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EXTRACTIONS
What is an extraction?
Extraction means to remove the tooth from the mouth.
Extraction of a tooth is always considered as a last resort for our dentists and they endeavor to save every tooth, if it is safe and possible to do so. However, sometimes a tooth cannot be saved, and an extraction is the best long term treatment.
Reasons why we would extract a tooth:
- Trauma that can not be rectified through other methods such as crown or root therapy
- Infection / swelling – patient choice of extraction over root therapy
- Failed root therapy
- Repeat infection / inflammation of wisdom tooth
What happens during an extraction?
We want you to feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible during every treatment, so local anesthetic will be available to ensure there is no pain / sensitivity. There is also an option for sedation for those with dental anxiety.
Once anesthesia has been established, the dentist will very gently ease the tooth out with special techniques. These are small, controlled movements of pressure that gently widen the socket and detach the tooth from the ligaments holding it in place. It is simply then a case of removing the tooth with forceps.
Usually, the tooth will be removed in one piece, however if a tooth is heavily filled or broken down, it may require additional care. Surgical extraction is the term used for the requirement of accessing the tooth from gum level. This sometimes means the dentist will have to remove some gum tissue or bone to enable them to remove all of the tooth. Stitches are commonly required, and some further aftercare, but the treatment is relatively straight forward.
extraction aftercare
It’s always important to closely follow post-care instructions to ensure a fast recovery and avoid any complications.
- If you have had local anesthetic, it may take up to 4-6 hours for the effects to wear off. During this time, please ensure that you refrain from chewing your lip, inner cheek, tongue or soft tissues and drinking hot drinks to avoid unwittingly causing trauma to the area.
- Your mouth has been worked on, so there may naturally be a small amount of tenderness, bruising and sensitivity to the area for a couple of days. If there are still worsening symptoms of pain after 7 days, contact the practice for advice.
- Do not rinse your mouth out for at least 24 hours after an extraction. This will help the blood to clot in the socket.
- After 24 hours, dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Take a sip, gently gargle the solution spit out. The salt will help cleanse the area and limit the chance of infection.
- It is important to keep your mouth clean. Brush your teeth as normal, but avoid brushing the area of treatment for 24 hours, then going gently for a few days around the area.
- Avoid food and drinks that are hot / cold /spicy / tough as the area will be sensitive.
- If you start to bleed again, do not worry. Roll some pack into a sausage, place it over the bleeding socket and press down for 15 minutes
- Make sure you take some painkillers for the first 24 hours. These will help to reduce the pain and swelling. After this, take them as and when you feel you need them. Ibuprofen and paracetamol are good painkillers to use. Avoid taking aspirin as it may cause bleeding. If you are asthmatic, avoid taking ibuprofen as it may worsen your asthma.
- Take it easy for the rest of the day; avoid demanding physical work or exercise.
- Refrain from drinking alcohol for the first 24 hours, as this can encourage bleeding and delay healing.
- AVOID smoking for at least 2 days after treatment. Smoking reduces the rate of healing and increases the risk of infection, which can be very painful.
- If you feel small pieces of bone working their way out of the socket, don’t worry – this is normal.
- If the socket becomes more painful a day or two after the extraction, call us to discuss the possibility of the socket having become infected. If this does happen it is usually easily treated with a special pack
