The extraction itself should not hurt. Local anaesthetic numbs the tooth, gum and surrounding bone, so you feel pressure, pushing and sometimes a cracking sound, but not sharp pain. The soreness comes later, once the numbness wears off, and usually settles over two to four days with the painkiller your dentist advises.
Most people who are scared of an extraction are scared of one specific moment: the tooth coming out. That moment, done properly, is not painful. What patients remember afterwards is usually the injection, the strange feeling of pressure, and the soreness that evening. Knowing which of these to expect makes the whole visit much calmer.
Your dentist first applies a numbing gel to the gum, then gives local anaesthetic (an injection that blocks the nerves around the tooth). The injection is a brief pinch and a few seconds of stinging as the solution goes in. Within a few minutes your lip, cheek or tongue on that side will feel thick and heavy.
Local anaesthetic switches off sharp pain, but it does not switch off the sense of pressure. So you will feel your dentist pushing, rocking and widening the socket (the pocket of bone that holds the root). Some patients hear a click or crack, especially with molars. This is normal and does not mean something has gone wrong.
If you feel anything sharp, raise your hand. Your dentist will stop, wait, and add more anaesthetic. You should never be asked to "bear it".
Numbness lasts roughly two to four hours. As it fades, a dull ache in the area is expected. For a simple extraction it is usually mild to moderate, worst in the first 24 to 48 hours, and steadily better after that. A surgical or wisdom tooth removal is sorer and may come with some swelling and stiffness.
Pain should get better day by day. If it settles and then becomes worse on day two to four, throbbing towards the ear, often with a bad taste, the clot may have been lost. This is called dry socket, explained on our page on alveolar osteitis. Increasing swelling, fever or pus suggest infection. Either needs a review, not just stronger tablets from the chemist.
Our registration form asks how anxious you are about dental treatment, so please answer it honestly; it changes how we pace the visit. Appointments are planned in long slots, so nobody is rushed out of the chair. Difficult or surgical extractions are planned with our oral and maxillofacial surgery department. You can read what the procedure involves on our tooth extraction page, or book a consultation to have the tooth examined first.
Kharadi runs late. Reception will tell you honestly whether you need an appointment yet.
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