You and Dr. Sass may determine that you need a tooth extraction for
any number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely
decayed; others may have advanced periodontal disease, or have broken in a way
that cannot be repaired. Other teeth may need removal because they are poorly
positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth), or in preparation for
orthodontic treatment.
The removal of a single tooth can
lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint,
and shifting teeth, which can have a major impact on your dental health.
To avoid these complications, in most
cases, Dr. Sass will discuss alternatives to extractions
as well as replacement of the extracted tooth.
The Extraction Process
At the time of extraction the doctor
will need to numb your tooth, jawbone and gums that surround the area with a
local anesthetic.
During the extraction process you
will feel a lot of pressure. This is from the process of firmly rocking the
tooth in order to widen the socket for removal.
You feel the pressure without pain as
the anesthetic has numbed the nerves stopping the transference of pain, yet the
nerves that transmit pressure are not profoundly affected.
If you do feel pain at any time
during the extraction please let us know right away.
Sectioning a tooth
Some teeth require sectioning. This
is a very common procedure done when a tooth is so firmly anchored in its
socket or the root is curved and the socket can't expand enough to remove it.
The doctor simply cuts the tooth into sections then removes each section one at
a time.
After Extraction Home Care
Bleeding
Some bleeding may occur. Placing a
piece of moist gauze over the empty tooth socket and biting down firmly for 45
minutes can control this.
Blood clots that form in the empty socket.
This is an important part of the
healing process and you must be careful not to dislodge the clot.
Avoid rinsing
or spitting for 24 hours after the extraction.
Avoid use of a
straw, smoking or hot liquids.
Swelling
If swelling occurs you can place ice
on your face for 10 minutes and off for 20 minutes. Repeat this cycle as you
feel necessary for up to 24 hours.
Pain and Medications
If you experience pain you may use
non-prescription pain relief medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Eating
For most extractions just make sure
you do your chewing away from the extraction site. Stay away from hot liquids
and alcoholic beverages for 24 hours. A liquid diet may be recommended for 24
hours.
Brushing and Cleaning
After the extraction avoid brushing
the teeth near the extraction site for one day. After that you can resume
gentle cleaning. Avoid commercial mouth rinses, as they tend to irritate the
site. Beginning 24 hours after the extraction you can rinse with salt water
(1/2 teaspoon in a cup of water) after meals and before bed.
Dry Socket
Dry socket occurs when a blood clot
fails to form in the socket where the tooth has been extracted or the clot has
been dislodged, and the healing is significantly delayed.
Following the post extraction
instructions will reduce the chances of developing dry socket. Dry sockets
manifest themselves as a dull throbbing pain, which doesn't appear until three
or four days after the extraction. The pain can be moderate to severe and
radiate from the extraction area. Dry socket may cause a bad taste or bad
breath and the extraction site appears dry.
Dr. Sass will apply a medicated dressing to the dry socket
to soothe the pain.
Healing
After a tooth has been extracted
there will be a resulting hole in your jawbone where the tooth was. In time,
this will smooth and fill in with bone. This process can take many weeks or
months. However, after 1-2 weeks you should no longer notice any inconvenience.
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