Before the tooth extraction process is begun, Dr. Arredondo will of course need to anesthetize both the tooth that will be extracted and the bone and gum tissue that surround it. The plan for any extraction is simply this: The root portion of a tooth is firmly encased in bone (its socket) and tightly bound within this socket by a ligament. During the extraction process, Dr. Arredondo needs to both “expand the socket” (widen and enlarge it) and separate the tooth from its ligament, to the point where the tooth is loose and free to come out. And after repeated application of pressure to a tooth, from many different directions, the entire socket becomes larger. Finally, enough space will have been created so that the tooth will come out. You will feel the sensation of pressure while you are having your tooth wiggled free, but don’t confuse this with pain or the precursor to feeling pain. The reason you will feel pressure during the tooth extraction process is because our bodies have different types of nerve fibers, each of which carry different types of sensations. And each of these different types of nerve fibers has different physical characteristics. Due to these differences, the local anesthetic that we use to “numb up” a tooth is very effective at inhibiting the function of nerve fibers that transmit pain sensations, but it doesn’t have as great an effect on the nerves that transmit pressure sensations. So, expect to feel some pressure during the tooth extraction process, but don’t assume that this indicates that you will soon be feeling pain because it doesn’t. If you do find you feel pain (discomfort that has a sharpness to it) during the extraction process, we will stop and boost your anesthetic.
