Does Tooth Extraction Hurt?

Does a tooth extraction hurt? It’s a question commonly asked by people facing these procedures – whilst it’s likely that you will feel some mild pain and discomfort during and after the treatment, you shouldn’t experience severe pain.

If you have a tooth extraction surgery booked, it’s important to prepare yourself as much as possible before your appointment, so you know what to expect on the day. That’s why we’ve created this blog – we want to give you all the information you need to know to feel confident and prepared for your surgery. Whilst dental negligence is rare, understanding the warning signs will help you recognise if something doesn’t feel quite right during your procedure.

If you think you have faced dental negligence during a tooth removal surgery, you do have the option of opening a dental claim against your dentist. As the UK’s premier dental negligence solicitors, the Dental Law Partnership can help you with your case – please get in touch with our expert team or request a callback here.

What to Expect During Tooth Extraction

So, what should you expect during a tooth extraction procedure? Naturally, the answer to this question will differ depending on the tooth that’s being extracted and how many teeth need to be removed. 

For example, your third molars (otherwise known as your wisdom teeth) can be harder to extract, so there may be more risk involved. Your situation may also change depending on whether a simple extraction is required, as opposed to an extensive surgical extraction procedure, as every case is different.

However, most tooth extraction surgeries follow this process:

• Before the extraction procedure starts, your dentist will first give you an injection of local anaesthesia to numb the area. Oral sedatives for anxiety management may be given to you if more complicated surgery is required. If your procedure is classed as a simple extraction, your dentist will use forceps to expand the socket and loosen the tooth, before carefully removing it from the dental socket. You may feel some pressure at this stage – this is normal, as your dentist may have to gently push and then rock the tooth back and forward in the socket to loosen it further.
• If a complex surgical extraction is required ( if the tooth hasn’t fully erupted from the gum), the process will be slightly different. An oral surgeon will be required to remove the tooth – they may need to make a small incision in your gum or there are other complicating factors, as well as remove any bone blocking the removal of the tooth’s root.
• Regardless of which form of tooth extraction you require, your dentist will then remove the tooth from the gum. In more complex cases, the tooth and its roots may need to be cut up into several pieces to remove it properly and ensure that all of the tooth is removed. If any incisions have been made, your surgeon may seal the gum with self-dissolving stitches  (otherwise known as sutures), which should dissolve within ten days, or may use silk sutures which will need to be snipped and removed once all has healed up
• The extraction site will be cleaned before a piece of gauze is placed over the area, which you’ll need to hold until a blood clot is formed. Blood clots are essential to the healing process so you should try hard not to dislodge them – if you do, you may experience a painful condition called dry socket which will need further treatment from your dentist.

Once the surgery is complete your dentist should give you the appropriate aftercare advice, including tips on pain management. You may be prescribed painkillers or antibiotics (if infection is a risk), although they may not be required.

What Are the Side Effects of Tooth Extraction?

Like any dental or medical procedure, there are risks and possible side effects associated with tooth extraction surgery. Before your treatment is carried out, your dentist should inform you of the risks, side effects and alternative treatments which are available as part of the informed consent process – if they do not do this and something goes wrong, you may be able to open a dental negligence claim against your dentist with us.

Side effects are rare after tooth extraction, but some of the most common issues are:

• • Halitosis: Otherwise known as bad breath, you may experience halitosis after surgical extraction, usually due to post-surgical bleeding and the dry mouth often encountered after these procedures. Not brushing and flossing your teeth after surgery can also lead to food particles and bacteria accumulating in your mouth, which can make the smell worse. To avoid halitosis, you should drink plenty of water and practise good oral hygiene once 24 hours have elapsed after your procedure.
  • Sinus pain: If you’ve had an upper tooth removed, you may experience sinus pain, as well as mild hearing loss or a blocked sensation in the ear nearest the extraction site (buzzing and ringing noises are also common). Tooth extraction swelling can put extra pressure on your sinuses or even open a hole in the area, which can cause further complications if not treated effectively.
  • Nausea: It’s not uncommon for people to feel sick after tooth extraction, particularly if they have had sedation for anxiety. Most people will find their nausea disappears within a few hours, but if it persists, it’s often due to other factors – for example, dehydration or an adverse reaction to pain medication.
  • Soreness: Some people may feel soreness in their jaw, throat or neck after surgery, which is usually caused by swelling from the tooth extraction site spreading to these areas. If this occurs, we’d recommend speaking to your dentist immediately to see what they recommend.

• • Wrong tooth extraction: It’s rare, but in some cases, you may experience wrong tooth extraction. These situations can be extremely distressing, as you will still need to have another operation carried out to remove the correct tooth. If the wrong tooth is removed, you may be eligible to make a dental negligence claim.

It’s unlikely that you’ll experience these complications after your tooth extraction, but if you are concerned about your health afterwards, it’s best to speak to your dentist or a medical professional to find out what your next steps should be.

Will I Feel Pain After Tooth Extraction?

Like most dental procedures, it’s normal to feel some mild tenderness and discomfort after having a tooth extracted, especially once the numbing effects of anaesthesia wear off. Feeling no pain after a tooth extraction is rare, but it doesn’t have to be severe. The level of pain you experience will vary depending on the complexity of the extraction and your body’s natural healing response – some people may experience a throbbing pain, whereas others may describe the sensation as a radiating pain.

After routine extractions, you’ll likely feel some soreness in the area for a few days. During the healing process, you will likely need to take some over-the-counter painkillers to mask the pain and reduce post-operative swelling, although you should speak to your dentist first to see what they recommend, as some pain relievers may not be suitable for your situation.

In some cases (usually in more serious surgeries such as wisdom tooth removal), you may require prescription pain medication, which is usually much stronger than your over-the-counter (OTC) options. The amount of pain felt after tooth extraction surgery is usually different for each person, so your circumstances should be assessed by your dentist based on your own experience. Usually, the first three days after your procedure are the most painful – if you find that your pain is still bad after several weeks or it lingers and gets worse, we recommend speaking to your dentist to get an assessment.

If you experience severe pain, swelling, fever or pus, you should contact your dentist or a trained medical professional immediately, as these symptoms can indicate something more severe like a dental infection.

Post-Extraction Care Tips

There are several postoperative self-care tips you can follow to assist in pain management after your tooth extraction surgery. It’s important to follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions carefully, as they should help you minimise your discomfort and promote faster healing. As previously stated, you may be prescribed prescription medication to manage your pain, although for simple extractions, OTC medication may be preferred.

Cold compresses may also help – placing an ice pack on your cheek over the extraction site may help to reduce both pain and swelling for you. It’s also recommended that you use a saltwater rinse to clean your mouth every day (which also reduces swelling). 

You should avoid smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol whilst your mouth heals, and eating soft foods may help too. After the first day of recovery has passed, warm compresses can be used on the extraction site to increase blood flow to the area, which promotes healing and reduces pain.

Moving Forward After a Tooth Extraction

Tooth extractions might sound intimidating, but with the right approach and proper aftercare, the process and any pain associated with it can be much more manageable than you might otherwise think. While some discomfort is normal when getting a tooth pulled out, recent advancements in dental techniques and pain management strategies have meant that modern extraction surgeries are typically far less painful than most people normally expect.

It’s unlikely that you’ll experience severe pain after your treatment, but if something does go wrong during your extraction procedure, you may be eligible for a dental negligence claim. Here at the Dental Law Partnership, we have an expert team of dental solicitors, with many members of our team having experience in both the legal and dental fields.

If you’d like to discuss your options further with our team, please contact us free on 0800 152 2033. Alternatively, you can start your claim here.