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Your pearly whites are a very important part of you; not only are they responsible for helping you to eat and speak, but they also provide several other oral health benefits that you’d be pretty unfortunate to lack. However, in some instances, your dentist might, unfortunately, need to remove one or more of your teeth in order to put your smile’s best interests first. Here’s a little more about what you can expect going into the tooth extraction process; it’s not as scary as you might think!
The Tooth Extraction Process
It’s worth mentioning that tooth extractions are only carried out when necessary—your natural teeth are valuable, and they’re only removed when and if they aren’t capable of being salvaged, or if they pose a threat to your oral health. In any case, here’s a breakdown of the steps of the tooth extraction process:
Step #1. Numbing Your Tooth
Your dentist’s top priority is your comfort, so you can rest assured they’ll take measures to ensure that you feel no pain during your extraction. They’ll administer the necessary anesthetic to numb the tooth and surrounding gum tissue.
Step #2. Removing the Tooth
Depending on the nature of the tooth being extracted, your dentist will either utilize forceps to gently rock the tooth back and forth until it separates, or they’ll rely on surgery to extract the tooth if it’s still below the gum line. Though you might feel some pressure during this, you shouldn’t feel any pain.
Step #3. Closing the Space
Once the tooth is out, your dentist will clean the area to ensure any remaining bone fragments are gone. They’ll then close the gum tissue to prevent infection and bleeding, sometimes using stitches or sutures.
Step #4. Controlling the Bleeding
The dentist will also place gauze on your extraction site(s) to control the bleeding; you’ll need to retain firm pressure on this gauze for about an hour afterward. After the gauze is removed, some bleeding is normal.
Step #5. Minimizing the Swelling
You’ll also be instructed to place an ice pack on your cheek to minimize the swelling and inflammation that follows the procedure; you should do this for 20 minutes at a time.
Step #6. Adhering to Post-Extraction Care
It’s also crucial that you follow any other instructions provided by your dentist to ensure proper healing, such as taking your medications as prescribed, avoiding smoking or using straws, and sticking to a soft foods diet. You’ll also need to rinse your mouth gently with salt water the following day after the extraction, and you’ll need to show caution when brushing your teeth.
If you notice any unrelenting pain, excessive bleeding, or bone fragments you should contact your dentist immediately for a follow-up appointment. But with proper care and attention, you should have no issues making a full recovery following a tooth extraction.
About the Author
Dr. Eric Heisser received his dental doctorate from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and has proudly served patients and families in the Norton Shores, MI area for several years! His practice is thrilled to offer a wide range of services including tooth extractions for problematic teeth. If you have any questions about tooth extractions or if you need to arrange a visit for you or a loved one, you can contact the practice online or over the phone for further assistance. Telephone: (231) 737-2273.