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Tooth decay is the most common reason for tooth removal.
To begin, your dentist will clean and disinfect the treatment site in preparation for the extraction procedure.
Your dentist will use local anesthesia to numb the extraction site and the nerves that surround it, ensuring that you feel no pain or discomfort during the procedure.
We may recommend, or you may request, sedation for your tooth extraction. Sedation is helpful for anxious patients and can make you more comfortable during longer extraction procedures.
Your dentist will gently loosen the tooth in the socket using special dental tools. When it has been loosened sufficiently, they will pull it out with a pair of dental forceps.
When the tooth has been removed, your dentist will clean and disinfect the area again, and suture the extraction site to ensure it heals properly.
You’ll be sent home to heal and recover, and your dentist will provide you with a comprehensive set of instructions that will ensure your mouth heals as quickly as possible.
Basic extractions are typically used for teeth that have been damaged by oral injuries, gum disease, or tooth decay. We will always try to save your tooth first, but sometimes extraction may be necessary.
For example, if a tooth is severely infected, it may not be possible to save it with a root canal. Instead, your dentist may recommend an extraction. Restorative treatment, like a dental implant, a dental bridge, or a partial denture, can be used to replace your missing tooth.
First, take the day off from work or school. You can go back to your routine tomorrow. Particularly if you’ve been sedated, you will have trouble focusing. You also may not be able to drive, and may need someone to drive you to and from our office. Taking two days off may be a good idea, if possible.
You also should avoid heavy exertion and exercise for a few days. This will help reduce your pain and discomfort. Rest, relax, and take things easy, even if you do have to go back to work or school.
Make sure you follow the right diet, too. Eat mostly liquid foods for the first few days. You can eat slightly firmer foods like pasta after 3-4 days, and introduce more normal foods after about a week. Avoid any hard, tough, and sharp foods for at least 2 weeks.
You also may want to chew on the other side of your mouth when eating. This helps reduce pain and discomfort, and minimizes the risk of damaging your extraction site.
Finally, make sure you come to any follow-ups scheduled by Dr. Cerdas. Follow-ups are essential for protecting your oral health and ensuring your mouth heals properly.
Dr. Cerdas will provide you with a comprehensive set of recovery instructions to follow over the days and weeks following your procedure at Perkasie Dental Loft. But to ensure you know what to do, let’s discuss a few of the steps you should take immediately after your surgery.
First, leave your gauze pack in place and bite down on it. This will absorb blood and allow your blood clot to form properly. Dr. Cerdas will give you a few gauze packs to use after your appointment. Switch to a new one if the current pack becomes too soaked with blood. Bleeding should slow and stop within a few hours.
You also can eat right away as long as you stick to liquid, soft foods. Proper nutrition is essential for recovery, so do your best to eat a meal within a few hours. Ice cream, yogurt, broth-based soups, and other soft/liquid foods are the best choice, since they will not harm your extraction site.
You should stay hydrated, too. Drink plenty of water, but don't use a straw. The suction of a straw can damage and dislodge your blood clot, leading to a complication called “dry socket.”
Once you go home, rest and relax. Lie with your head elevated above your feet. This helps reduce bleeding. If your mouth hurts, you can take prescription medication (if applicable) or over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen. Icing the cheek near the area will also help with discomfort.
You can continue brushing your teeth normally, but you should not brush the extraction site. Instead, gargle with salt water gently, or use a prescription mouth rinse if provided by Dr. Cerdas. Do this whenever you brush your teeth. Do not spit forcefully, since this can dislodge your blood clot. Let the liquid gently drip out of your mouth.
An extraction may be necessary for orthodontic reasons like overcrowding.
The most common reason for tooth extractions is the improper growth of wisdom teeth. If your wisdom teeth are impacted or are otherwise not growing in properly, they may need to be removed to ensure that your other teeth remain healthy. However, not everyone needs their wisdom teeth to be removed, so it’s best to consult with your dentist to find out if your wisdom teeth are or will be a problem.
Tooth extractions may also be necessary if you have an extremely severe cavity, severe damage from oral trauma, or an infected tooth that cannot be saved with root canal therapy. In most cases, it is possible to save your tooth with a crown or root canal therapy, but sometimes extraction may be your only option.
Some patients with severe gum disease may require tooth extractions. In its most severe stages, periodontal disease causes teeth to become loose and eventually fall out. Your doctor may want to extract these teeth to prepare you for a strong and long-lasting tooth replacement option. Extractions are required to prepare patients for these treatments, including the placement of dental implants or dentures.
You won’t feel any pain or discomfort during or immediately after your extraction due to the numbing and sedation used during the procedure. However, you will start to experience symptoms including pain, discomfort, swelling, bruising, and bleeding within a few hours following your extraction. These symptoms usually peak within the first 2-3 days, and then start to fade as you heal. You will typically need to eat a diet of mostly soft foods for about 5-7 days after your treatment, so plan accordingly.
Overall, it will take about 1-2 weeks for your extraction site to heal completely. Following the recovery instructions provided to you by your dentist will enhance your healing progress. If you are still feeling a lot of pain and discomfort 1-2 weeks after your extraction, this is not normal. Contact your dentist for a follow-up appointment.
Usually. Tooth extractions that are required to remove impacted wisdom teeth, or damaged or decayed teeth, are typically covered by insurance. However, we recommend that you contact your insurance provider and work with them to fully understand your coverage and benefits.
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Most patients can return to work or school within 2-3 days days following an extraction.
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