Why Would I Need a Tooth Removed?
Clock Tower Dental can provide the most advanced restorative dental care treatments, including the latest fillings, crowns, and root canal therapy. Unfortunately, we cannot save every tooth.
There are various situations where we may recommend removing a tooth, which include:
- Severe tooth decay or where a tooth is damaged beyond repair.
- Advanced periodontal disease that results in a tooth becoming loose.
- Impacted or overcrowded teeth.
- Severe tooth infection.
- Dental abscess.
- Tooth fractures.
- In preparation for orthodontic treatment.
Types of Tooth Extractions
There are two main types of tooth extraction we may recommend, which are described below.
Straightforward Tooth Extraction
A straightforward tooth extraction is performed if the tooth is visible in your mouth. We can complete this treatment using a local anesthetic and use special techniques to remove it while minimizing damage to the surrounding bone.
Our periodontist, Dr. Richard Nejat, is trained and experienced in providing atraumatic tooth extractions. This advanced technique is especially useful if you intend to replace the tooth with a dental implant. An atraumatic tooth extraction helps to preserve and protect the surrounding jawbone.
Surgical Extraction
A severely fractured tooth that has broken below the gumline requires a surgical extraction. You would need this procedure if minimal or no tooth structure is visible above the gum.
A surgical extraction is also needed if you have an impacted tooth stuck below the gum and where we need to make a small incision into the gum to expose it.
Understanding the Tooth Extraction Process
When a tooth is damaged, we assess it carefully using digital dental X-rays to see if it can be saved. Otherwise, we can plan how best to extract it. Removing a tooth is quick, but the exact process varies according to the removal needed.
The procedure outlined below is for a straightforward tooth extraction.
Local Anesthetic or Sedation
Before we begin, we will numb the tooth, and we can also use sedation dentistry if you need several teeth extracted or require more complex wisdom tooth removal.
Extracting Your Tooth
Our experienced dentists use special tools to remove the tooth. If it is exposed above the gumline, we will gradually loosen it before extracting it.
Cleaning the Tooth Socket
Once we are sure all the tooth is removed, we will clean the empty socket and either stitch it shut or leave it open for healing.
If the gap is visible, we will have discussed providing a temporary prosthesis to wear during healing. It may be possible for us to fit this prosthesis soon after tooth removal.
Post Extraction Care
After your tooth is removed, it’s common to experience minor bleeding, especially if the socket is left open. Biting down on a gauze pad will help stop the bleeding as a blood clot forms.
The blood clot is important, as it helps to protect the empty socket and help it to heal comfortably. Before you leave our dental office, we will provide clear instructions on how to look after your mouth while healing. Below are some general points to follow.
Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene
Although you may not be able to brush and floss around the extraction site, you can continue to brush the rest of your teeth carefully. We might suggest using a warm salt water rinse or an antimicrobial mouth rinse to help keep your mouth clean.
Prescription Medications and Over-The-Counter Pain Relief
If you have a prescription for antibiotics, please take them as directed until you complete the course. We may prescribe painkillers if you need multiple teeth removed. Otherwise, you will most likely feel comfortable with over-the-counter painkillers, so follow the instructions on the packaging carefully.
Rest
It’s important to get plenty of rest and especially avoid strenuous exercise that could increase your heart rate and, therefore, the risk of bleeding. Our dentist can advise you when you can safely return to normal activities.
Eat the Right Foods
While your mouth heals, you may need to avoid hard, crunchy foods or nuts or seeds that could get stuck in the extraction site. Instead, we can give you a list of softer foods that require minimal or no chewing and are nutritious.
It’s also important to avoid drinking through a straw. The sucking action can dislodge the blood clot protecting the empty socket.
Bruising and Swelling
If we remove your wisdom or several teeth, you may experience mild bruising and swelling. Using cold compresses for the first 24 hours can help reduce swelling. After 24 hours, use moist heat to help continue the healing process.
Don’t Smoke
It is best not to smoke during healing because it constricts blood vessels, making it harder for your body to transport nutrients and oxygen to your gums and to carry away harmful toxins. Also, there is a risk that smoking could dislodge the blood clot protecting your empty socket.
Attend Any Follow-Up Visits
If we have recommended a follow-up visit, please keep your appointment. We will need to check your mouth is healing and discuss how you wish to replace your tooth.
Risks and Potential Complications
Any oral surgical procedure has some level of risk, but we take every precaution to minimize complications. Risk factors can include:
- Nerve damage
- Infection and fever
- Bleeding
- Dry socket
It’s important to stress that the risk of complications such as a tooth extraction infection is low. Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions about tooth extraction aftercare. Please get in touch with us if you notice the empty socket starts to feel more painful, as you could develop a condition called dry socket.
Dry Socket
When a tooth socket is left open to heal, the blood clot that forms inside is important for preventing infection. The empty socket can become infected if the blood clot fails to form or is dislodged.
This condition can develop several days after tooth extraction, causing increasing pain and discomfort. Other symptoms include bad breath; if you look inside your mouth, you might see the exposed bone in the empty socket.
Dry Socket Treatment
We can easily treat dry socket. If you are concerned, please contact our dental office so we can assess the empty socket and clean it out if necessary. Afterward, we place a dressing over the empty socket to help it heal.
When Would I Need an Emergency Tooth Extraction?
Sometimes, we must carry out a same-day tooth extraction, which may be necessary if you have a severe dental abscess where the tooth has a nasty infection. When a tooth has a severe dental abscess, we must extract it so the infection can drain.
Symptoms requiring emergency dental care include fever, facial swelling, and feeling very unwell. If you have these symptoms, please get in touch with us immediately so our emergency dentist can help you.
Many people will need a tooth removed at some point. It is a straightforward and routine procedure. Most people will heal quickly afterward, without complications, and can return to normal activities within a day or two.