There are all kinds of procedures that can make patients a little bit anxious, but among them, tooth extractions almost certainly rank near the top. It’s rare for patients to get all that excited about having a tooth removed, but the truth is that these procedures are incredibly important in situations where they’re needed.
For that reason, it’s important to try and assuage the fears that patients may have about tooth extractions. Here are a few things you can do to overcome those anxieties.
Understanding Anesthesia
As with any dental treatment, one of the main things that patients worry about during tooth extraction is pain. That’s because people tend to underestimate the strength of contemporary dental anesthetics.
Before beginning any kind of dental work, your dentist will numb your mouth completely. They’ll even test whether the anesthetic has kicked in before beginning treatment and will reapply it if you need more. You’re unlikely to feel anything more than mild pressure during the procedure itself.
Knowing About the Procedure
Mystery is always the scariest thing, and if you don’t know all that much about how tooth extractions are done, you may think that it’s a lot scarier than it really is. Tooth extractions are done with incredible precision in order to prevent any damage to the surrounding tissue, and to make aftercare as easy as possible.
If you want to know more about how exactly tooth extractions are done, your dentist will take the time to explain just about anything you’re curious about and talk to you in detail about what the procedure entails.
Make Use of Sedation
If you find that you really can’t stand to even set foot in a dentist’s office, sedation could be a game-changer for you. While anesthesia focuses on easing pain, sedation is used to put patients at ease.
Sedation is used often for more intensive extractions, but it’s safe enough that just about anyone who wants it can get it. If you want to make the tooth extraction as easy as possible, it may be worth asking your dentist about what kinds of sedation they offer, and whether they’d recommend them for your situation.
About the Author
Dr. Mo Saleh comes to work every day with a single-minded devotion to providing the best care that dentistry has to offer. That means having both an incredible mastery of his field and excellent customer service skills. Dr. Saleh received his degree from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and he is currently a member of the American Dental Association.
If you have any questions about tooth extractions, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (440) 546-9494.