Tooth Extraction: What to Expect When Removing Your Teeth?

Tooth extractions become necessary for various reasons, including considerable damage or decay. In addition, tooth removal is a standard procedure that helps eliminate bacteria in the mouth to improve your overall oral health.

Tooth extractions are dental procedures to remove a tooth from its socket entirely. A tooth extraction is also referred to as pulling a tooth. Dentists make all efforts to preserve an affected tooth and suggest removal after exhausting all options to save it.

When Do Dentists Suggest Tooth Removal?

Dentists recommend tooth removal if you have one or more teeth that are badly damaged and beyond the repair of restorative techniques (like fillings or dental crowns). Some other situations when dentists suggest tooth removal include severe decay, fracture, an impacted tooth, periodontal disease, or tooth luxation.

What to Expect When Getting Teeth Removed?

When removing teeth, expect the dentist to assess the affected tooth and surrounding gums. The dentist might take x-rays to determine bone levels and the severity of the damage. The dental professional will inquire about the medications you take, including vitamins, supplements, and herbs, and after garnering all information, they will discuss sedation options with you in detail.

Sedation Options in Dentistry for Tooth Removal

Most tooth extractions on visible teeth are performed under local anesthesia. Other sedation options for tooth removal procedures include nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation or intravenous sedation.

When undergoing tooth extractions in Calgary, AB, you receive local anesthesia around the affected tooth and surrounding gums to numb the area. The dentist utilizes specialized instruments to gently loosen your tooth and lift it from its socket using forceps.

If your procedure is for wisdom teeth removal in Calgary, the procedure is a bit different than other teeth removal. The dentist must make incisions in your gums after administering anesthesia before loosening or cutting the tooth in pieces for comfortable removal. With wisdom teeth removal procedures, the dentist may place sutures in your gums to promote healing. If you consider replacing the tooth with dental implants, you might receive a bone graft at the extraction site to help prevent jaw bone deterioration.

The Benefits of Tooth Removal

Tooth removal offers many benefits, but the most significant is the reduction of harmful bacteria damaging your teeth and gums. When left untreated, an infected or damaged tooth will impact your mouth and smile. In contrast, removing the affected tooth helps ease dental pain significantly if the tooth is severely damaged or infected.

Dos and Don’ts after Tooth Extraction?

Removing one or several teeth doesn’t end the problem affecting your mouth. The extraction site will remain tender for several days until you recover. Therefore, you must indulge in tooth extraction care to ensure you don’t invite complications in your mouth by following the dos and don’ts mentioned below.

Dos

• Keep the extraction site clean by gently rinsing the area with salt water rinses two to three times per day. You must avoid brushing over the extraction site until your dentist permits you to do so. However, you can brush all other areas of your mouth as usual.
• You will experience some discomfort as the anesthesia starts wearing off. Your dentist knows this phenomenon and suggests a prescription or over-the-counter painkillers to alleviate the pain. You must take all medications as suggested without skipping doses, especially if you are recommended antibiotics to prevent infections.
• Tooth extractions appear to be insignificant procedures but can create problems if you indulge in strenuous activity shortly after the procedure. In addition, strenuous exercise increases post-operative bleeding and discomfort because you elevate your heart rate. Therefore, you must skip the gym for 72 hours and enquire if you can resume such routines with your dentist before starting.

Don’ts

• Tooth extractions require you to eat soft foods during the initial few days until the extraction site heals to permit other foods. Therefore you must avoid crunchy and complex foods and maintain a diet of foods such as rice, pasta, yogurt, eggs, and applesauce.
• Do not drink hot liquids or use straws because they can cause the blood clot to dislodge and create dry sockets. You must also refrain from having alcohol after tooth removal.
• Do not fear dental visits if you develop a fever of over 100.4° Fahrenheit with drainage around the extraction site because it might indicate infections that need immediate treatment.

East Hills Dental Clinic performs many tooth removal procedures using minimally invasive techniques and providing comprehensive after-care instructions to patients. If you think you have an infected or impacted tooth consult with this practice for removal after understanding what to expect from this article.