How much does dental surgery really hurt?

If you are expecting to have dental surgery in the near future then you may be concerned about how much pain you may be in afterward. Our Etobicoke dentists talk about dental surgery, what pain that you might expect to feel and how you can provide some relief.

What does dental surgery include?

Dental (oral) surgery includes the diagnosis and surgical treatment of defects, diseases and injuries of the hard and soft tissues of the mouth, face, jaws and teeth. At Etobicoke Orthodontics & Oral Surgery, we take a preventive approach to dental treatment and always use the least invasive treatment possible for a given dental issue.

However, in some cases, less invasive treatment options are simply not sufficient and oral surgery is needed.

Here are some common types of oral surgery:

Dental implants
Root canal
Impacted wisdom tooth removal
Jaw and reconstructive surgery
Cosmetic dental surgery

What Pain Can I expect During & After Dental Surgery

Depending on your comfort level and how complex your oral surgery procedure is, your dentist or oral surgeon may use one or more types of anesthesia to reduce pain and help you feel more comfortable.

After your surgery, you’ll be given after-care instructions to help alleviate any pain and aid your recovery.

Pain Management During Surgery

Nitrous Oxide

This gas is inhaled through the mouth and nose. It will help calm you, reduce gag reflex, decrease anxiety and make time seem to pass quicker. This option offers minimal sedation that will help you feel drowsy and relaxed.

Intravenous (IV) Sedation

IV sedation is more moderate and covers a number of medications that can be administered directly into the bloodstream, through the vein. This offers the deepest level of sedation short of general anesthesia and you’ll have limited memory of the procedure.

Oral Sedation

Your dentist can prescribe oral sedatives in liquid or pill form for more complicated surgeries. You’ll take this medication orally before the dental procedure for a calming, relaxing effect.

Local Anesthesia

A numbing substance will likely be applied to your gums via injection, near the extraction site in all cases. While the anesthetic will not completely numb the area, you shouldn’t feel pain or sharpness.

You may be able to feel pressure or movement. For a simple extraction, your dentist or oral surgeon will likely use local anesthetic, and you’ll be awake for the procedure.

Pain Management After Surgery

Your dentist may recommend taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), to help manage any post-operative pain or discomfort.

More powerful pain medication may be prescribed if you had a complex surgery involving the bones and gums.

What Are Some Ways I Can Relieve Pain After Dental Surgery?

After dental surgery, follow your dentist’s post-operative self-care recommendations. These might include:

Get lots of rest - no strenuous physical activity
Prop your head on a pillow when lying down
Apply an ice pack on your cheek or affected area
Eat soft, cool foods (to avoid shocking any sensitive nerves)
Use warm compresses
Rinse with saltwater starting 24 hours after surgery

Though there may be pain involved with your dental surgery, your dentist or oral surgery can help manage pain with sedatives and local anesthesia during the surgery.

Following your procedure, prescription medication or OTC drugs may be recommended to help manage postoperative pain or discomfort. Though your recovery timeline will vary depending on the surgery, any tenderness should only last a few days.