Are you apprehensive before visiting your dentist about having a tooth extracted?
Infections, painful gum diseases, severe tooth decay, wisdom teeth, and crowded growth — there’s only one way to solve these dental problems, i.e., Tooth extraction.
Before starting the blog, in all seriousness, we realize and understand that teeth surgery sounds extremely painful and may not sound very enticing. Still, it’s necessary to prevent worsening the condition. You can risk spreading the infection to other healthy teeth when delayed or avoided, which may need to be extracted before they become the biggest regret. (We’re not trying to scare you off already.) But here’s the good news: Dentists perform millions of extractions every year, and a vast majority of those procedures are quick, smooth, and ultimately the right call for long-term oral health.
What is Tooth Extraction?
Tooth extraction is removing the entirety of a tooth from its socket. In other words, teeth removal is most people’s #1 choice when it comes to choosing how they want to spend a few hours off work. We’re not kidding, can you believe it?
So, if your dentist has started talking to you about the word “extraction,” don’t panic; take a deep breath, and brush up on the information below. Then take heart to the fact that your dentist has probably done this a hundred times already.
Sometimes, extraction is the only option. Why would you get your tooth/ teeth extracted?
You might require to have teeth surgery if you have:
- Painful gum disease
- A severe infection in a tooth
- Broken tooth/teeth
- Orthodontic reasons
- Issues with a wisdom tooth
- A crowded mouth
Wisdom teeth, the last adult teeth to arrive, the ones that are late to the party, sometimes need to be removed. They can become stuck if they don’t have sufficient space to grow properly.
What to expect when you’re getting your tooth extracted?
Dentists and oral surgeons (dentists with exceptional training to perform the teeth removal procedure) perform teeth removal procedures. Before extracting the tooth, your dentist or the oral surgeon will give you a local anesthetic injection to numb the region where the tooth will be removed. As per the requirement, the dentist may use a strong general anesthetic to ease the pain throughout your body and make you rest and sleep through the procedure.
Now, if the tooth is affected, the dentist will cut away a little gum and bone tissue that cover the tooth, which is causing you the pain and then, using forceps, the dentist will hold the tooth and gently swing it back and forth to loosen it from the jaw bone and ligaments that hold it in place. Often, a hard-to-pull tooth must be removed in pieces, which is completely painless; trust us on this, we got you!
Once the tooth has been extracted, a minimal blood clot is usually created in the socket. The Dentist or Oral Surgeon will pack a gauze pad into the place and have you put pressure or bite down on it to help stop the bleeding. Sometimes the dentist will put a few stitches, usually self-dissolving, to close the gum edges over the extraction area.
Once the blood clot in the socket happens continuously, exposing the bone in the socket. This is an aching condition named dry socket. If this situation occurs, your dentist will most likely give you a sedative dressing over the socket for some time to protect it as a new clot form.
Everything is well planned; as mentioned above, your dentist is an expert who has performed the same procedure a hundred times. So, no need to worry.
How is a tooth extracted?
Depending on the condition requiring a dental extraction procedure, your dentist may choose between a simple or surgical extraction.
Note: Knowing the difference between the two, as well as which kind of oral surgery you will have performed, will help you prepare mentally for your procedure and select your sedation dentistry preference. It will also help you understand how much duration you’ll need to recover from your oral surgery procedure.
Simple Extraction
Simple tooth extractions are when a visible tooth or teeth are removed from your mouth, which is performed for a variety of causes, including the removal of:
- A diseased tooth that can’t be treated with cavity fillers or root canals;
- Fractured/broken teeth
- Teeth that need to be pulled out in order to have more aesthetically pleasant dental implants placed or adequately align your teeth.
A local anesthetic will be given to numb the surrounding area. You’ll feel light pressure and no pain during the whole procedure. Your dentist will use an elevator to ease the tooth from its socket and forceps to remove it.
Surgical Extraction
Surgical extractions remove teeth from your mouth that have not yet developed – or aren’t yet observable in the mouth. You might need a surgical tooth or teeth extraction if:
- You have impacted painful wisdom teeth;
- You have a hereditary or genetic condition that causes you to grow more than 28 teeth, including your wisdom teeth; and
- You have teeth that are not yet developed and need to be removed for oral procedure causes, for example, getting braces.
Surgical tooth extractions are more complex than oral surgery because they involve cutting the gums and removing the teeth below your gumline.
Your dentist may give a combination of local and IV anesthesia to numb the spot and put you in deep sleep or general anesthesia if you have pre-existing conditions. Once these are safely given, your dentist or oral surgeon will cut into the affected gums or below your gumline with a small incision and may even remove the surrounding bone or trim the tooth to extract it.
What to expect after your tooth extraction?
It may sound complicated, but tooth extraction is a straightforward procedure. It only takes a few days to heal from it, but only if you do your part to ensure a smooth recovery.
Right after the tooth extraction procedure, your dentist or oral surgeon will place a gauze pad over the extraction site. They’ll instruct you to bite down on it to reduce bleeding and allow the clot to form. Ensure that the pad stays on for at least 3-4 hours.
You’ll also need to use an ice pack on your cheeks for 10 minutes to minimize swelling.
Avoid any harsh activity for the next 24 hours after the tooth extraction procedure; take this time to relax, ideally with a pillow to give your head support when you lie down. You should avoid using straws, smoking, and eating anything other than gentle foods.
Keep your mouth uninfected and clean — you can brush and floss like normal, but ensure you avoid the extraction site and instead rinse using a little bit of salt added to warm water.
Take your prescribed medicines, including painkillers, and keep an eye out for symptoms of an infection such as fever, pain, or pus. Let your dentist know if you encounter them to prevent additional complications.
You can restore your solid and healthy smile in no time if you follow these aftercare instructions for a smooth recovery.
If you wish to learn more about wisdom teeth extraction dental procedures and get helpful tips to ensure its success and a smooth recovery, contact Alpha Dental in Perth at +61893131182 or visit our website.
We’re here to give you the beautiful and healthy smile you’ve always wanted!