Do you plan to avoid your dentist in Tamarac because you don’t want to go through a tooth extraction? It’s common for people to cancel dental appointments at the last minute, especially if it involves tooth removal. Surveys reveal that one of the reasons why they incessantly avoid dental visits is because of fear of the unknown. Not knowing what will happen can cause you to feel stressed and anxious, triggering the flight-and-fight response.
Avoiding your fears is often more convenient than facing them. Unfortunately, doing so can lead to serious oral health repercussions. We’ve highlighted the procedure process to ease your worries and concerns, so you’ll know what to expect during your appointment.
What Steps Are Involved in a Tooth Extraction Procedure?
What Is a Tooth Extraction?
A tooth extraction is a dental procedure that removes your tooth from its socket. It comes in two types: simple and surgical.
- Simple Extraction
Simple tooth extraction is recommended if the affected tooth is visible. Your dentist will anesthetize the site to keep you comfortable. Once the effect of the anesthesia kicks in, your dentist will use an elevator to loosen the tooth, followed by forceps to release it from the socket.
- Surgical Extraction
For complex cases, your dentist may suggest a surgical extraction. Surgery is usually recommended if the tooth has not fully erupted or if only a part has broken off at the gum line. Since it involves surgery, your doctor will make a tiny cut into your gums to expose the tooth beneath.
Why Do You Need a Tooth Extraction?
The following are reasons why your dentist may require an extraction:
- Untreated tooth decay can advance to the point of severely weakening the tooth. Sometimes, the tooth may be too damaged to be restored with a filling or crown, and tooth extraction may be necessary.
- Gum disease is an infection that causes gum inflammation and damage to the tissues that support the teeth. In some cases, advanced gum disease can cause the teeth to become loose and may require tooth extraction.
- Wisdom teeth typically erupt in the late teenage years or early adulthood. When there is insufficient space in the jaw for these teeth to emerge properly, they can become impacted (stuck under the gumline). Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to pain, infection, and damage to adjacent teeth and may require extraction.
It is important to note that tooth extraction is typically a last resort option when other treatments have been exhausted or are not feasible. If you are experiencing any dental problems, seeing a dentist as soon as possible is important for an evaluation and appropriate treatment.
How Is a Tooth Extraction Performed?
1. Examination and Diagnosis
It starts with an initial consultation. Your dentist will examine your tooth and gums and may order X-rays to determine how severe the decay is. If the decay is beyond repair, your dentist will recommend having it extracted. During this time, your dentist will explain the steps involved in the procedure, what you can expect, and the possible risk and complications.
2. Anesthesia
The procedure is relatively painless since your mouth will feel numb. Before the procedure can begin, your dentist will administer local anesthesia to numb the tissues surrounding the tooth to be extracted. However, it will depend on how complex your case is. Sometimes your dentist may turn to sedation.
- Local anesthesia involves injecting a numbing agent directly into your gum tissues near the tooth. You will be conscious and aware during the procedure but not feel pain.
- For conscious sedation, you will receive a sedative to help you relax and relieve your anxiety. You may feel drowsy but will still be able to respond to instructions.
3. Tooth Extraction
Once the site is numb, your dentist will start the extraction. The tooth is loosened with an elevator to remove it easily. Then your dentist will use forceps to extract the tooth gently. If the tooth is challenging to remove, your dentist may make small incisions in your gum tissues and remove some bone to access the tooth.
4. Cleaning and Closure
When the tooth is finally removed, your dentist will disinfect the area to remove debris and bacteria. It’s also possible that your dentist will smoothen the underlying bone to prevent sharp edges from forming. In most cases, your dentist will apply clean gauze over the site and ask you to bite down to minimize the bleeding and allow a blood clot to form. If it were a surgical extraction, your dentist would stitch your gum tissues to close off the socket.
5. Post-Operative Care
After the extraction, your dentist will provide a list of instructions that you need to follow to speed up your recovery. Examples of the instructions included in the list are the following:
- Keep the site clean to prevent infection and complications. Gently rinse the site by using an antimicrobial mouthwash twice a day.
- Don’t brush directly over the extraction site unless your dentist gives you the go signal. But for the rest of your teeth, you may resume your usual oral care routine of brushing and flossing.
- Take any medications as directed by your dentist. Discomfort is expected once the anesthesia wears off. But taking pain medications can manage it. Your dentist may also order antibiotics as prophylaxis.
- Avoid strenuous activities for at least three days. Your dentist will instruct you to rest after tooth extraction. You want to avoid an increased heart rate, which can cause pain and post-op bleeding. To be sure, we suggest you ask your dentist when’s the best time to return to your usual activities.
- While your mouth is still healing, you must avoid crunchy and hard foods, at least for the first few days, which means before the big day, you should stock your pantry with soft foods like applesauce, yogurt, oatmeal, eggs, and pasta.
- Notify your dentist if you experience severe pain, fever, or pus from your extraction site.
6. Follow-Up Appointment
You typically have a follow-up appointment with the dentist or oral surgeon a few days after the extraction to check on the healing progress and remove any stitches, if there are any. Moreover, you’re given additional instructions on caring for the extraction site as it continues to heal.
Do You Need to See a Dentist in Tamarac for a Tooth Extraction?
Tooth extraction is a dental procedure involving several steps, including examination and diagnosis, anesthesia, the actual extraction, cleaning and closure, post-operative care, and follow-up appointments. Following your dentist’s instructions and properly caring for your extraction site can help ensure a smooth and successful recovery.
At Freidman Dental Group, we are happy to serve you. We take pride in our dedicated staff keeping up with the latest trends and techniques to provide you with the best care. Contact us for a consultation.