation may also be administered for patients with more severe cases, and/or for patients who have dental phobia/anxiety regarding the procedure. There are several different types of sedation options available, including oral sedation which is taken in pill form, nitrous oxide, which is administered in the form of gas, and in rare cases, sedation administered intravenously or intramuscularly. Which sedation option is right for you will depend upon the severity of your case as well as your health history.
Following administration of the anesthetic (and dental sedation if applicable), your periodontist will allow some time (five to ten minutes) to let the anesthetic take effect. Once they have tested to ensure that you are numb, the tooth extraction process can begin. This removal process will begin by using special new technology to loosen the tooth without severe “pulling”. This helps to make the tooth easier to remove. As the tooth is being extracted, you will not experience any or much discomfort.
Minimizing Pain Following Your Tooth Extraction
Following your tooth extraction, it will take approximately three to four weeks to complete the healing process. During the first 24 hours following your surgery, your body will naturally form a clot over the socket, which is comprised of red and white blood cells and platelets that are bonded together in a fibrin gel. The platelets and other cells in this clot will produce chemical compounds that will facilitate the healing process.
As the healing process continues, the pain and discomfort around the extraction site should begin to diminish, though it may still be tender to the touch. If necessary, take over-the-counter pain-relieving medication to help reduce this pain or discomfort. Swelling is also very common, and usually reaches its peak between the first 48-72 hours, and then begins to subside.
Once the healing process is complete, you will be ready to schedule a follow up procedure for a dental implant if necessary or desired. There are several different factors that can prolong or affect the healing process, including the size of the wound (the removal of a molar tooth will take longer than the removal of a baby tooth or small incisor), your overall health and ability to heal (some patients naturally heal faster or slower than others), the underlying pathology or reason for the tooth being extracted (trauma, infection, to prevent crowding, etc), your age, lifestyle habits (smokers may have a longer healing process), and your level of self-care and adherence to post-procedural instructions.
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High Quality Periodontal Care You Can Trust
When you come to Marin Contemporary Perio and Implant Concepts, you can expect a friendly and professional dental team. Dr. Seda will listen carefully to your dental goals and provide a custom treatment plan that works with your budget and needs. We want you to fall in love with your smile again, so all our services are performed with the patient in mind. We want you to feel comfortable in the dental chair, and to feel confident in our services.
At Marin Contemporary Perio and Implant Concepts, we aim to provide cutting edge perio and implant solutions in a comfortable and relaxed environment, where patients feel we put them first. Scheduling an appointment for All-on-4 Dental Implants is the first step towards being confident in your smile once again. To schedule an appointment, please contact us today at (415) 482-9901.