Tooth Extractions

A tooth extraction is sometimes a necessary part of dental work. Our caring dentists will make sure your process goes as smoothly as possible. We will also discuss with you your alternatives and options before the procedure is done. Determining whether or not you may need a tooth extraction is a decision made by both you and the dentist at Shuayb Dental.

The reasons a tooth removal might need to be removed include:

  • Damaged or Broken Teeth
  • Severely Decayed Teeth
  • Badly Positioned or Impacted Teeth
  • In Preparation for Surgery

Removing a tooth can create issues when it comes to chewing or even how your jawline looks. Leaving these teeth missing can leave you more susceptible to infections and may cause the other teeth to move to fill up the empty space. Our dentists will almost always recommend a tooth implant of some kind. If we believe there is a way to save your natural tooth, we will always go over with that you as well.

Extracting A Tooth

Removing a tooth requires the application of a local anesthetic. This helps numb the area and avoid any pain caused by the inflamed and infected root. With the use of anesthetic, you will feel nothing more than pressure. This is because the tooth must be shifted from side to side so as to widen the socket enough and remove the tooth from the socket. If any patient ever feels pain, we instruct the patient before the procedure begins to notify us immediately so we can examine the situation and apply more anesthesia where needed.

Tooth Sectioning

Sometimes during a tooth extraction, the tooth will require sectioning to remove. This can either be necessary because of a curved root and the socket being too tight to remove the entire tooth at once, or simply the tooth is just very well stuck in there. If tooth sectioning is required, our dentists can perform it quickly and painlessly with anesthesia. We will cut the tooth into multiple sections, then remove the tooth section by section. The patient is under local anesthesia so often won’t even notice this procedure unless we notify them of it.

What Should I Do After a Tooth Extraction?

After the tooth is removed, a blood clot will form to stop the bleeding from the area. The forming of this blood clot is necessary for the healing process to happen. Biting on a gauze pad for a half an hour to an hour should stop the bleeding. If it has not stopped by this time, bite down on another gauze pad for another half hour. Repeat as necessary until the bleeding and oozing has halted.

Once a blood clot has formed in the area, make sure to leave it alone and do not disturb it. Dislodging or removing it could cause the bleeding to start all over again, or create what is known as a dry socket. This can lead to excessive pain and require future procedures to repair the socket if it will not heal properly.

Important things to consider after a tooth removal:

  • Do not rinse your mouth vigorously.
  • No drinking from straws.
  • No smoking of any kind.
  • No alcohol for 24 hours.
  • Limit strenuous exercise.

Any of the activities described above can dislodge the blood clot or slow the healing process considerably. Exercise is mentioned because of the increase in blood pressure while working out. This blood pressure increase could cause the area to bleed around the blood clot, possibly dislodging or displacing it from where it needs to be.

In the hours and possibly days after a tooth extraction, it is not uncommon to feel discomfort or pain emanating from the area. Using an ice pack and applying it to the outside of the affected area can soothe and cool the area, reducing both pain and swelling. The majority of swelling should have dissipated after a couple of days.

If we feel it is necessary, we may provide you with pain medication or an antibiotic prescription. Always take these medications exactly as prescribed. Even if you are feeling better, the possibility of infection and any remnants of prior infections that caused the need for the tooth extraction in the first place may still be prevalent, and stopping antibiotics early can cause a slew of issues including the infection growing a partial immunity to the antibiotic, rendering it useless in future applications.

When Can I Go Back to Brushing and Flossing?

After a tooth extraction, you can return to your regularly scheduled dental hygiene program within about a day. This of course includes both brushing and flossing, at least once a day. Be careful to avoid scrubbing the immediate area too hard in the first couple of days, but you should be back to normal pretty quickly.

Once it has been a little less than a week, you should very little discomfort and returned to your everyday brushing and flossing routine. If you are still experiencing any heavy bleeding, extreme pain, continued swelling, or an inverse reaction to the medication, please let your local office know immediately.

Do you need a tooth extraction? We can help! Call us right now.