For many people, having wisdom teeth extracted is a terrifying experience, and the question “Does tooth extraction hurt?” is frequently asked in dental consultations. In fact, through scientific methods and thorough preparation, the pain caused by wisdom tooth extraction can be greatly reduced, making the entire process much easier. Next, I will introduce to you in detail how to alleviate the pain of wisdom tooth extraction from three key stages: before the operation, during the operation and after the operation.
Preoperative preparation: Do your homework well and plan ahead
Choose a professional and experienced dentist
Extracting wisdom teeth may seem like a minor surgery, but the difficulty of the operation varies depending on the growth condition of the wisdom teeth. The extraction of impacted wisdom teeth and impacted wisdom teeth requires extremely high technical skills from doctors. Choosing a professional and experienced dentist is the crucial first step to alleviating pain. You can check the doctor’s qualification certificate to find out whether they have the relevant qualifications for oral and maxillofacial surgery. You can also refer to patient reviews to understand the doctor’s technical proficiency and reputation. In addition, choosing a legitimate dental hospital or clinic is equally important. These institutions are well-equipped and have standardized disinfection procedures, which can minimize the risk of infection to the greatest extent.
A thorough oral examination
Before extracting wisdom teeth, the doctor will arrange a comprehensive oral examination, including oral X-rays, CT scans and other examination items. These examinations can help doctors clearly understand the growth location, shape and relationship with surrounding tissues of wisdom teeth, thereby formulating personalized tooth extraction plans. For instance, through CT scans, doctors can accurately determine whether wisdom teeth are close to nerves and take preventive measures in advance to avoid nerve damage during the operation, which could lead to prolonged pain or numbness after the operation.
Inform the doctor of the medical history
Patients must truthfully inform their doctors of their medical history, including systemic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and blood system disorders, as well as a history of drug allergies. Some diseases may affect the safety of tooth extraction or require special treatment before tooth extraction. For instance, when patients with hypertension have unstable blood pressure control and have their teeth extracted, it is prone to cause bleeding or cardiovascular and cerebrovascular accidents. Patients who have been taking anticoagulant drugs for a long time may need to stop taking the medicine for a period of time under the guidance of a doctor before having a tooth extracted to reduce the risk of bleeding.
Psychological adjustment
Many people’s fear of having their wisdom teeth extracted stems from their worry about the unknown, and this psychological state can to some extent amplify the pain. Before having a tooth extracted, you can communicate fully with the doctor to understand the specific process and precautions of tooth extraction and eliminate any doubts in your mind. One can also relax and maintain a good state of mind by listening to music, chatting with friends and other means. When necessary, you can also communicate with your doctor and choose a comfortable anesthesia method, such as nitrous oxide inhalation sedation or general intravenous anesthesia, to complete the tooth extraction surgery in a relatively relaxed state.
Have a balanced diet and a regular schedule
The day before tooth extraction, make sure to get enough sleep and avoid staying up late. In terms of diet, choose nutritious and easily digestible foods. Avoid extracting teeth on an empty stomach to prevent discomfort such as hypoglycemia during the operation. At the same time, do not drink alcohol before tooth extraction. Alcohol can dilate blood vessels and increase the risk of bleeding during the operation.
Intraoperative cooperation: Trust the doctor and relax both physically and mentally
Keep in good communication with the doctor
After entering the operating room, it is necessary to maintain good communication with the doctor. If you feel pain or discomfort during the anesthesia process, inform the doctor in time. The doctor will adjust the dosage or method of anesthesia according to the situation. During the tooth extraction process, try to relax your body, follow the doctor’s instructions, and cooperate with the doctor to complete actions such as opening your mouth and biting. Do not move your head or swallow saliva at will, as this may affect the doctor’s operation and increase the surgical risks and pain.
Choose the appropriate anesthesia method
At present, the commonly used anesthesia methods for tooth extraction include local infiltration anesthesia and block anesthesia. Local infiltration anesthesia is suitable for relatively simple wisdom tooth extraction. The anesthesia takes effect quickly and the operation is simple. Block anesthesia is suitable for the extraction of complex wisdom teeth. It has a wide range of anesthesia and a more lasting effect. In addition to the conventional local anesthesia, the previously mentioned comfortable anesthesia methods such as nitrous oxide inhalation sedation and intravenous general anesthesia can enable patients to complete the tooth extraction surgery unconsciously and painlessly. For patients who are particularly nervous or sensitive to pain, it is advisable to discuss with the doctor about choosing an anesthesia method that suits them.
Trust the doctor’s skills
During the operation, trust the doctor’s professional skills and experience. Doctors will operate carefully in accordance with the preoperative plan and try to minimize damage to the surrounding tissues. If some unexpected situations occur during the operation, such as the fracture of the wisdom tooth root, the doctor will also have corresponding treatment measures. You just need to stay calm and cooperate actively.
Postoperative care: Scientific care to accelerate recovery
Compression hemostasis and cold compress
After tooth extraction, the doctor will place a cotton ball or gauze at the wound site and have the patient bite it tightly to apply pressure to stop the bleeding. Generally, it is necessary to hold the cotton ball tightly for 30 to 40 minutes. Do not remove it too early to avoid rebleeding. Within 24 hours after the operation, you can apply a cold compress to the side of the extracted tooth with an ice pack or a cold towel for 15 to 20 minutes each time, with an interval of 1 to 2 hours. Cold compress can cause local blood vessels to concontract, reduce exudation, and thereby alleviate swelling and pain.
Correct diet
Avoid eating within two hours after the operation. After two hours, you can have some warm, cool and soft foods, such as rice porridge, soft noodles, yogurt, etc. Avoid eating overly hot, hard, spicy or irritating foods. These foods can irritate the wound, aggravate pain and swelling, and may also cause bleeding. Within one week after the operation, try to avoid chewing food on the side where the tooth was extracted to prevent food residue from entering the wound and causing infection.
Oral hygiene maintenance
Do not brush your teeth or rinse your mouth within 24 hours after the operation to avoid disrupting the blood clot and causing bleeding. After 24 hours, you can gently rinse your mouth with clean water or the mouthwash recommended by your doctor to keep your mouth clean and remove food residues. Within one week after the operation, when brushing your teeth, be gentle and avoid the extraction wound. After the wound has initially healed, resume the normal way of brushing teeth.
Take medicine on time
Doctors usually prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers according to the patients’ conditions. It is essential to take the medicine strictly as prescribed by the doctor on time and in the prescribed dosage. Anti-inflammatory drugs can prevent wound infection, and painkillers can relieve pain. Do not stop taking the medicine or increase or decrease the dosage by yourself. If any adverse reactions occur during the medication process, such as rash, nausea, vomiting, etc., inform the doctor in time.
Take care to rest.
After the operation, it is necessary to ensure adequate sleep and avoid overwork and strenuous exercise. Excessive fatigue and intense exercise may lead to elevated blood pressure, increase the risk of bleeding from wounds, and are also not conducive to physical recovery. You can do some light activities appropriately, such as taking a walk, etc., but avoid standing for a long time or bending over.
Closely observe the condition of the wound
After the operation, it is necessary to closely monitor the condition of the tooth extraction wound. If there is a small amount of bleeding at the wound site, it is a normal phenomenon. You can apply pressure to stop the bleeding by biting a cotton ball or gauze tightly. However, if there is excessive bleeding, severe pain that cannot be relieved by painkillers, or a foul smell in the mouth and other abnormal conditions, it is essential to seek medical attention promptly. This could indicate complications such as infection or dry socket syndrome, which require corresponding treatment by a doctor.
Conclusion
Although wisdom tooth extraction is a common oral surgery, as long as we make adequate preparations before the operation, cooperate actively with the doctor during the operation, and take scientific care after the operation, we can effectively reduce the pain caused by wisdom tooth extraction and smoothly get through the recovery period. If you have any questions or concerns during the tooth extraction process, communicate with the doctor at any time. The doctor will provide you with professional advice and assistance. For many people, having wisdom teeth extracted is a terrifying experience, and the question “Does tooth extraction hurt?” is frequently asked in dental consultations. In fact, through scientific methods and thorough preparation, the pain caused by wisdom tooth extraction can be greatly reduced, making the entire process much easier. Next, I will introduce to you in detail how to alleviate the pain of wisdom tooth extraction from three key stages: before the operation, during the operation and after the operation.
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