Will it hurt after having a tooth pulled?
I am 21 years old this year, and I am preparing to have my wisdom tooth extracted these two days. I would like to know whether it will hurt after the tooth extraction?
Doctor's answer (1)
In general, pain may be experienced after tooth extraction, but the intensity, duration, and ways of relief vary among individuals.
During the extraction process, separation of the tooth from surrounding tissues, such as the gums and alveolar bone, causes local tissue damage, resulting in postoperative pain. In complex extractions, such as impacted wisdom teeth or buried teeth, where more tissue incision and bone removal are required, postoperative pain may be more pronounced. After tooth extraction, local tissues will exhibit an acute inflammatory response, including redness, swelling, heat, and pain, which is a normal healing process of the body following trauma, usually lasting 3-5 days.
If the blood clot in the extraction socket becomes dislodged or fails to form, exposing the alveolar bone to the oral environment, dry socket may develop. This condition is characterized by severe pain that worsens 3-5 days after extraction, bad breath, and an empty-looking socket. To reduce post-extraction pain, patients can take certain measures, such as using painkillers as advised by the dentist, maintaining oral hygiene, and avoiding chewing food on the affected side. Additionally, brushing and rinsing should be avoided for the first 24 hours after extraction to prevent dislodging the blood clot and delaying wound healing.
If the pain following tooth extraction is extremely severe, lasts longer than a week, or is accompanied by abnormal symptoms such as high fever or excessive bleeding, patients should contact their dentist or seek medical attention immediately to rule out possible complications.
