Extractions can be needed for many reasons, such as extensive decay, trauma, or to make room for other teeth in a mouth that is too crowded. Sometimes, decayed or damaged teeth can be saved with fillings, onlays, crowns, or root canals. Some teeth are so severely damaged that they cannot be saved, or saving them could compromise the health of other teeth. In such cases, an extraction is necessary.
Is it necessary to extract wisdom teeth?
Not all wisdom teeth need to be extracted, but in some cases, it gets necessary. Being the last one to emerge, it begins to erupt through the gum, but by that time, the mouth is already full of teeth. The emerging wisdom teeth might cause a mess in the mouth by crowding and pushing teeth out of alignment. They may even get stuck under the neighboring teeth causing pain, infection, and damage to other teeth. Not only that, being the last one to emerge and also placed, at last, might make it difficult to clean because of which it might quickly get decayed or infected.
What should someone expect with tooth extraction?
Dentists or oral surgeons usually perform tooth extractions. The dentist, at first, administers the patient with local anesthesia to numb the extraction area. When the tissues around the tooth have become numb, the dentist would slowly remove the tooth by using dental forceps.
After removing the tooth, blood would clot in the area of the socket. A gauze pad is placed on the clot, which the dentist would provide you to bite down to stop the bleeding. The dentist might even put a few stitches, which are usually self-dissolving, to close the gum edges over the extraction site.
What are the things to be checked before having a tooth pulled?
A patient should open up the complete medical history before the dentist, knowing the medications that you intake, and if you have;
- Damaged or man-made heart valves
- Congenital heart defect
- Impaired immune system
- The artificial joint, like a hip replacement
- History of bacterial endocarditis
What are the things to be done after having a tooth pulled?
Recovering from a tooth extraction takes a few days. To reduce discomfort, infection, and speedy recovery:
- Take prescribed painkillers
- Take rest for the next 24 hours after the extraction and limit activities for the next day or two.
- Apply an ice bag to keep down swelling.
- For the next 24 hours, do not drink from a straw.
- Do not smoke as that might slow down the healing process.
- Prefer having soft foods like soup, yogurt, applesauce the day after the extraction.
When to call a dentist?
You should definitely call a dentist:
- If you are experiencing swelling and bleeding severely, hours after the tooth is pulled
- If you have any signs of infection, like fever and chills
- If you experience nausea or vomiting, redness, swelling
- If there is an excessive discharge from the affected area, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain.
Call us at (386) 445-6111 or schedule an online appointment with Dr. Jacob for a consultation at our office in Palm Coast, FL.