How to Prepare for Tooth Extraction

Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction is a common dental procedure that can provide relief from severe, chronic dental pain or other symptoms. This treatment can also prevent complications from arising in the future.

The procedure begins with a consultation that involves a review of your X-rays and an oral exam. Using local anesthesia, we can numb the affected tooth and gum socket.

Preparation

While losing teeth as a kid was exciting and usually resulted in high-fives or money from the tooth fairy, it’s not quite as pleasant to lose an adult tooth. A tooth extraction trussville al can be painful and requires time to recover from. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to help prepare for the procedure and make it less stressful.

It is important to follow the pre-operative instructions provided by your dentist or oral surgeon. These may include fasting or refraining from certain medications. Inform the dentist or oral surgeon of any health conditions that could increase the risks of complications or slow healing.

It’s also a good idea to stock up on soft foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes and soup and over-the-counter painkillers. You should also apply ice packs to the cheek directly after the procedure to reduce swelling and discomfort. The ice pack should be used for no more than 10 minutes at a time.

Anesthesia

With modern dental techniques and anesthesia, tooth extraction is relatively painless. We use local anesthesia to numb the tooth and surrounding jaw bone, minimizing discomfort during removal. Mild soreness and swelling are typical but manageable with prescription pain relievers and a cold compress.

Some teeth are so firmly anchored in their sockets or are curved that they cannot be removed easily. These teeth may require sectioning, a procedure that involves cutting the tooth into pieces and removing each piece with forceps.

After the tooth has been removed, we will place a piece of gauze in your mouth and ask you to bite firmly for 30-45 minutes to stop the bleeding and help a blood clot form in the empty socket. The clot will fill the socket and protect it as the socket heals. If you experience severe pain, fever, excessive bleeding or a change in your sense of taste or smell, contact us immediately.

Removal

Once your tooth has been loosened with the help of specialized tools it is ready to be removed. You will feel pressure, but not pain as the anesthetic has numbed nerves that transmit pain signals to the brain.

After the tooth is removed your mouth needs time to heal. A blood clot must form to stop bleeding and prevent infection. To promote a healthy and quick recovery bite down firmly on a clean gauze pad for 30-45 minutes following the appointment. Avoid smoking, forceful spitting and using straws as these actions can dislodge or dissolve the protective blood clot and lead to painful complications such as dry socket.

While preserving natural teeth is always our primary goal, we sometimes recommend extraction for several reasons including severe decay that has permeated the inner structure of the tooth, advanced periodontal (gum) disease that has eroded and damaged the jaw bone, fractures that are beyond repair and impacted wisdom teeth that do not have enough space to erupt normally. In these cases, tooth extraction trussville al improves overall dental health and reduces potential problems with chewing and jaw joint function and shifting teeth.

Post-Operative Care

The roots of a tooth are encased within the jawbone in a “tooth socket.” To remove a tooth, we must expand this socket and separate it from the ligament that supports it. This is why it is important to keep the surgical site as clean as possible.

After the procedure, a blood clot must form to stop bleeding and initiate healing. We will place a gauze pad directly over the wound immediately after surgery. It should be kept in place for a half hour and then discarded. Avoid talking, vigorous mouth rinsing, or smoking after the extraction to prevent dislodging the clot.

It is normal to experience some swelling, bruising, or pain after a tooth extraction trussville al. These symptoms are a natural part of the healing process and should resolve in 5-10 days. If you have any concerns, please call our office. We can provide you with a prescription for pain medication that will reduce discomfort as it begins to subside.