What to Expect with a Tooth Extraction

If you go see a dentist with a badly decayed, damaged, or infected tooth, your dentist in New Castle may tell you they have to pull the teeth. Dentists don’t say this lightly; they would much rather save a tooth. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. Nevertheless, patients dread hearing that they need a tooth pulled. Most people that never had a tooth extraction envision a lengthy, painful ordeal like they see in the movies or on TV. Extractions are nothing like this at all. They are fast and virtually painless.

Reasons for a dentist recommending an extraction include:

• A tooth is badly infected and a root canal will not stop the infection from spreading
• A tooth is damaged beyond repair from decay or trauma
• You’re experiencing overcrowding and there isn’t enough room for teeth to grow in straight or straighten out with braces
• To make way for dentures
• The tooth’s impacted, or trapped under the gum

There are two types of extractions; simple and surgical. Simple extractions are often the most feared by patients, even though they are virtually painless. If the affected tooth is visible in the mouth, a dentist can remove it from the socket by loosening it and then taking dental forceps to pull it right out. You’ll receive a local anesthesia to numb the area and possibly nitrous oxide if you are very nervous. A tooth extraction literally only takes a few minutes. Typically. oral surgeons perform surgical extractions as they involve making a small cut in the gum to remove an impacted tooth or one broken at the gum line, You may have IV sedation or possibly general anesthesia if you are having all four wisdom teeth removed.

If you’re worried about having a missing tooth in your mouth, you can talk to your dentist about tooth replacement options. A missing tooth lost to decay or damage can lead to other dental problems, like shifting teeth besides changing the aesthetics of your smile.

Before Your Extraction

Before your procedure, you will have an x-ray so your dentist can plan the extraction. Your dentist will want to know if you take any prescription drugs, supplements and over-the-counter medications. Your dent will also go over your anesthetic options beyond a local anesthetic or sedative options, like IV sedation or an oral sedative.

Your dentist in [GEOID} will also want to go over your medical history, looking for:

• a compromised immune system
• liver disease
• renal disease
• an artificial joint
• a history of bacterial endocarditis
• a congenital heart defect

The American Dental Association recommends individuals with these conditions start a course of antibiotics before the extraction.

Your dentist will also explain the procedure, your anesthesia options, the cost and what your recovery will be like.

Will I Feel Pain After an Extraction?

After your procedure, you can expect some swelling, residual bleeding, and minor pain. You can relieve these symptoms with an ice pack and an OTC pain reliever as directed by your dentist. Extraction sites usually take a week to fully heal. If you have a molar pulled (excluding wisdom teeth), the site may take a few more days to heal.

During the first two days after an extraction, a blood clot will form in the socket. You have to follow your dentist’s instructions carefully to avoid dislodging the clot, prevent an infection and promote quick healing. These will likely include:

• Resting for at least 24 hours after the extraction
• Lying down with your head propped up
• Brush your teeth, carefully avoiding the extraction site and not spitting out the toothpaste
• Eating soft foods at first
• Avoid using a straw or doing anything else that can cause suction to remove the clot
• Don’t smoke
• Avoid alcohol and very hot or cold foods and beverages

If you notice signs that the site might be infected, call your dentist. Symptoms of an infection can include a fever, chills, or pus oozing out of the tooth socket. Also, contact the dental office immediately if you experience extreme bleeding, swelling, or pain.

Are Wisdom Teeth Extractions the Same as Simple Extractions?

Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars that commonly emerge in the back of the mouth in people that are between 17 and 21 years old. While some people don’t have wisdom teeth, more people find their jaws are too small to hold four more unnecessary molars. At one time, we needed wisdom teeth to chew raw foods, but our diet has changed since the time of our early ancestors.

If wisdom teeth partly erupt but there is no room for them, they can cause problems. Partially erupted means the teeth have partly surfaced and have no room in the mouth to come in completely. The teeth can press against the other molars, causing pain. Crooked wisdom teeth will also be hard to brush and floss, making decay an issue, as well as infections. Dentists can pull partially erupted wisdom teeth relieving you of these problems.

Completely impacted wisdom teeth may never emerge from the gums. Dentists will x-ray them to determine if they are a problem or will be a possible issue later on. If the wisdom teeth are likely to cause dental problems, most dentists will advise a surgical extraction. A dental professional will cut the gum to access the wisdom teeth and remove them. The recovery takes about a week longer than it does with a simple extraction.

Younger patients heal quicker from wisdom teeth extractions, so some dentists may suggest them as a proactive measure against future problems. Other dentists advise waiting until the teeth become a problem. Discuss the pros and cons of the procedure with your dentist if you are not having any current issues.