Effective local anesthetic for dental procedures has only been available for about 160 years, and the process has been vastly improved since the mid-1800s. Although patients may be worried about having teeth extracted at an Oral Surgery Practice in Summit, NJ, the various types of anesthetics and sedatives available help them get through the procedure with minimal discomfort.
Local Anesthesia and Topical Preparations
Although local anesthesia is very effective, its administration by a needle into the gum tissue is reported to be the most anxiety-producing part of any dental treatment. Topical preparations help numb the gum tissue before the injection, but not enough to entirely block a few moments of distinct discomfort. Patients who need teeth extracted will want to find an Oral Surgery Practice in Summit, NJ that offers compassionate, gentle care that may include intravenous sedation or general anesthesia.
Intravenous Sedation and General Anesthesia
Oral surgeons may want certain procedures to be performed under general or IV sedation because they know many patients have trouble sitting still. This is especially true with pediatric patients, but it can also be a problem with nervous adults as well. These adults want to cooperate, but they are so anxious that they can’t quit fidgeting or even trying to push the surgeon’s hand away. Sedation keeps them calm and relaxed.
Prescription Pain Medication
After extraction of teeth at a practice such as Westfield Oral Surgery, certain behaviors will help the patient feel an as little discomfort as possible for the next few days. The local anesthesia applied should last for several hours after the operation, which reduces the person’s need for prescription pain medication. Patients will likely still need to take a painkilling drug before they go to bed that night and perhaps one more for the next day or two.
Additional Measures After Surgery
After that, over-the-counter pain relief medications should be enough to manage residual discomfort. Patients should avoid sucking on straws or ice pops since suction can pull blood clots out of the wounds. People who know they need one or more teeth extracted may be interested in checking out an oral surgery clinic on Facebook.
