Going to the dentist is never very easy for those who suffer from anxiety. It can be difficult to even make an appointment for a routine cleaning and checkup. What happens if your tooth needs to be extracted? That could cause your anxiety to soar to new heights.
How can you control your fear of a tooth extraction, both before and after the procedure is done? There are a few tips that can really help you.
Talk To Your Dentist
The first step you need to take is to let your dentist know that you have anxiety and are worried about the procedure. Your dentist should be trained in how to explain what will happen step-by-step in a non-frightening way. The more information you can learn about what will happen to you and why can help relieve anxiety over the extraction.
Your dentist should tell you that it is unlikely that you will feel much pain during the tooth extraction. They will explain the kind of anesthetic they will use and what the sensation might feel like. They should tell you that if you feel any discomfort at all during the extraction, let them know right away, either by telling them verbally or using hand movements.
Taking Painkillers
It might be possible to take a painkiller prior to the extraction to help with the pain afterward. There shouldn't be an excessive amount, but the area will most likely be tender and sensitive for a while. Your dentist might advise you to take Ibuprofen ahead of time, typically within a couple of minutes before the extraction takes place. This way, the medicine will kick in at the right time.
Do not take aspirin after a tooth extraction, however. This is a blood thinner, and it won't help your wound to clot so it can heal properly.
Take The Day Off
While most people don't have any trouble after a tooth extraction, and some head off to their jobs afterwards, it's advisable for anxiety sufferers to take the day off from work or school. You will most likely be feeling a heightened sense of adrenaline and once that comes down, you may be feeling drained. It's possible that you might feel sick or dizzy too.
It's a good idea to not lift any heavy items or do any kind of manual labor anyway after an extraction. Just go home and relax for the rest of the day.
Bleeding Is Normal
You might be worried if you see that the wound area is bleeding for a while after the extraction. This is normal, however. Your dentist will tell you to pack the area with gauze and advise you on aftercare. Don't panic or feel scared if you see blood — this will happen for at least a few hours after the extraction until your body's clotting ability kicks in.
Share22 February 2019
Hi, my name is Kevin Nelson and I want to tell you about my experience. I had a painful tooth so I went to see my dentist. After the examination, he said that I needed to have a root canal to save the tooth. I told the dentist to just pull the tooth instead and then he explained why that wasn't a good idea. He said that pulling the tooth would cause additional problems and then he told me what could happen. I didn't want any more problems, so the dentist did the root canal and I'm glad that he did. I wanted to write a blog to tell others about the benefits of a root canal and what to expect during the procedure. I hope that by getting the word out, other people won't make the same mistake that I almost did by getting a perfectly good tooth pulled.