Dental Extractions: What Should You Know About This Procedure?

Dental extractions are performed by dentists and oral surgeons for many reasons. The issue could be a painful wisdom tooth or a tooth severely damaged by decay. In some cases, dentists remove a tooth to make space for the other teeth to move in from orthodontic treatments.

An oral surgeon is better equipped to extract a tooth in a complicated situation. Oral surgeons are routinely performing wisdom tooth extraction on the third molars. The dentist or surgeon makes the patient more comfortable by administering anesthesia. Dental extractions are unpleasant but are necessary to relieve dental pain and to prevent future problems.

What Is a Dental Extraction?

The removal of a tooth is known as dental extraction or tooth extraction. Dentists or oral surgeons perform dental extractions for many reasons, including dental cavities, infections, trauma or injury to the tooth or surrounding bone, preparation for dental braces, and baby teeth not falling out in time.

The type of dental extraction performed will depend on the tooth’s shape, position, size, and location. Dental extractions are usually classified as straightforward or surgical by the dentist in Mississauga, ON. A simple extraction is performed on a visible tooth which can be extracted in a single piece. Surgical extractions are complicated and may require removal of gum tissue, bone, and the tooth may be removed in pieces.

Emergency tooth extraction may sometimes be necessary and is performed by dental extraction in Mississauga, ON, when the tooth cannot be preserved. Removal of teeth in an emergency could be an infected tooth extraction that has developed into an abscess to be classified as a life-threatening condition. Regardless of the reasons why the extraction is necessary, dentists will follow the recommended procedure for tooth extraction.

The Tooth Extraction Procedure

Before starting the tooth extraction procedure, the dentist or oral surgeon uses x-rays of the patient’s tooth. The imaging will help dental professionals evaluate the curvature and angle of the tooth’s root.

The surgeon will begin the extraction after the local anesthesia has taken effect and numbed the area. The tooth may be extracted in several pieces. In the tooth is impacted and concealed beneath the gum line, the surgeon may need to cut away the gums and remove any obstructing bone in the area.

Patients should not feel any pain during the procedure but will feel some pressure against the tooth. Patients may also hear the grinding and cracking of their bone and teeth. Some patients may find the experience unpleasant or distressing.

Patients experiencing any pain should immediately notify the dentist or oral surgeon who will administer more anesthesia. Sutures or additional procedures to control the bleeding may be necessary after the extraction. The dentist or surgeon will place a thick layer of gauze over the extraction site and have the patient bite on it to begin the clotting process.

After-Care Following Dental Extraction

The dentist in Mississauga, ON, provides after-care tips to reduce discomfort and promote healing after dental extraction.

Patients are advised to leave the gauze in place for 20 to 30 minutes and replace it whenever it is saturated with blood. Patients can expect bleeding to continue for one or two days after the surgery. The patient may experience mild swelling in the area of the extraction, which is normal. Applying an ice pack to the face helps to alleviate the swelling.

The first 24 hours after the extraction are pretty significant as disturbing or irritating the extraction site can prevent blood clots from forming effectively to slow the healing process. Patients are advised to avoid:

• Sucking on the extraction site or touching it with their tongue.
• Using a straw for drinking liquids.
• Speaking or having alcoholic beverages, including mouthwashes containing alcohol.
• Having crunchy foods or rinsing their mouths vigorously and smoking.

Patients are recommended to drink plenty of fluids after dental extractions and eat soft and nutritious foods. They can gradually introduce solid foods into their diets as chewing becomes comfortable. Dentists recommend chewing on the other side of the face from the extraction site until the wound has healed entirely.

Patients can continue brushing and flossing after dental extractions by avoiding the site of the removal. Following the day after the surgery, patients can begin rinsing every few hours with warm water.

Patients experiencing any issues or complications during recovery must contact their dentist for advice regarding the matter.