If your dentist has recommended a tooth extraction, they didn’t do so lightly. Dentists only recommend tooth extractions as a last resort in order to protect the other teeth and preserve the patient’s overall oral health. While it’s understandable that you might be apprehensive about having a tooth extracted, there are a few common misconceptions about the procedure that deserve to be cleared up. Here are a few tooth extraction falsehoods so you can have a better idea of what to expect.
Misconception #1: Tooth Extractions Are Incredibly Painful
Many people believe that tooth extractions are extremely painful and take a long time to perform. The truth is that dentists today use minimally invasive methods to extract teeth and advanced anesthesia to make sure that the patient feels no pain throughout the entire procedure. The process usually takes only minutes.
If the patient receives certain forms of anesthesia, they may require a trusted individual to drive them home. The recovery may involve some pain and discomfort, but the dentist will prescribe the patient some pain management medication and provide them with instructions to make the healing process speedy and thorough.
Misconception #2: It Takes a Long Time to Recover from a Tooth Extraction
It only takes about a week or two for the mouth to heal after tooth extraction, and patients often experience pain and discomfort for only a few days after the procedure. Following the procedure, patients should take care to follow their dentist’s aftercare instructions completely to keep the mouth clean and the surgical site healing properly.
Misconception #3: Wisdom Teeth Always Need to Be Pulled
Dentists and oral surgeons frequently recommended removing wisdom teeth as soon as they began to erupt in the past, but times have changed. These days, dentists usually wait a while to see how the wisdom teeth are coming in before they make a final call on extracting them. Many patients have plenty of room to accommodate these molars, so there isn’t any point in removing them and putting the patient through the experience of recovering from extraction.
Tooth extractions are common procedures, but they should only be performed when necessary. However, if you need one extracted, getting it over with can leave you to a much more comfortable life afterward.
About the Author
Dr. Jeff Lee earned his dental doctorate at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 1999 before completing a four-year residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. He currently serves part-time as a faculty member in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department at his alma mater. His office in Marietta, OH offers services such as dental implants and tooth extractions. For more information on the tooth extraction process, contact his office online or dial (740) 432-8768.