One of the biggest questions that dentists get is, “How much is this going to hurt?!?” Some patients come right out and ask, but most people just sit in silence and assume the answer. I can literally see the horrifying images they are envisioning as they sit in the chair and stare at me in horror. So, here is the truth. Yes, you will be in pain after some dental procedures. Yes, your mouth is going to feel weird for a couple of days after most dental visits. However, those horrifying images of blood poring out of your mouth really only happen in horror movies. I’m going to give you a rundown of what you can really expect.
During your dental procedure, you should not feel pain. With the advancements we have in anesthetics today, there is no reason for any pain in the dental chair. Your dentist will get you numb, which is uncomfortable, but should not be painful. Once you get numb, you will know your dentist is doing stuff in your mouth, you may feel pressure, but there should be no pain! So please don’t worry about that.
After your dental procedure, you may feel pain or discomfort. Your mouth is a very sensitive area. Think about the last time you ate either chips or a piece of bread with a really crusty exterior. I don’t know about you, but I get these annoying little cuts in my mouth that bug me for a couple of days. But, it doesn’t stop me from eating the chips and the bread! Dental work is similar. We have to get underneath your gums for cleanings, deep cleanings, and routine dental procedures. So, odds are, you are going to be a little sore and irritated for a couple of days. Kind of like eating some really good crusty bread!
Extractions and surgical procedures are a little different. This is more like if you fell off your bike and hurt yourself. You will be swollen and uncomfortable for a few days. The swelling is part of how your body heals itself. It means that everything is working right! Almost all people heal in the same timeline because it is the way your cells work together to heal you. You will be the most uncomfortable on day 3 after a surgical procedure. So think of a hill. You are heading up the hill until the 3rd day and then it’s just all downhill fun. You should start feeling much better!
So, there you have it. Trust your dentist when they tell you what to expect. Dentists really only do a few procedures, so we know exactly what you are going to feel. In addition, we are patients as well. We are our classmates’ first patients that they practice on in dental school. We have experienced all the shots, and a lot of the procedures as well. We don’t want you to be surprised. We want whatever procedure you’re having done to go seamlessly and we want you to know exactly what to expect after the procedure when we can’t be there with you. If you are experiencing pain or symptoms that are unexpected after your procedure, we want to know. At our office, we have someone who answers the phone 24 hours a day so that we can help you anytime. So ask the question, and get the work done. We are here for you!