Having a tooth extracted is a common thing many adult patients face. Fortunately, modern dentistry makes simple and surgical extractions relatively painless. There are a number of anesthesia options your dentist will discuss with you and together, you can choose the type that is best for you.
Surgical Extraction and Anesthesia
Sedation dentistry has made dental treatment much easier for many people. Different types of sedation include local anesthesia, oral sedation, nitrous oxide, and general anesthesia.
Local Anesthesia: This is the most common type of anesthesia used for dental work, including extractions. Your doctor will inject the anesthetic to the area being treated, effectively numbing the treatment site and surrounding tissues. You may feel a pinch when the needle is inserted in your gum tissue and possibly a stinging as the anesthetic is administered but then you will be completely numb and not feel a thing. Local anesthesia is safe and effective and does not require special equipment. There is very little risk of complications and recovery time is short!
Oral Sedation: Oral conscious sedation is typically administered in pill form, taken orally 20 to 30 minutes before your procedure. This might be something like Valium which will help you feel relaxed and calm during treatment. Oral sedation is very beneficial for patients that have anxiety around going to the dentist. Oral sedation is used in conjunction with a local anesthetic so even though you are feeling relaxed, you will still be numb. Patients that receive oral sedation may need to have a friend or family member drive them home after their extraction.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation: Much like oral sedation, nitrous oxide helps you feel calm and relaxed during the procedure. Nitrous oxide is a gas that is inhaled through a mask before the procedure. It does not put you to sleep so you will recover quickly once you are done with treatment. Nitrous is also used in addition to local anesthesia.
General Anesthesia: This is a common sedation type used for surgical extractions that are more complicated. General anesthesia is administered via IV and puts you completely to sleep. After effects of general anesthesia take a few hours to recover from and you will definitely need someone to drive you home.
It is normal to feel some discomfort when your anesthetic begins to wear off. After a surgical extraction, you can expect to experience some minor bleeding and swelling of the gum tissue, both of which should subside within a couple of days. As the anesthetic wears away, you may feel some tingling and throbbing where the shot was administered as well as the surgical site.
With so many anesthetic options available, you and your dentist will be able to find the best option for you. It is important to understand the ins and outs of each type of anesthesia to make sure you are comfortable and able to get home afterwards. Having a tooth extracted does not need to be a big scary event! Anesthetics are available in many forms to help you have the best experience possible.
