As your oral surgeon, we want you to be able to keep your teeth for a lifetime. We care about you and your teeth, after all, so nearly everything we do has the goal of prolonging the life of the teeth in your mouth to ensure a beautiful smile for as long as possible.
But life happens. Sometimes tooth extraction is not only necessary — it’s the best course of action for your oral health.
The good news is that thanks to modern medicine, tooth extraction is also relatively painless. Dr. Puckett prioritizes comfort and care. Because he’s certified to offer a wide variety of sedation dentistry, he’s able to deliver painless oral surgery. The entire experience will be just like a dream — like riding on air.
Why Tooth Extraction May Be Necessary
Tooth extraction is the process of removing a mature tooth from the roots. We only offer it as a last resort — ordinarily; everything we do has the goal of preserving teeth. But sometimes it is necessary. You may need a tooth extraction as a result of:
- Severe tooth decay
- Infection — especially in the case of infected gum tissue
- Wisdom teeth (this is a common procedure more people have done in early to mid-20s)
- Crowded mouth
- Significantly broken tooth
If you need a tooth extraction, rest assured our oral surgery is relatively painless. We also offer a number of viable options for tooth replacement that will have your smile looking as good as new.
Sedation Dentistry for Comfortable Care
We offer all forms of sedation dentistry to ensure comfortable care for our patients. Our commitment to a painless surgical experience is why many patients tell us we’re worth the drive — why they come from Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and surrounding areas. With Dr. Puckett, you know you’re in good hands!
The most comfortable approach is IV sedation — pain medication administered through an IV. You won’t technically be unconscious, but will have little to no memory of the surgical experience after waking up. You’ll need someone to drive you home from your appointment as it will take some time for the medication to wear off.
Using these sedation methods, we ensure your oral surgery experience is painless and easy. Your (safety and) comfort is our priority. If there is anything you need throughout the procedure, be sure to let us know!
The Process of Painless Tooth Extraction Explained
After you are sedated we make a slight incision into the gum tissue. Once the tooth is exposed, we loosen the tooth in the bone. Sometimes we need to remove the tooth in a few pieces.)
There will naturally be some bleeding in the site, which we’ll control by packing it with gauze. We may have you bite down on the gauze to stop the bleeding. This helps the blood to clot, which will help the area heal.
Sometimes — but not always — we’ll need to stitch the site together. These stitches will naturally be absorbed into your mouth, disappearing on their own. There is no need to remove them.
The entire process takes about 20 minutes. Many of our patients are surprised the experience is so easy. We’re here for you every step of the way. Dr. Puckett is committed to a painless oral surgery experience.
After Care Treatment for Tooth Extraction
All that’s left to do following the surgery is to heal. You may experience some discomfort, but we’ll do everything we can to ensure you are as comfortable as possible.
We’ll prescribe you painkillers to help manage the pain. Don’t wait until you are in pain to take them. They take some time to kick in. Take some as soon as you get home to soothe the pain before it arrives.
In fact, an hour or two after the procedure, we suggest you treat yourself to some ice-cream. You deserve it — and it will help calm the pain that may occur during the healing process.
