I'm Really Anxious About Having My Tooth Pulled

Though no one loves to have a tooth pulled, sometimes it’s a necessary procedure that will improve your overall oral health. If you have a tooth that’s severely decayed, broken beyond repair, in a poor position in your mouth, or a victim of advanced periodontal disease, that tooth may have to come out.

In cases like this, it’s understandable for patients to be anxious about the procedure. At Portrait Dental, Dr. Minh Nguyen and his team understand your fears and will do everything they can to ease your nervousness and make the procedure as quick and painless as possible.

Here are a few tips on how to reduce your anxiety about having a tooth pulled.

Focus on your mindset

Much of the battle against anxiety about your tooth extraction will take place in your mind. Although it might sound complicated, tooth extraction is a relatively simple and straightforward procedure that dentists do often. If you have questions, ask your dentist ahead of time — information is a great way to calm your nerves. You should also focus on how you’ll feel when the procedure is over rather than how nervous you are right now.

Remember — anesthesia works!

You might have an image in your mind of your dentist just yanking your tooth out with no preparation, but that isn’t how it works! The first step is application of a local anesthetic that will numb the area, so you won’t feel pain. You may feel some pressure as the tooth is extracted, but it shouldn’t actually hurt.

Ask about oral sedation

In addition to anesthesia, you should ask your dentist about oral sedation to help calm you. Sedation can be in the form of nitrous oxide gas to give you a warm, calm feeling during the procedure, or it could be a pill you take ahead of time to relieve your anxiety. Talk to your dentist about which option is best for you.

Have a plan for after the removal

Part of your anxiety may have to do with what happens next. Talk to your dentist about the plan for your oral healthcare after the tooth is out. Your next step will depend on why the tooth had to be pulled — you may need an implant, or you may just have needed extra room to straighten the rest of your teeth. Having a clear plan ahead of time will help ease your fears.

If you need to have a tooth pulled, the caring team at Portrait Dental is here to help. Just call our office at 501-381-1621, or use our online booking tool to request an appointment.