Tooth Extraction
Madison, AL
Tooth extractions have been performed for centuries. Although hard to believe, it is true.
Throughout history, if a patient complained about a tooth hurting, it would simply be removed. There was no attempt to save the tooth. Today, while extractions still occur, every attempt is made to save the tooth.
Thankfully, with the advent of new technologies and better tools, there is little chance of infection occurring following the extraction.
There are instances where it is better to take a tooth out than keep it in. Extracting a tooth can relieve pain and begin the process of rebuilding a tooth after damage or disease.
Our dentists at Singing River Dentistry are expertly trained in restorative services, like extracting teeth comfortably and efficiently.
What Is a Tooth Extraction?
Tooth extraction involves removing, or pulling, a specific tooth. There are many reasons for tooth extraction, which can be broken down into three subcategories: a need for room, stopping infection, or preventing infection.
When Is a Tooth Extraction Needed?
An overly crowded mouth could be a problem if your individualized treatment plan includes the use of dentures, dental implants, or other orthopedic treatments to straighten your teeth. If there is not enough room due to too many teeth in a smaller mouth, the extraction of a tooth is a common solution.
Some teeth decay is normal. However, if that decay extends beneath the gum to areas with nerves and blood vessels, it may lead to an infection.
Extractions are usually the last option in scenarios when a root canal or antibiotics are not able to cure the infection.
In extreme cases, if you come into our dental office with a severely infected tooth that is causing a lot of pain, we may opt to perform an emergency tooth extraction, especially if treating it with antibiotics did not help the problem.
Infection in your tooth and mouth can spread to the rest of your body and create additional health issues. It is important if you have an infected tooth to have the tooth extracted as soon as possible if it cannot be saved.
Tooth extractions can also be a solution to prevent infections caused by other treatments outside of the dentist, such as chemotherapy or having an organ transplant. It may also be a treatment option for preventing periodontal gum disease, which causes loosening of teeth because of an infection of the tissues and the bones that surround and support the teeth.
How Is a Tooth Extraction Performed?
To begin, our dentists will take a digital radiographic shot (dental x-ray) of your mouth and do a thorough oral dental exam. The digital x-rays will provide the dentist with enough information to ensure the teeth, gums, and area surrounding the tooth are healthy. Once your mouth has been inspected and treated, our dentists will administer a local anesthetic, which will then leave the area for the extraction numb.
Our professionals will use a device called forceps to take a grip of the tooth and gently rock it back and forth. This will loosen the tooth from the jawbone that holds it in place. The anesthesia that our dentists give in the beginning will make this loosening motion feel like pressure, but not pain.
What Are the Different Types of Tooth Extractions?
There are two main categories of teeth extractions: simple and surgical.
A simple extraction is used for teeth that are either already broken or impacted and need to be lifted out of the gum. This type of extraction does not include an incision, however, an anesthetic is still applied. We are able to perform these extractions using a dental elevator to loosen your tooth, and forceps to remove it.
A surgical extraction, however, is when the tooth has yet to break through the gum or is broken in a more complex manner below the gum line. For surgical extractions, our dentists will need to make a small incision into the gum to remove the tooth.
Impacted wisdom teeth generally fall under the category of surgical tooth extractions. The tooth may be removed whole or it may need to be removed in pieces. We have a variety of dental tools that we can use to cut through the bone and remove your tooth.
How to Prevent Dry Sockets
Your gums will form a blood clot immediately after we take your tooth out. However, for surgical extractions, we will also provide sutures so that the incision remains closed. We will then place gauze over the surgical site to control the bleeding. It is very important to allow a blood clot to form after any tooth removal so you do not develop dry socket.
What To Expect After a Tooth Extraction
Anesthesia's effects can last for a few hours following the procedure, so you will be numb for a while. It is completely normal to feel swollen and tender at the extraction site for several days.
There are tooth extraction healing phases your mouth will go through during this process. We generally recommend using ice to control swelling and over-the-counter pain medication for any soreness.
If you are wondering what to eat after a tooth extraction, we strongly recommend the patient adopt a soft diet and get a good deal of rest in order to help with the healing process. If you smoke, you should avoid smoking 24-72 hours after tooth extraction.
If patients follow these rules, the length of recovery can be greatly reduced and the results more than satisfactory. Our dentists recommend that you floss and brush your teeth as normal. It is best to avoid the extraction site for those first few recovery days following the procedure.
Depending on the type of extraction, the size of the tooth, and where it is in your mouth, it may take a few days to fully recover. The soft tissue in your mouth will take about three to four weeks to heal completely for a simple extraction but may take a little longer for a surgical extraction.
Replacing Missing Teeth
In most cases of tooth extraction, you will need to have a dental restoration to fill the space where your tooth was. This is not true for wisdom tooth extraction, though.
We will develop a customized treatment plan for your dental restoration, and there are many different options that you have. For instance, some of these include crowns and bridges, both of which involve artificial teeth. There are several different types of each of these. Our oral surgeon can explain the various procedures that each of these dental restorations would require.
Read More About Dental Crowns
Read More About Dental Bridges
Schedule an Extraction with Your Trusted Dentists in Madison, AL Today!
If you feel that a tooth extraction might help your comfort and the look and feel of your smile, call our professionals at Singing River Dentistry at 256 - 562 - 4001 today. We will begin with a dental exam and x-ray to find out the status of your tooth. We are here to assist you with your smile! |
