There are a variety of reasons you may need to have a tooth extracted – you may have a badly decayed tooth, a cracked tooth, or a wisdom tooth may be erupting in an already crowded mouth. It might have been because of an injury playing a sport – an elbow to the face may have loosened the tooth. Whatever the case, you need to have someone take out the tooth.
Things have advanced a lot since the days of “tie a string to the tooth and a doorknob and slam the door.” It’s much easier now. Here’s what happens during the tooth extraction process.
The Preparation and Procedure
First of all, the dentist will thoroughly examine you and make sure that you do, indeed, need to have a tooth removed. This will likely include X-rays, since they want to see the state of the tooth before starting. Once that has been determined, the dentist or dental surgeon will numb the area and use what is known as an elevator to loosen the tooth. After that, the dentist will use forceps to remove the tooth – which may come out intact or in pieces depending on the situation.
Recovery
It’s best to be prepared for the strong possibility that there will be swelling. Having a tooth removed is a form of trauma, after all. Have ice ready to apply to the area for 20 minutes at a time to minimize the chances that you will look like a chipmunk. There will be stitches in the area. Make sure to lay down and rest for the remainder of the day – your body needs to heal, after all. Prop your head up with pillows. If you lay flat, it may make the bleeding continue.
You will get a gauze pad to bite down on. Change it as often as needed until the bleeding stops.
One thing to remember is that you should not use a straw to drink anything for the first 24 hours or maybe even a bit longer. The straw could dislodge a blood clot and cause bleeding again. The same goes for smoking – it can greatly diminish the healing capabilities. Eat soft food and gently swish out your mouth with warm salt water to prevent bacteria from getting in and causing infection.
Afterwards
The important thing to do is to follow all the above instructions for optimal post-procedure recovery. Do not hesitate to seek attention though if there is excessive pain or bleeding after a few days. Waiting can lead to an infection and possibly other lost teeth. Once you have healed, be sure to get back to a strong oral health routine – that means brushing and flossing each day.
It is usually not a long recovery period from a tooth extraction. People are often able to return to work fairly quickly, though doing physical activity may have to wait for a bit longer, depending on what the dentist says. Otherwise, straining while doing something might cause you to bite down too hard and cause more problems. Once the tooth, or teeth, have been extracted, you need to have that space filled – that will mean you may need anything from a dental implant to a bridge to dentures. Leaving it as is is not an option since the other teeth will shift in your mouth in an effort to fill the empty space. That can create problems with eating and talking.
Another thing you can do to help ensure that your teeth remain healthy and firmly entrenched in your mouth is to see your dentist twice a year since they can catch any gum disease very early on and help you not have to have any teeth extracted. Be careful with what you eat, get a mouthguard if you play certain contact sports and also you may need a night guard if you grind your teeth. Then you can live with a mouth full of natural teeth.
When it comes to extracting teeth, the staff at Esthetix Dental Spa will make it a smooth experience for you. You will be in a relaxing atmosphere and the whole thing wil be over before you know it. If you think that you might need a tooth extracted, call them at 212-795-9675 today!
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Esthetix Dental Spa
285 Fort Washington Ave,
New York, NY 10032
Phone: (212) 795-9675
Website: http://esthetixdentalspa.com/