The Tooth Extraction Procedure Is Relatively Straightforward

Everyone wants to keep their natural teeth, but tooth extractions become necessary during adulthood for various reasons. Adults or teenagers may require wisdom teeth removal in most cases. Many people have dental infections like gum disease weakening their jawbone, necessitating tooth removal. People may suffer injuries from impacts in sporting activities or accidents and have a broken tooth in their mouths.

When people approach dentists with infections in their mouths, they evaluate their situation to determine whether it is possible to preserve the tooth. If all efforts fail to save the tooth, the dentist recommends infected tooth extraction to eradicate the infection from the mouth of the patient.

Sometimes people needing orthodontic treatments must also undergo the tooth extraction procedure to remove a couple of teeth and make space for the other teeth to shift into the proper position. People undergoing chemotherapy must have their compromised teeth extracted to keep their mouths healthy.

The Tooth Extraction Procedure

The tooth extraction procedure is relatively straightforward and accomplished either by dentists or oral surgeons. Extractions are performed in the dentist’s office or a hospital setting if the patient requires a surgical extraction.

Visible teeth are extracted in a simple procedure after the patient receives local anesthesia to numb the tooth. The dentist performing the extraction uses instruments called elevators to loosen the tooth before removing it from its socket using forceps.

Patients undergoing a surgical extraction require more potent anesthesia besides local anesthesia. Oral surgeons provide sedation to patients undergoing surgical extractions to remove wisdom teeth or even broken teeth below the gum line.

Oral surgeons cut through the gum line to expose the bone around the tooth if it is impacted or expose the broken tooth itself. In some cases, patients with impacted teeth may have it removed by cutting into pieces by the oral surgeon during removal.

Are There Any Risks Involved with the Tooth Extraction Procedure?

The tooth extraction procedure involves few tooth extraction risks. However, if the dentist or oral surgeon recommends it, the benefits of tooth removal outweigh the risks.

Before scheduling the procedure, the dentist inquires if patients are taking any medications like vitamins, supplements, herbs, and over-the-counter drugs. Patients must provide all information the dentist requests besides a list of any medical conditions they are affected by before undergoing tooth extraction.

The dentist must receive information about conditions like congenital heart defects, diabetes, liver disease, renal disease, thyroid disease, hypertension, artificial joints, damaged heart valves, and an impaired immune system if the patient is affected by them. Dentists make inquiries to ensure the conditions are either stable or treated before tooth removal.

After tooth extraction, the formation of a blood clot is expected in the extraction site. However, if blood clot formation fails or the clot dislodges, exposing the bone within the socket, patients suffer from a dry socket. In such cases, dentists protect the area by dressing it with sedatives for a few days until a new clot formation occurs.

Some patients may experience the following instances:

• Bleeding lasting for over 12 hours.
• Severe fever and chills indicating an infection.
• Cough, nausea, and vomiting.
• Shortness of breath or chest pain.
• Redness and swelling in the extraction site.

Patients are advised to contact their dentist if they experience any symptoms mentioned above and receive advice on how to manage it.

Recovering from Tooth Extractions

Tooth extractions take away a part of the body, and the patient requires a few days to recover from the procedure. Patients are suggested to use the following tips to ensure their recovery proceeds smoothly.

• Patients must take any medicines recommended by the dentist as instructed.
• Patients can use an ice pack on their cheeks to reduce swelling immediately after the procedure remembering to place the ice pack on the cheeks for 10-minute intervals and not longer.
• Dentists place a gauze pad at the extraction site asking patients to bite down to reduce bleeding and help in clot formation. Patients must leave the gauze pad at the extraction site as recommended by the dentist.
• Patients must rest and relax for at least 24 hours without jumping into their routines until the following day.
• Using a straw for drinking or smoking is prohibited.
• Patients must use pillows to prop their heads when sleeping.

Patients can begin brushing and flossing, as usual, taking care to avoid the extraction site. The day following the procedure, patients can eat soft foods and gradually reintroduce other foods into their diets.

Tooth extractions, although undesired, become necessary for various reasons. The procedure for removing permanent teeth is relatively straightforward and without any complications.