What to Expect During a Tooth Extraction

Having a tooth removed isn’t an exciting experience. Even with regular brushing, dental complications such as decay and gingivitis are still possible. Living with a damaged tooth is not fun.

Eating, drinking, and speaking become a challenge, while sensitivity and tooth pain makes everything worse. Procedures such as dental bonding and crowns may not be the ideal solution when suffering from severe dental complications.

In such situations, an extraction may be necessary. Tooth extraction is among the lasting solutions for a decayed tooth. Extraction can relieve tooth sensitivity and prevent the impact from spreading to other teeth. As well, it corrects overcrowding, obstructed wisdom teeth, and severe tooth decay.

Tooth Extraction Procedure

Dental extraction begins with a consultation, anesthesia administration, and then tooth extraction. Post-procedure care is crucial to boost quick recovery and avoid complications.

Before the procedure begins, it is essential for the dentist to understand the health and dental history of the patient. The information determines which type of medication is the best for the patient.

Types of Tooth Extractions

Tooth extraction can either be a simple extraction or surgical extraction. A simple dental extraction is a simple procedure that doesn’t involve surgical interventions. Next, the dentist numbs the gums around the tooth to prevent pain and discomfort. The numbing gel can be used to reduce discomfort just before the injection.

After the injection, a periodontal ligament is used to suspend the teeth from the bony tooth socket for easy extraction. A gauze net could be used at the back of the mouth to hold the teeth after extraction. An elevator is then used to make the teeth lose while forceps are employed to extract the teeth. The tooth is pulled out within a few minutes.

A surgical extraction is applied for a partially visible or invisible tooth. The process entails the use of a surgical flap to expose the tooth through an incision. Tooth sectioning could also be crucial for easy removal of the tooth and to protect the nerves and tissues surrounding the tooth from trauma.

Tooth Extraction Aftercare

Post-procedure care is crucial after tooth extraction. Immediately after the extraction, it’s possible to experience discomfort such as pain, bleeding, or swelling. Your dentist will likely prescribe medications for that. Other tips to promote faster recovery include:

• Do not spit, suck, or use a straw for the next 24 hours.
• Do not rinse your mouth forcefully for the next 24 hours.
• Avoid smoking as it can slow healing.
• Bite on the gauze until bleeding stops.
• Eat soft foods for the next three days.

Why is Tooth Extraction Necessary?

A dentist can extract your tooth for various reasons. For instance, tooth extraction can be recommended as an advanced treatment for periodontal disease or severe tooth decay. Damaged, malposition, impacted, or abscessed teeth may also require extraction.

Therefore, if you are experiencing symptoms that may call for dental extraction, you should go to a dental office for diagnosis and tooth extraction services.

Emergency Dental Extraction

On certain occasions, tooth extraction requires emergency dental services. To know whether you need an emergency tooth extraction, here are a few key reasons to watch out for;

• Teeth trauma – traumatic injuries are primarily sports-related, and their treatment is dependent on the area of injury and how severe it is. A fractured gum line or cracked front teeth may not be treatable and therefore requires emergency extraction.

In most cases, accidental cases require an x-ray to determine how severe the injury is. If a tooth cannot be saved, an extraction is necessary to relieve pain and prevent further damage.

• Progressed periodontal disease – for severe cases of periodontal disease a tooth extraction may be necessary. Extracting such a diseased tooth will relieve and prevent the infection from spreading to the surrounding gum tissues.

• Dental Abscess – When a tooth has an infection, it may cause a pus-filled swelling and tooth pain. If the condition worsens, it may lead to more severe symptoms. In such cases, emergency extraction is necessary.

• Severe Dental Emergencies – Enlarged cavities expose the tooth’s nerves which may cause infections. If the decay can’t be treated with a root canal treatment, an emergency tooth extraction may be necessary.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

For tooth extraction treatments or professional advice, contact Edgartown Dental Group today to book an appointment.