When a particularly bothersome tooth stands between you and a healthy and beautiful smile, sometimes it’s gotta go!
Despite an intimidating reputation, dental extraction is a necessity in oral health care. In many cases, removing a troublesome tooth that’s broken, decayed, or infected beyond repair is an excellent way to relieve immediate pain and prevent bigger issues in the future.
As dental extraction is invasive, patients undergoing the procedure often prefer to understand the process from start to finish, including tips for post-op care to ensure quick and proper healing.
How Does Dental Extraction Work?
Tooth extractions are surgical procedures that are performed in a dental office by a dentist or oral surgeon. Ahead of the procedure, a local anesthetic (typically a topical agent or via injection) is applied to the area surrounding the tooth to be extracted.
Once the area is sufficiently numb, the dentist drills a small hole in the patient’s tooth. Then, while ensuring the patient’s comfort every step of the way, they gradually expand the hole until the tooth’s entire root can be removed from its socket within the jawbone.
Common Causes of Tooth Extractions
The need for tooth extraction may arise due to a variety of reasons, the most common among them:
- Impacted wisdom teeth (or “third molars”)
- Severe tooth decay/infection
- Advanced gum (periodontal) disease
- To make room for orthodontic treatment or dentures
- A broken tooth resulting from trauma or impact
What Should I Do After Tooth Extraction?
After a tooth has been removed, there are steps that a patient must take to ensure proper healing and facilitate the preparation of the socket for a dental implant or other restoration. To protect both the sensitive gum tissue and stitches around the extraction site, patients are instructed to:
- Avoid biting down hard for at least 24 hours.
- Steer clear of hard or potentially jagged foods, including fruits and vegetables like carrots or apples, until the bleeding stops completely.
- For a few days, try chewing with teeth in a different part of the mouth from the extraction site.
- Rinse with warm salt water several times daily to prevent bacteria from growing on the exposed socket.
- Take over-the-counter pain medication until any discomfort is gone.
Effective and Pain-Free Dental Extractions in Sterling, CO
If you’re in the Sterling area and looking for a top-quality dental care team to guide you through the tooth extraction process, from consultation to aftercare, contact Dr. Carly Schrade, DDS, and the team at Pradera Dental to schedule a consultation!