What are dental extractions?

A standard dental extraction involves the removal of one or more teeth from the mouth. This can either be done simply or through surgical means, but the end result will leave the patient without the tooth. A simple procedure usually doesn’t take much planning and can be done with a few instruments – such as a dental elevator and clamps.

This is not always the case, as some circumstances may require a surgical procedure to remove the tooth. This would be a more time-consuming process for cases where a tooth has broken under gum line or patients are having trouble with an impacted wisdom tooth. This type of process may require more attention and planning than a simple extraction.

Why would i need an extraction?

A dental extraction is not always required, as your dentist will try alternative routes to treatment in order to try and solve the problems that you’re having. Unfortunately, some circumstances may require dental extractions. Teeth that have been overrun by tooth decay, for example, will likely need extracting if the damage has gone further than what cosmetic dentistry can solve. Certain levels of infections and pain can also call for a procedure of this nature.

Do extractions hurt?

The procedure can be a little invasive, as your mouth will be going a level of trauma. For this reason, your dentist will use intravenous sedation. This can range from a moderate local anaesthetic to a general anaesthetic if required. This will largely be down to your dentist to decide which anaesthetic is ideal for your circumstances. Because of this, you won’t feel any pain, but it is common to feel pressure when having the tooth removed.

What happens during the procedure?

An initial x-ray will be required before treatment can continue. An x-ray will give your dentist the relevant background information on how your teeth are structured and if have any underlying infections. A special panoramic x-ray may be required for a wisdom tooth extraction, as there are more intricate details to take into consideration with the placement of wisdom teeth.

The procedure itself may be different depending on the complexity of the case. For a simple extraction, a dental elevator wiil be used to initially loosen the tooth. Forceps will then be used to remove the tooth from the socket.

As previously stated, a more complex situation may call for surgical methods to be used, for example: making an incision into the gum, removing bone from around the tooth, or splitting the tooth in half in order to extract it.

What about aftercare?

Your dentist will give you the specifics on what to do after your treatment, but the general rule of thumb is to take it easy for the first 24 hours. As with any oral trauma, your body needs time to recover, so it is highly recommended to avoid touching or eating on the extraction site. Avoid any contact with the site – even with liquids – as it can be very easy to disturb the clot in the first 24 hours.

You are expected to experience some bleeding for the first 24 hours too, so it’s important not to panic and keep your head elevated for the rest of the day. After the first 24 hours period, you will be able to start using saltwater to gently rinse the site out. Furthermore, you should be able to start eating some soft, cold foods while the wound is still healing.