Sadly, more than 30 million American citizens are missing all of their teeth in either one or both jaws. Hopefully, you’ll never have to experience going thorough life with no remaining teeth, but you should be prepared to deal with one or two tooth removal procedures throughout the years.
Hopefully, this guide will help you understand how to prepare for any upcoming tooth removal procedure. If nothing else, we hope this guide will act as motivation to take better care of your teeth from now on.
Calming your nerves
It’s normal to feel anxious before a new medical procedure, but a tooth removal is a routine and relatively simple dental procedure. Of course, if you do nothing but look up horror stories about tooth removal procedures online, you’re going to freak yourself out. To be safe, don’t even Google the word “teeth” until you’re completely healed.
Your best bet to calm your nerves is to sit down and have a detailed conversation with your dentist about your concerns. He or she will tell you exactly what they will be doing, and they will likely assure you that it’s not going to be nearly as painful as you probably imagine. Don’t let your nerves get the best of you before a dental procedure — talk to your dentist and relax.
The procedure
Hopefully, you won’t be afraid by the time it comes for the actual procedure. Even if that’s true in theory, some patients struggle to just sit back and relax in a dental chair. If your jitters return in your dentist’s office, try practicing some calming breathing techniques and remind yourself that this is a routine procedure. Decades ago, a tooth extraction could be a long and painful ordeal, but that’s simply not the case anymore. You’ll sit down in a nice comfortable chair, you’ll lean back, you’ll make funny sounds as you try and say a few words, you’ll feel a slight pinch, and it’ll all be over.
Continue to see your dentist
Congratulations! Your tooth has officially been pulled, but you’re not out of the dental woods just yet. It’s important that you stay in contact with your dentist after any procedure to ensure that you aren’t in any more pain and that there are no infections. Your dentist may schedule a followup appointment a few weeks after your procedure to make sure everything is okay. In the meantime, be sure to call your dentist if you experience sudden pain or bleeding.
Living with dental implants
Don’t worry about living with your new dental implant, either. Remember, literally millions of Americans have dozens of missing teeth, and having an implant or two inside your mouth is nothing to be ashamed of. Make sure you’re taking good care of your implants, however, along with the rest of your teeth.
If you’re still nervous about an upcoming tooth removal procedure, talk honestly to your dentist about your concerns. Good luck!