Dr. Wilhite understands the importance of keeping as many healthy, natural teeth in your mouth. Although we do our best to save adult teeth, occasionally a tooth has so much decay that it must be removed. Eventually teeth with significant decay can cause a dental abscess, a painful infection that is often treated through a root canal. However, if the tooth has reached a state of decay that cannot be remedied, we must extract the tooth.
Other times teeth must be removed for orthodontic correction. Too many teeth in your mouth can cause overcrowding, which causes teeth to shift. Shifting teeth cause tooth and jaw pain, affects the bite of your mouth, and can give your smile a crooked appearance. In order to prevent or treat these issues, sometimes we remove problematic teeth.
What To Expect During A Tooth Extraction?
Your dentist or oral surgeon will give you an injection of local anesthetic in the area where the tooth is located. This will numb that part of the mouth and remove the risk of pain. The dentist may also opt for nitrous oxide or oral sedation; both of which help you relax during the procedure.
The actual oral surgery procedure of tooth extraction can vary depending on the issue being corrected. If the tooth is loose due to injury or gum disease, the dentist can gently pry it loose without making any cuts to the gum tissue.
In case it is an otherwise healthy tooth with cracks or damages, the dentist will make an incision into the gums and use forceps to gently rock the tooth and loosen it from the jawbone. Don’t worry – with anesthesia, this whole surgical procedure will be relatively painless.
Once the tooth is removed, the dentist will pack gauze into the empty tooth socket. This will help reduce bleeding and help a blood clot form in that space. If any incisions were involved, the dentist will also place a few self-dissolving stitches in the area to close the gums.
Things to Tell Your Dentist Before a Tooth Extraction
Tooth extractions are relatively minor procedures with excellent chances of quick recovery. With that said, there is a raised risk of infection in the affected area during the healing process. You may need to take antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection. Always give your dentist a complete medical history, along with information about any current medications, before you undergo this procedure.
Experienced dentists like Dr. Wilhite will ask you for the following information before a surgical tooth removal procedure or any other oral and maxillofacial surgery:
- Any history of heart disease, COPD, liver disease
- Recent surgical procedures
- Any known immune system issues
- Any allergies to medication or local anesthesia
Things to Do After Getting a Tooth Extraction
After the procedure, the doctor will allow you to go home for recovery. Depending on the type of anesthetic used, you may require assistance in getting home. If local anesthetic or nitrous oxide was used, you can usually drive back on your own.
If oral sedation was used, you cannot drive for at least a few hours. You will need to arrange a driver, a friend, or a family member to take care of your transportation from the dentist’s office.
Most people recover from the procedure within 24–72 hours. While you can go back to normal life within that period, expect the jaw to take at least several weeks to heal. If you want to replace the gap in your mouth with a dental implant, you will have to wait at least a few months.
Take the following precautions after the procedure:
- Keep the extraction site clean using an antimicrobial mouthwash several times a day.
- Avoid brushing and flossing in the immediate vicinity for a few days or until the dentist tells you it is safe.
- Take all the medications prescribed by your dentist at the right time to reduce severe pain and prevent infections.
- Avoid any heavy exercises, jogging, or high-intensity sports for at least 72 hours to reduce the risk of excessive bleeding.
- Eat soft foods for the next few days and avoid hot liquids.
You can rely on Dr. Wilhite for all your dental health needs. To book an appointment, fill out the contact form available on this page or call our office at 972-964-3774.
