Tooth Extraction

Tooth Removal

Your consultation with Dr. Rolle, will determine how to proceed with your dental extraction(s). While some teeth need to be extracted because they have undergone decay, others may have broken off in a way beyond repair or have advanced periodontal disease. Some may require removal due to their poor positioning (e.g. impacted teeth). Orthodontic treatment may also require tooth extraction.

The removal of even a single tooth may result in issues in affecting your chewing ability, your jaw joints and your shifting teeth. All these can affect your dental health majorly.

To avoid all these issues, we will talk to you regarding the replacement of the extracted tooth or teeth along with alternatives to the extractions.

The Extraction Process

At the time of the extraction, you will be given a local anesthetic which will numb your tooth, gums and jawbone around the area to be treated. This makes you not feel any pain at all during the whole process.

You will feel a lot of pressure during the extraction process which is a result of rocking the considered tooth firmly in order to widen its socket for its removal.

Although you will feel the pressure, there will be no pain as the nerves responsible for transmitting pain will be numbed by the anesthetic. However, the ones responsible for transmitting pressure senses will be affected.

Yet, if you feel even a tinge of pain, let us know right then.

Sectioning a tooth

A sectioning of a tooth basically means to cut it into sections and then remove each of these sections one at a time. This procedure is needed when a tooth is too strongly anchored in a socket or has its root curved so much so that the socket cannot be expanded enough to remove the teeth.

After Tooth Extraction

A blood clot is needed to form in order to begin the healing process post the extraction. For this, we recommend you to bite on a gauze pad for about 30-45 minutes just after the procedure. If the oozing or bleeding continues, place a new gauze pad and bite on it for the following 30 minutes. This process may be required to be done several times to stop the blood flow.

Once the blood clot forms, it is important to not disturb it by any means. No drinking alcohol or smoking, no vigorous rinsing, or sucking on straw, or even brushing at the point of extraction for the next 72 hours. Any of these activities can dissolve the clot and delay the process of healing. Limit your daily exercise for the next 24 hours as it can increase your blood pressure which can lead to more bleeding at the spot.

You may feel some amount of pain and swelling after the extraction. To keep the swelling and pain to a minimum, you can apply ice packs or a sealed bag of frozen peas or corn on the cheek over the extracted point. We will prescribe you pain medications as well. The selling will subside after 48 hours. If it does not, let us know.

Using pain medications is strongly recommended. Let us know right away if the pain is not subsiding despite the medication. On the other hand, do not stop taking the prescribed medication before the indicated time even if the pain has completely subsided. Have lots of fluids but only soft, nutritious food on the extraction day. You can return top your normal diet once you are comfortable.

It is suggested to return to your normal dental routine after 24 hours post extraction. This includes floss and brushing atleast once a day. This will speed up the healing process and will keep your mouth clean and fresh.

You will be totally fine after a few days and can resume your daily activities. Or, if you are still undergoing a lot of pain, heavy bleeding and swelling for 2-3 days, or facing any side-effects for the prescribed medication, call us immediately.