Tooth Extractions

Your dentist’s goal is to help you maintain healthy teeth for as long as possible. If a tooth should develop decay or be affected with an injury, your dentist will usually attempt to save it. In some cases, however, it could be more beneficial to remove the tooth altogether. These can include cases of severely decayed teeth, overcrowded teeth, impacted wisdom teeth, or baby teeth that have not fallen out to allow the permanent teeth to come in. Leaving the tooth in its position in those cases can be detrimental to the health of the surrounding teeth and/or gums.

Procedure

If multiple teeth are being extracted, your dentist may recommend separate appointments, though they can all be removed at one time, a local anesthetic will be used for just one tooth or for several.

There are two types of tooth extraction. A simple extraction is one in which your dentist can reach the tooth (or teeth) easily and grab it with forceps to loosen from the gums and lift up. Teeth that are impacted or more difficult to reach will require a surgical extraction, in which an incision will be made into the gum tissue in order to reach the tooth. It can then be gripped tightly and loosened by being pulled back and forth or may be broken into smaller pieces first before being removed from the gums. Your dentist may put sutures on the area at the end of the procedure to aid with the healing process.

Post Extraction Care

Following your extraction, you may be prescribed antibiotics and/or pain medication. You will be provided instructions on how to take this medication, as well as with tips on how to handle pain and swelling. Bleeding is normal, and gauze will be applied to the site of the extraction to help with this, but it should eventually subside. You will also receive instructions on diet and how to handle the area after your procedure.

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