Your permanent teeth should last a lifetime. But, for many patients, this isn’t always the case. Over their lifetime, anything can happen to damage a tooth, whether it’s an accident, trauma, tooth decay, or other situations that result in the need for tooth removal. Tooth extraction is the process by which a dentist removes a natural tooth from a patient’s mouth due to tooth decay, damage, or fractures. While a tooth filling or dental crown is generally the first course of action to repair a damaged tooth, sometimes the tooth is too damaged and a repair is impossible.
Teeth extractions are a last-resort method of treatment for damaged teeth. Sometimes, patients refer to this procedure as “pulling a tooth” or “having teeth pulled.” Whatever your reason for requiring tooth removal, our dentists in Gainesville with Van Dyke General and Implant Dentistry are committed to helping you achieve optimal oral health for a beautiful smile. Contact our dental clinic today to schedule a tooth extraction and to learn more about our available general dentistry services.
Our Gainesville dentists always prefer to save a patient’s natural teeth whenever possible. But in some cases, other restorative methods just aren’t enough to remediate tooth problems. If a patient’s tooth has been severely damages past the possibility of repair, then tooth removal may be necessary. Your dentist may recommend extraction in the following cases. Additionally, your dentist may recommend tooth extraction if the infected or problematic tooth poses a risk of infection, trauma, or other type of issue to the surrounding teeth, in order to maintain the health of the rest of your teeth and gums. For more information, please contact our office.
Our trusted local dentists and dental specialists perform tooth extractions. While general dentists perform many different types of teeth extractions on a regular basis, certain types of tooth extractions, such as more complex cases, are usually performed by our oral surgeons and periodontists. For more information about tooth extractions and whether your dentist or an oral surgeon will perform your treatment, please contact Van Dyke General and Implant Dentistry.
During your initial appointment with our dentists, your dentist will inspect the affected tooth and your surrounding gums. A member of our team will also take dental X-rays to check your bone level and to determine the exact extent of the damage. Please bring with you all information regarding any medications, vitamins, or supplements you are currently taking, and the dosages of each, in addition to your dental records. Once all of your information has been gathered, our dentists will discuss your treatment and sedation options for your subsequent procedure.
We offer patients sedation during tooth extractions, in addition to other dental procedures which require it. Dental sedation is an excellent choice for patients who suffer from dental anxiety as well as those who simply desire to feel more comfortable and at-ease during their treatment with us. Sedation medications used in dental procedures may include nitrous oxide sedation (commonly known as “laughing gas”), oral conscious sedation, and intraveneous, or IV sedation. More significant forms of sedation, such as general anesthesia, are usually reserved for treatments performed in a hospital setting for highly complex or lengthy procedures.
Before starting your tooth extraction procedure, you will be given local anesthesia to numb your affected tooth and the surrounding tissue. Using specialized tooth extraction tools, your dentist will gently loosen your tooth and then carefully lift it out from its socket. In some cases, dentists may make incisions within the gums in order to properly access the entirety of the tooth. This is common in cases involving a tooth that is severely decayed or a tooth that has broken off at the gumline.
Once the tooth is fully removed, the dentist will then clean and disinfect the socket. In some cases, our dentist may place a dental bone graft within the socket, which helps prevent the development of bone loss in the jaw. Last, stiches may be placed in the treated area in order to help promote proper tooth extraction healing.
If you are wondering what to do after tooth extraction, then we are here to help! After your dental extraction is completed, your dentist will provide you with a comprehensive list of post-operative instructions to be followed throughout your recovery process. Some general guidelines for a speedy, post-extraction recovery can include keeping the extraction site clean by gently rinsing the area with an antimicrobial mouth rinse multiple times a day, avoiding brushing directly over the treated area until you are advised to do so, and to brush all other areas of your mouth normally. Additionally, you must take all medications as directed by your dentist, including any prescribed antibiotic medications and pain relievers. Last, you should avoid taking part in any strenuous exercise or activities for a minimum of 2 or 3 days after your procedure, in order to decrease post-operative bleeding and additional pain and discomfort. Ask your dentist when it is safe to resume your normal activities following your procedure.
Watch Post-Operative Instructions for a Simple Extraction
For the first 24 hours or more after your procedure, do not slurp, suck, spit or complete any other actions that causes suction in your mouth or puts pressure on your blood clot.
The rate at which you complete the tooth extraction healing stages will depend on the complexity of your unique case. Most patients who undergo a tooth extraction procedure, however, feel like their regular selves in just a few days after their procedure. You will typically be able to return to your routine activities within 48–72 hours after treatment, but your jawbone will likely require several weeks or longer to heal completely. As such, if you plan to replace the removed tooth with a dental implant, then it’s likely that you will need to wait a few months in order to allow for a full recovery before you can begin the tooth implantation process.
Improving your tooth extraction recovery time requires that you strictly abide by all provided instructions and remain in contact with your dentist throughout the healing process. With regard to eating after your tooth extraction, you should avoid all crushing or hard foods and instead choose soft foods, such as rice, pasts, yogurt, eggs, or applesauce. Avoid drinking through a straw at all costs, as this can dislodge blood clots and cause dry sockets to form in the wound. Additionally, you should avoid alcoholic beverages or mouthwash with alcohol for a minimum of 24 hours or longer, depending on the medications you will take during your recovery. If you do develop dry socket, report it to your dentist immediately. They may place a dressing in the socket to protect it until it heals and to help reduce any pain caused by the dry socket.
As with any surgical dental procedure, tooth extraction can carry a small risk of potential complications. However, side effects are generally rare. When performed by a skilled dental professional and proper aftercare is followed by the patient, side effects following tooth extraction can be avoided or minimized. Potential risks of tooth extraction may include:
Normal side effects following tooth removal include some degree of bleeding, swelling of the treated area and face, and pain after a tooth extraction. During your appointment, your dentist will provide you with instructions regarding how to successfully approach, manage, and complete your healing following your tooth extraction procedure.
Yes, getting your tooth pulled can cause you to feel pain. However, before starting your procedure, your dentist will give you an adequate form of anesthesia to last throughout the procedure in order to eliminate the pain and discomfort of having a tooth pulled. Also, following your procedure, your dentist will likely recommend over-the-counter pain medications, prescription pain medications, or a combination of both in order to provide you with tooth extraction pain relief and to ensure a healthy and speedy recovery. Contact Van Dyke General and Implant Dentistry for more information and to schedule a tooth extraction appointment.
