While no one looks forward to having a tooth pulled at the dentist, this procedure is often necessary to preserve the well-being of your smile and prevent other oral health complications from occurring. If you need to have a tooth extracted, the experienced team at Indian Trail Dental Studio is here to ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible. Here’s what you need to know about having a tooth extracted at the dentist, including what to do after a tooth extraction before visiting our office.
Tooth Extraction Overview
A tooth extraction is a common dental procedure that removes a tooth from its socket. Typically, the goal of dental procedures is to preserve one’s natural teeth. However, removing a problematic tooth is sometimes more advantageous than keeping it. Tooth extractions are usually performed by general dentists but can also be done by specialists, such as periodontists or oral surgeons.
When Does Someone Know They Need a Tooth Extraction?
The best way to determine if you need a tooth extraction is to schedule an appointment with your dentist. Even if you know a tooth is damaged, decayed, or causing severe pain, there may be other options to restore the tooth’s health without pulling it. Common factors that could lead to teeth extractions include the following:
- An impacted tooth
- Overcrowding
- A severely decayed tooth
- A fractured tooth
- Significant periodontal disease
- Trauma to the tooth
What Does a Tooth Extraction Procedure Look Like?
If the dentist determines that you’re a good candidate for tooth extraction, here’s what you can expect to take place during your tooth extraction procedure:
- Local anesthesia will ensure the area surrounding the affected tooth is completely numb.
- Then, the dentist will use a specialized tool to grasp the tooth and carefully remove it from its socket.
- After removing the tooth, the dentist will disinfect the empty socket.
- This will be placed if a bone graft is needed to prevent bone erosion.- sentence doesn’t make sense to me
- Lastly, stitches will be used to close up the empty socket.
What Does the Healing Process Look Like After a Tooth Extraction?
It’s normal to experience discomfort and light bleeding in the first 24 hours after tooth extraction; biting down on a piece of gauze should help during recovery. It’s important to follow the dentist’s instructions closely to prevent your incision from becoming infected or developing a dry socket. Steps to help your tooth extraction site heal quickly and make a full recovery:
- Get plenty of rest, especially in the first 24 hours
- Use ice packs to reduce swelling and minimize pain
- Take over-the-counter pain medicine or anti-inflammatory medications to manage discomfort as needed
- Avoid hard foods and stick with softer foods until the incision heals
- Be careful when brushing your teeth around the incision area
- Don’t smoke, drink hot liquids, or use a straw until the incision has healed
- Avoid any strenuous activity and drink plenty of water
If you have any questions or concerns after having a tooth pulled at our office, please don’t hesitate to call our office.
Schedule Your Tooth Extraction Consultation at Indian Trail Dental Studio
You deserve to have a beautiful, healthy smile for a lifetime. If you experience an oral health problem, such as severe tooth decay, a toothache, or trauma to a tooth, don’t wait to schedule an appointment with us. At Indian Trail Dental Studio, our compassionate and experienced dentists are eager to help you restore the well-being of your smile. Whether you need an extracted tooth or another restorative dental treatment, we’re ready to exceed your expectations with outstanding dental care. Schedule your next appointment today!
