How Painful is a Simple Extraction?
In the past, tooth extraction was one of the alternatives found for numerous dental issues. Over time and with the emergence of dental technologies, many procedures can be performed to prevent such loss. However, there are some specific cases in which tooth extraction is essential, and you may have already experienced or are about to encounter one of these situations. This is the case, for example, with wisdom teeth, which is why thousands of patients seek dental care to have them removed.
Why Do Some Teeth Need to be Removed?
There are many factors that can contribute to tooth extraction. These include trauma, lack of space in the mouth, diabetes, and cavities.
Some of the main reasons for wisdom tooth extraction are:
- Impacted tooth: When, due to the formation of the dental arch, the tooth did not emerge, remaining stuck in the patient's gum.
- Wrongly positioned: In this case, the wisdom tooth can harm other teeth, chewing, and the aesthetics of the mouth.
- No space: Depending on the size of the mouth, the wisdom tooth may not have enough space to erupt, causing bad breath, inflammation, pain when eating, swollen gums, and other harmful symptoms.
- Infections, cavities, inflammation, and periodontitis.
Cavities are one of the most common reasons patients visit the dentist. Untreated cavities can progress to serious conditions, where the exposed dental pulp becomes susceptible to infection and severe inflammation, leading to the need for tooth extraction.
In general, a simple extraction means that medications and other procedures can no longer control the disease. Furthermore, when teeth are removed in a timely manner, the oral bone is preserved for subsequent implant placement.
How Painful is a Simple Extraction?
A simple tooth extraction is usually not very painful, thanks to modern dental techniques and anesthesia. During the procedure itself, your dentist will numb the area with a local anesthetic, so you’ll feel pressure but no sharp pain as the tooth is loosened and removed. Pain levels can vary depending on factors such as the tooth’s condition, its location, and your personal pain tolerance. Most patients describe the experience as mildly uncomfortable rather than painful, especially compared to more complex procedures like surgical or impacted tooth extractions. During the procedure, you’ll feel pressure and slight movement, but the anesthetic prevents pain. The process is typically quick—often only a few minutes per tooth. Right after the extraction, and once the numbing wears off (after about 2–3 hours), you may feel mild to moderate soreness at the extraction site. This discomfort is usually easy to manage with over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. In the first 24–48 hours: Some tenderness, swelling, or minor bleeding is normal. Applying an ice pack and resting helps minimize discomfort. After 3 days, most pain should noticeably decrease. By this point, many people can return to their normal routines with little to no soreness. Finally, after 7–10 days, the site typically feels healed, though some sensitivity may remain if you touch the area or chew near it.
If pain worsens after a few days instead of improving, it could indicate a dry socket (when the blood clot dislodges) or infection—both of which your dentist can treat quickly.
In Conclusion
In general, the pain from a simple extraction is manageable through the use of over-the-counter painkillers. If you think you need a tooth removed, contact us today, and we will walk you through the procedure and help calm any fears you have about pain and recovery!