Tooth Removal and Tooth Extraction

You may be asked to have a tooth removed.  The reason varies, but it can mean because of many thing.s for example, the decay has reached the bottom of the tooth, and is deep, the infection has destroyed a portion of the tooth that’s around the bone, and there isn’t enough room for all the teeth within the mouth, as in the case of say wisdom teeth.

Sometimes, partially erupted teeth are removed because the bacteria can enter and cause an infection, and that can extend to the bone and become serious. Impacted teeth tend to break through the gum tissue even if there isn’t enough space, and the pressure caused by this can also damage the nearby teeth. Removing the tooth that’s impacted can prevent infection, damage to other teeth, and save a lot of pain in the following years.

So how are they removed? Well, before it’s removed, your dentist will review the medical and dental history and take the correct x-rays.  They will reveal the length, position, and shape of the tooth and bone around it, and they can estimate the difficulty of this and if needed, you may need to be referred to an oral surgeon.

If it can be done that day, the area around the teeth does get a local anesthetic, so that you don’t feel pain. But, you may feel pressure and pulling.

For extractions that are simple, once the area is anesthetized, the tooth is then loosened with the help of a tool that’s called an elevator, and then extracted with forceps.  The dentist might want to smooth and recontour the underlying bone, and when they’re finished, it might be closed off with a stitch. 

What happens after all of this? Well, it’s critical to make sure that the infection is prevented from happening, and you should make sure that you follow what the dentist asks for. Your dentist may ask you to bite down on a piece of sterile, dry gauze, and you will want to keep it there for at least 30-45 minutes to help limit the bleeding while clotting happens.  You will want to for the next 24 hours not smoke, rinse your mouth too hard, or clean the teeth near it. 

You will probably feel a lot of pain and discomfort, and you may get a painkiller or antibiotic as well.  You may want to apply an ice pack, but do it for 15 minutes at a time.  don’t drink hot liquids, and don’t drink through a straw.  You can gently rinse your water with warm salt water, and do take it easy.  You will probably feel less discomfort after about 3 days to two weeks. If you have a lot of swelling, pain, or a fever, do talk to your dentist. 

Extractions are important for making sure infected teeth are taken out of the picture, and here you learned about what that entails, and why it’s important to do this for you.