What to Expect Before, During, and After a Tooth Extraction

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NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / December 01, 2025 / Although your dentist aims to preserve your natural smile, sometimes a tooth extraction is necessary. For example, if you have a broken tooth, severe tooth decay, or gum disease, then it may be best for your oral health to remove the tooth. While tooth extraction is a common dental procedure, understanding what to expect can help you feel more confident ahead of your appointment and better prepare for a smooth recovery.

Before a tooth extraction

Before you get a tooth extraction, your dentist will take a detailed medical history and additional X-rays if necessary.1 They'll ask what medications, vitamins, or supplements you're taking and let you know if you need to adjust any dosage around the date of the procedure. 2

As leaving a gap can cause surrounding teeth to shift and cause bone loss in the jaw, your dentist might suggest replacing the tooth with a dental implant to keep your smile healthy. It can be helpful to ask about how much dental implants cost during this discussion to understand your options.

Ensure you have the supplies you'll need for a comfortable recovery at home, such as an ice pack and over the counter pain relief medications. Everyone heals at a different rate, but you'll want to avoid doing significant physical activity in the first couple of days after the procedure. Therefore, if your work is physically demanding it may be recommended to schedule a few days off.

During a tooth extraction

Your dentist will numb the area around your tooth to manage your pain during the procedure. Then, using specialized dental instruments, your dentist will carefully loosen and remove the tooth.2 During this time, you'll feel the dentist's movement and pressure as they work to widen the socket, before they remove the tooth with dental forceps.3 Finally, your dentist will clean and disinfect the socket to minimize any risk of infection.

After a tooth extraction

To reduce bleeding and help a blood clot to form, your dentist will ask you to gently bite down on a piece of gauze.4 Before heading home, they'll explain instructions for how to manage your pain once the numbness wears off.

To ensure a healthy recovery, take the medications as recommended by your dentist and avoid touching the healing socket with your fingers or tongue. For the first 24 hours, avoid smoking and be gentle when rinsing your mouth. Apply an ice pack to your cheek to minimize swelling.

It's also recommended to avoid hard, spicy, or crunchy foods and instead choose soft foods like applesauce, yogurt, mashed potatoes, or soup. When eating, try to chew on the other side of your mouth, and when drinking, avoid using straws.

Feeling prepared for a tooth extraction

With the right care before and after your procedure, getting a tooth extraction can lead to a healthier, more comfortable smile. In certain cases, having a tooth removed can help alleviate dental pain almost immediately. Follow your dentist's instructions closely, and once your mouth has recovered, you can follow up on options to restore the appearance of your smile.

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SOURCE: iQuanti