What To Expect At Your Tooth Extraction Appointment

Going to the dentist for a regular appointment makes some people anxious enough, but when it comes to having your tooth extracted, things can be really scary for those phobic patients. Being prepared for what’s to come is the best way to go into this — trust us.

To help all those anxious patients that are going to get a tooth extracted, here is a guide on what to expect for your tooth extraction appointment.

Reasons for extracting a tooth

For young patients, it is normal for dentists to remove a tooth or two, when preparing them for an orthodontist procedure; space is necessary when aligning your bite, so if teeth are too tight against each other, chances are the dentist will recommend extraction.

The most common reasons for teeth extraction in adults are broken teeth, which can be infected and affect your gums, or you may have to remove your wisdom teeth. At times, you may simply just have too many teeth in your mouth.

What to expect during and after the tooth extraction?

During the appointment: your dentist will more than likely perform a pain test to ensure how much anesthesia they’ll need for you. After that, the dentist will inject the right amount of anesthesia to your gums. If several teeth need to be extracted, your dentist may recommend general anesthesia. After that, you’ll only feel some pressure but no pain, but the sound of the process might be uncomfortable for some anxious tooth extraction patients, we recommend taking music with you so you can tune out. Also, telling your dentist when you suffer from anxiety is essential for a successful and painless extraction.

After the appointment: it’s important to bite on the surgical gauze for an hour after you leave the dental office. Try keeping your head up for about 24–48 hours. Consume liquids for at least two days and avoid physical activity for about 3–5 days. The pain can be managed with analgesics or even with some ice. It’s important to clean your wound after every meal with peroxide and swabs. After 10 days or two weeks, you should be good to go.

Not ready (but know it’s totally necessary) to visit the dentist?

Don’t be this guy:

Zentist offers a platform that matches you to a dentist who specializes in tooth extractions, dental implants, and more. Dreading the cost? Don’t. We’ll try to find the lowest out-of-pocket cost possible.