Today, about 20% of Canadians have dental conditions that are likely to cause tooth loss or lead to extractions [1]. For dentists in Vancouver, the most common reasons for tooth extractions are cavities (63%) and other periodontal diseases (34%) [1]. When one gets their tooth extracted, they should do it from a trusted clinic. The less anxious they’re about the procedure, the less likely they’re to register pain.
Why Tooth Extraction In Vancouver Hurts Less
That said, when visiting a dental clinic in Vancouver (or other parts of Canada), patients average fewer than three teeth removed per extraction [2]. Tooth extraction is less painful when it involves fewer than three teeth, so patients seeking care at a dental clinic in Vancouver experience lower-than-global-average levels of tooth extraction pain [3].
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How Much Does Tooth Extraction Really Hurt?
Given that acute pain is the most common reason patients seek tooth extractions, most people find the pre-extraction pain is greater than any pain they experience during or following the procedure [4]. Just 6% of all extraction patients experience comparably acute pain following the procedure [5].
Even so, dental practitioners constantly aim to reduce the pain associated with common procedures. Consequently, many top dental clinics in Vancouver now offer pain-free injections, sedation anesthetics, and improved postoperative pain medication options.
Yet even the best dentist in Vancouver cannot promise an entirely painless tooth extraction procedure.
Common Patient Experiences With Pain In Tooth Extraction Procedures
The most common pain experiences reported during and after tooth extraction procedures include:
- Some patients feel a “pinch” from the anesthetic injection, and many will feel some pain following the procedure [6].
- During the procedure, patients should not feel any pain regardless of the type of anesthetic applied — though patients who remain conscious may feel pressure [7].
- For simple tooth extractions, almost two-thirds of patients report feeling no pain (even immediately afterward), 22% report only mild pain, and just 0.6% report experiencing severe postoperative pain [3].
- If the extraction heals normally, patients experience mild to moderate pain and/or tenderness for 1-3 days following the procedure [8]. That said, complications — including dry sockets and infections — can last longer and be very painful [9].
- Most people treated at a high-quality dental clinic in Vancouver find that they experience less pain during and after tooth extraction procedures than they expected [10].
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What To Do In Case Of A Dry Socket
Not only can a dry socket be extremely painful, but it can also turn into a dangerous infection quite quickly. A dry socket is when the blood clot covering the socket used to have the patient’s tooth before the surgery is dislodged. The blood clot had the role of protecting the patient’s bone and nerves from foreign material. If it is detached before the socket has healed fully, any contact with the socket could result in a massive amount of pain.
To not let the blood socket form, the patient should avoid straws while drinking any beverage. Additionally, the patient is better off not rinsing their mouth too regularly and never missing out on the medication. Finally, if the patient feels severe pain days after the extraction, the chance of a dry socket is real. In that case, they should seek out a doctor immediately.
The Secret To (Nearly) Pain-Free Tooth Extractions
Patients who experience high levels of anxiety before the procedure more often report feeling pain during the procedure, experience greater pain during healing, and also remember exaggerated levels of pain after the procedure [11].
This makes managing patient anxiety the most under-utilized tool for pain management during and after tooth extractions. Dentists who effectively supplement traditional pain management with anxiety management can, therefore, promise better pain management outcomes for patients.
The Best Ways To Manage Pain During & After Tooth Extraction In Vancouver
The best dentists in Vancouver can modify their pain management programs to meet specific patients’ needs. Practitioners should adjust pain management recommendations for patients who:
- Demonstrate a high degree of anxiety before procedures;
- Have lifestyle and medical histories predisposing them to higher levels of tooth extraction pain (for example, a history of smoking);
- Need procedures known to cause higher pain scores (like extended surgery times and multi-tooth extractions) [3].
To minimize pain after tooth extraction, the patient should follow their doctor’s advice perfectly. Additionally, these are some of the ways a patient can relieve their pain:
One can temporarily reduce the pain through OTC medicines. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen have proven to be valuable solutions in this case. However, before a patient pops in any pain medication into their mouth, it’s best to clear it with their dentist.
If the patient’s dentist has already advised on painkillers and antibiotics, the patient should follow the instruction closely. They should take the dosage as suggested. It’s also important to read the labels correctly not to take the wrong medicine at the wrong time.
If the pain veers into severe range, which it shouldn’t, there’s a good possibility the patient has developed an infection. In that case, they must book a doctor’s appointment immediately.
The patient should try to it soft food or liquids during the healing period. Pieces from crusty material could stick to the gum, leading to irritation, pain, and subsequent infection.
Ice packs lessen the pain temporarily. Touching it to the side of the face where the truth extraction has occurred is enough. However, prolonged contact can result in irritation.
As such, the patient should alternate between keeping it on for 20 minutes and rotating by removing it for another 20.
The day following the extraction, patients can mix half a teaspoon of salt into the water and rinse their mouth with it. It keeps their mouth clean and also wards off the possibility of infection. Of course, the water should be no more than lukewarm.
Final Thoughts
The entire tooth extraction process can be almost pain-free for patients, both before and after, if they trust their doctor. So when choosing a dentist in Vancouver, look at their credentials and reviews to find the best one.
