Tooth Extractions Don’t Need to Be Scary.
The most common reason people have teeth extracted is when their wisdom teeth emerge. Dental complications such as headaches, jaw pain, shifted teeth and pushing out other molars are likely when this happens, so many people have them pulled to avoid tooth and jaw problems. We perform wisdom teeth extractions surgically, and under general anesthesia.
There are also other kinds of extractions – any time a tooth is badly damaged, whether through decay, infection, ongoing damage or sudden trauma, it may be at risk for being extracted. We always strive to find a solution that allows you to keep your natural teeth, like a crown, root canal or other treatment that can repair or support a damaged tooth. However, sometimes the only option is extraction. Some common reasons to need a tooth extraction might be an impacted tooth, crowding of teeth in a small mouth, extensive tooth decay, infection, or accidental trauma to the face or jaw.
What to Expect
There are two types we might perform: simple extractions and surgical extractions. Your dentist will discuss with you which treatment is needed and why. The difference typically is that a simple tooth extraction takes place when a tooth is visible above the gumline, while a surgical extraction requires cutting into the gums to remove the tooth. For instance, a surgical extraction would more than likely happen if you have impacted wisdom teeth.
A tooth extraction procedure isn’t a long or complicated process, and we always talk through the procedure with our patients to let them know exactly what will be happening and what to expect both during and after the tooth removal.
The procedure begins with a local anesthetic injection to ensure the treatment is pain-free. We always make sure the area around the tooth and its nerve is fully numb before removing it. Afterward, the socket is often sutured closed to ensure good healing, but that’s not always needed.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction Recovery and Care
It’s important after a tooth extraction to follow the dentist’s instructions closely and thoroughly. Poor at-home care can lead to complications like excess bleeding, pain, or a very painful condition called dry socket. Dry socket happens when the blood clot forming in the socket is dislodged and the bone or tissue is revealed. This causes bad healing and severe pain for patients who experience it.
To avoid such a problem, we recommend being very careful with food, drink, and other actions throughout the course of healing, which might be a few weeks. During your wisdom tooth extraction recovery, sticking to soft foods only and avoiding the use of straws are good rules to follow. You also should avoid any sucking or spitting motion that may increase pressure in your mouth and disturb the clot. Smoking or chewing tobacco is particularly not recommended, because of the risk of dry socket and the fact that tobacco use will slow healing.
Other ways to help your mouth heal after a tooth extraction include applying ice packs to the affected area, using over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, and changing the gauze given to you by the dentist at specified time intervals until the bleeding stops. If you experience continued bleeding after 24 hours, contact your dentist to let them know. And, if you have any concerns or questions about your recovery, please don’t hesitate to call Oak Tree Dental and talk with us.
After Extraction
When you’re all healed up, we’ll want to talk with you about possible tooth replacement alternatives, if the tooth removed was an integral part of your smile or bite. Leaving a permanent gap in your mouth can lead to future complications like TMJ disorder, shifted or crooked teeth, and chewing and speaking issues. Today’s tooth replacements look just like natural teeth, and function just like them too. Options to consider might be a dental bridge, a dental implant, or even partial or complete dentures, depending on how many teeth you are missing. While every patient is different, we are confident that Oak Tree Dental of Sebastopol can provide a solution to replace your missing tooth and ensure your good oral health in the future.
