What to Expect During a Dental Extraction?

If you are getting a tooth removed, the dental extraction process is quite common. Many patients have to have teeth removed due to a number of reasons such as damage or overcrowding. The process will take a short time to complete and then require a minor recovery period. It can also take a few weeks for your mouth to heal. Learning more about the process will help you to feel more confident with the procedure and how to take care of yourself afterward.

During the Procedure

During a tooth extraction, a local anesthetic will be used to help you remain comfortable during the procedure. After the procedure, you may feel numb for some time as the medicine will wear off slowly. After the tooth is removed, a small square of gauze will be inserted in the empty space. This helps to promote clotting.

You will need to hold the gauze in place for a 30 to 45-minute time frame after the tooth has been removed. Once that time frame is up, you can remove the gauze. A small amount of bleeding may occur after and that is relatively normal.