A Complete Guide to Tooth Extraction

The teeth are an integral part of your body. Be it chewing the food or talking or the beautiful and confident smile, the teeth play an essential role. The teeth may be damaged due to decay or dental trauma, and your dentist might fix it with a crown or dental filling. When the damage is severe, tooth extraction might be the only solution. Mainly speaking, tooth extraction is the process of removal of teeth from the dental alveolus in the alveolar bone.

Reasons for Tooth Extraction

Apart from damage or decay, there are some other reasons for tooth extraction. Often baby teeth do not fall in due time to allow permanent teeth to come in.

You might have an extra tooth that blocks the growth of other teeth. If you have braces, teeth may be extracted to create room for the alignment of other teeth.

Patients undergoing radiation to the neck and head might need to have the tooth extracted that is in the field of radiation. Extraction of the tooth that led to the infection of the dentine and pulp may help at times. If there is not sufficient room for the development of a wisdom tooth, it might be extracted.

Understanding Tooth Extraction

Broadly, tooth extraction is of two types. The simple extraction process is performed on a tooth that is visible in the mouth. In the process of a simple extraction, the dentist would loosen the tooth with an elevator and then gently extract the loosened tooth with forceps.

The surgical extraction process is more complex and extensive. You may have broken a tooth off the gum line or have not erupted in the mouth. Generally, maxillofacial surgeons perform these procedures. The surgical extractions are administered under local, intravenous anesthesia.

A number of dental clinics provide tooth extraction in Houston, TX. Surgical tooth extraction needs planning. Since the process is lengthy and painful, studies have revealed that the intake of drugs as ibuprofen can reduce the pain extensively. As per your doctor’s recommendations, you can take those drugs three to four days before the operation.

Healing Of Tooth Extraction

The simple extraction might leave slight bruises and bleeding that is healed quickly. The surgical extractions cause more pain and usually takes one week to heal. Although most pain disappears after a couple of days, the discomfort remains. You can follow these steps for a speedy recovery and minimizing the discomfort.

• You can use an ice pack to reduce the swelling and bruises.

• You can eat soft, semi-solid, and cooled food for a few days.

• You can keep the mouth clean by gently rinsing with warm salted water after 24 hours of surgery.

• You should avoid smoking or consumption of tobacco after surgical tooth extraction.

• You should brush your teeth with great care.

• If you need stitches, you can insist the dentist go for those stitches that dissolve on its own.

• Consumption of food rich in vitamin A and Vitamin C helps you to heal faster.

• While you sleep, prop your head up with pillows to enhance the healing.

In general, once the healing process is initiated, you tend to return to a normal routine within a week. On some occasions, if you find it difficult to swallow or experience swallowing and uncontrolled bleeding, you should visit the surgeon.

Complications and Side Effects

Most of the surgeries are accompanied by nausea, swelling, and reddening of the area of surgery and vomiting. Surgical tooth extraction is no different, and these are the common side-effects.

Complications may arise from surgical tooth extraction that can be treated. Dry socket occurs in roughly 3% to 4% of patients undergoing tooth extraction. When the blood clot is not formed in the space after extracting a tooth, the underlying bone is exposed, leading to a dry socket.

You might suffer from sore jaw due to the effect of anesthesia or due to the reason of keeping your mouth open for a long period.

If you have a healthy immunity, the chances of infection are less. During a tooth extraction, any underlying nerve may be traumatized that might leave your lower lip or chin numb for several months.

Outlook

Once you heal within a week or two, you can return to the regular food habits. Newer tissues would grow over the extracted site, but your chewing might be affected as missing a tooth might trigger other teeth to shift. You can visit clinics offering tooth extraction in Houston, TX. With extensive experience and the use of advanced technology, we provide you with a comfortable solution to your dental problems. At Pinnacle Dental, we consider you a part of our family. Visit us today to get rid of your dental issues.