Is oral surgery painful?

Before we start an oral surgery, patients often ask us, “How bad will it hurt?” As oral surgeons, we have been asked this question so many times. That’s because patients fear pain associated with oral surgery. Even simple procedures like tooth extraction were painful back in the days. But now, dentistry has been immensely improved.

Oral surgery is not as painful as you might think. In fact, it can be an enjoyable experience with the right set of conditions, including:

  • You have a highly skilled oral surgeon
  • You know post-surgery aftercare

After all, what’s more pleasant than knowing your oral health problem got a solution and the pain associated with your condition will finally wear off?

Things You Need to Know to Have a Pleasant Oral Surgery Experience

Choose a Skilled Oral Surgeon

Choosing the right oral surgeon is one of the most crucial decisions you’ve to make. This will also determine whether or not you have a great experience. The gentler the surgeon, the less tissue damage at the surgical site. And thus, less inflammation and pain after the surgery. On the other hand, if your surgeon is inexperienced, you’re more likely to have tissue damage at the surgical site. And therefore, you’ll experience more inflammation and pain after the surgery. For better outcomes, it’s important to choose an oral surgeon you or your friends and family trust.

Prescribed Medications

The amount of pain you experience depends on a series of chemicals signaling within your body. For this reason, oral surgeons use several techniques to minimize postoperative surgical pain, which leads to reduced inflammatory and pain signaling. So, your job is to use the medications that your surgeon prescribes as recommended. Ask questions about the procedure and listen to what measures they ask you to take before the surgery to ensure a reduced pain experience.

Sedation Dentistry

Oral surgeons use sedation dentistry if the patient suffers from dental anxiety or the procedure is extensive. For less severe cases, laughing gas is adequate to provide comfort and anxiety-free experience. Extensive surgeries may require IV sedation or local anesthesia. Generally, there are three types of conscious sedation, including:

  • Minimal sedation helps you feel calm while allowing you to stay responsive and conscious.
  • Moderate sedation keeps you reasonably responsive, but you may feel less aware and sleepy.
  • Deep sedation makes you mostly unresponsive and asleep, but you’ll wake up with some effort.

Additional Simple Tips

To further minimize pain after your oral surgery, consider applying ice for the first 24 hours to help reduce swelling. Do so in 15-minute intervals. You can also perform heat compress but make sure to take a 15-minute break between each application.

Post-surgery Aftercare

Following your surgeon’s aftercare instructions is crucial for better recovery. Consider consuming only soft foods followed by the surgery to ensure proper healing. Otherwise, hard, crunchy foods may stick to the surgical site and cause irritation, infection, and other complications. Try consuming dairy, fruits, vegetables, and foods rich in carbohydrates. These foods will provide you enough nutrition that your body requires and ensure a quick recovery.

Contact Rock Creek Oral Surgery

If you’re looking for an experienced and gentle oral surgeon in Cypress, TX, We work to make you as comfortable as possible throughout the procedure and your recovery. We also educate our patients about the course, so they know what to expect before the procedure begins. Contact us today!