Pain during the treatment
The affected area where the tooth removal is performed is well anaesthetized with local anaesthesia before the procedure. This way the patient should not feel any pain during the treatment. Nevertheless, it must be said that although the anesthesia takes away the pain, the patient still feels slight pressure during the treatment, which the dentist exerts to release the tooth from the tooth socket.
In general, however, care is taken to ensure that the patient feels comfortable and relaxed. The procedures are usually over sooner than expected, so patients are often surprised that the teeth have already been removed. Very pain-sensitive patients can alternatively have their wisdom teeth removed under general anesthesia or with the use of nitrous oxide.
A very complicated procedure is performed in specially designed practices by oral or maxillofacial surgeons. An anesthesiologist must always be present during surgery under general anesthesia. General anesthesia is not covered by the statutory health insurance and must be paid privately at about 250 Euros per hour.
Pain after treatment – How strong are they?
The intensity of pain after tooth removal is variable. The wound pain after uncomplicated operations can be only slight, so that no painkillers need to be taken at all. After complicated operations, however, which are accompanied by severe swelling and inflammation, the pain may be unbearable without medication.
In addition to the painkillers, an antibiotic is prescribed to quickly remove the inflammatory germs from the body. Furthermore, the individual perception of pain also influences the perception of the intensity of the pain. Insensitive patients can hardly feel pain at all, while sensitive patients experience pain of the same intensity as unbearable.
What can be done about the pain?
Surgical removal of wisdom teeth can be very unpleasant for a certain period of time even after the procedure. The opening and closing of the mouth can be disturbed, a strongly swollen cheek can occur, and many patients also find it difficult to eat. Immediately after the operation it is advisable not to do strenuous work, but to rest.The dentist or oral surgeon may write the patient off for one to three days if the procedure was very intensive.
During this time the patient should lie down and regularly cool the affected side of the jaw in a targeted manner. Only proper cooling is pain-relieving and productive. However, permanent cooling is wrong and leads to negative effects, because the body feels that the affected area is hypothermic and therefore has an increased blood supply, which only promotes swelling.
It is correct to cool the area for 5 to 10 minutes every half to three quarters of an hour and then let it rest. Sucking ice cubes or eating ice cream can also have similar effects. It is important to drink only carefully after the removal of the wisdom teeth and not to rinse, whether with herbal rinses or rinsing solutions.
Irrigation ensures that the blood clot that accumulates in the empty tooth socket is removed, thus disturbing the healing of the wisdom teeth. In addition, the patient should keep his head high in order not to cause excessive blood flow to the affected area. If the symptoms persist, the dentist should be consulted.
