Do you have dental surgery coming up and are wondering if you will feel pain following your procedure? Here, our Yarmouth dental team offer some information about the after-effects of surgery and what you can do to manage discomfort.
What is dental surgery?
Dental surgery, or oral surgery, includes the diagnosis and surgical treatment of defects, diseases and injuries affecting the hard and soft tissue of the face, mouth jaws and teeth. At SouthWest Dental, we try to take a preventive approach to treatment and avoid these invasive treatment methods if possible.
However, in some cases, less invasive treatment options are simply not sufficient and oral surgery is needed.
Here are some common types of oral surgery:
- Root canal
- Dental implants
- Cosmetic dental surgery
- Jaw and reconstructive surgery
- Impacted wisdom tooth removal
Will I feel pain during or after dental surgery?
Depending on your comfort level and how complex your oral surgery procedure is, your dentist or oral surgeon may use one or more types of anesthesia to reduce pain and help you feel more comfortable.
After your surgery, you’ll be given after-care instructions to help alleviate any pain and aid your recovery.
During Surgery
Oral Sedation
Your dentist can prescribe oral sedatives in liquid or pill form for more complicated surgeries. You’ll take this medication orally before the dental procedure for a calming, relaxing effect.
Local Anesthesia
A numbing substance will likely be applied to your gums via injection, near the extraction site in all cases. While the anesthetic will not completely numb the area, you shouldn’t feel pain or sharpness.
You may be able to feel pressure or movement. For a simple extraction, your dentist or oral surgeon will likely use local anesthetic, and you’ll be awake for the procedure.
Nitrous Oxide
This gas is inhaled through the mouth and nose. It will help calm you, reduce gag reflex, decrease anxiety and make time seem to pass quicker. This option offers minimal sedation that will help you feel drowsy and relaxed.
Intravenous (IV) Sedation
IV sedation is more moderate and covers a number of medications that can be administered directly into the bloodstream, through the vein. This offers the deepest level of sedation short of general anesthesia and you’ll have limited memory of the procedure.
After Surgery
Your dentist may recommend taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), to help manage any postoperative pain or discomfort.
A more powerful pain medication may be prescribed if you had a complex surgery involving the bones and gums.
How can I manage pain?
After dental surgery, follow your dentist’s postoperative self-care recommendations. These might include:
- Use warm compresses
- Prop your head on a pillow when lying down
- Get lots of rest - no strenuous physical activity
- Rinse with saltwater starting 24 hours after surgery
- Apply an ice pack on your cheek or affected area
- Eat soft, cool foods (to avoid shocking any sensitive nerves)
Though there may be pain involved with your dental surgery, your dentist or oral surgery can help manage pain with sedatives and local anesthesia during the surgery.
Following your procedure, a prescription medication or OTC drug may be recommended to help manage postoperative pain or discomfort. Though your recovery timeline will vary depending on the surgery, any tenderness should only last a few days.
