How painful is oral surgery?

05 Jun

How painful is oral surgery?

Oral surgery, including procedures like wisdom tooth removal, dental implants, or jaw surgery, often raises concerns about pain. The good news is that while some discomfort is normal, modern dental techniques and pain management options make oral surgery much more comfortable than many people expect.

What to Expect During Surgery

Before surgery begins, local anesthesia or sedation is used to numb the area or help you relax. This means you shouldn’t feel pain during the procedure itself—though you might feel some pressure or movement.

Pain After Surgery

After the anesthesia wears off, it’s common to experience some pain, swelling, and soreness around the surgical site. The intensity varies depending on the type of surgery, complexity, and individual pain tolerance.

Mild to moderate pain is typical in the first few days.
Swelling and bruising can add to discomfort but usually peak within 2-3 days and then improve.
Pain generally lessens significantly after the first 72 hours.

Managing Pain

Dentists and oral surgeons usually recommend over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. For more extensive surgeries, prescription pain medication might be given. Other helpful tips include:

Applying ice packs to reduce swelling
Resting and avoiding strenuous activities
Eating soft foods
Following all post-op care instructions closely

When to Be Concerned

If pain worsens after a few days, becomes severe, or is accompanied by fever, excessive swelling, or bleeding, contact your dentist. These could be signs of infection or complications needing attention.

In summary:
Oral surgery can cause some pain and discomfort, but with anesthesia during the procedure and proper pain management afterward, it’s generally manageable and temporary. Most people recover smoothly and experience significantly less discomfort than they initially expect.

Tag: doctor, medicine