Dental extractions often happen when a tooth becomes damaged from decay or injury. Teeth can also break from biting down on hard objects. Dentists try to save decayed teeth with fillings, root canals, and crowns. If these options fail, your dentist may schedule an extraction. Dental extractions remain a common procedure and most patients handle the treatment well. Expect to have the area numbed with a shot before the removal of the tooth. Patients needing surgical removal of impacted wisdom teeth may need sedation or general anesthesia. If you have pain or damage to your tooth, visit your dentist to get a proper treatment plan.
Common Reasons for a Dental Extraction
Dentists prefer to save teeth instead of recommending a dental extraction. Teeth can become damaged in a variety of ways. You may have a cavity that causes too much damage or a broken tooth. Most patients can have decay remedied with a filling or root canal treatment. If the decay goes far into the tooth, however, the tooth may become too weak to function, even with a crown. Teeth can get broken if you bite down on hard objects or suffer an injury. Some common injuries that involve the face are sports injuries and falls. Sometimes, kids need to have teeth removed to make more room in their mouth for orthodontic purposes.
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Emergency Dental Extraction Near Me
When searching for a dentist, find out about their emergency protocol. Some dental offices have doctors on call after hours. You may also find a designated emergency dental clinic near your home. For emergencies during office hours, most dentists work patients into the schedule for an urgent appointment. Emergency dental extractions happen when patients have severe damage. Impacted wisdom teeth can become an emergency when they cause severe pain, sometimes hitting a nerve. If you have severe pain, bleeding, or a break, call your dentist immediately. The specialists at Edge Dental can assess the damage and implement an emergency treatment plan.
Tooth Broken at Gum Line Extraction
If a tooth becomes broken at the gum line, the dentist may need to make an incision to remove the pieces. The method of removal depends on the location and condition of the tooth. Most cases only require simple extractions. An incision becomes necessary when the dentist can’t reach the tooth with tools. Surgical extractions often happen with impacted wisdom teeth, for example. During this broken tooth extraction procedure, you can expect to have a shot of lidocaine to numb the area. Some patients may need sedation to deal with the process, as well.
Upper Wisdom Tooth Extraction
In some cases, patients only need to have two wisdom teeth removed. If your bottom wisdom teeth erupt properly and fit in your mouth, your dentist may leave them alone. An upper wisdom tooth extraction often takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete. Many dentists remove all four if they cause pain or show signs of future problems. If your wisdom teeth erupt, your extraction may remain fairly simple. Many patients, however, have wisdom teeth that never erupt or only erupt partially. Removal of impacted or partially impacted teeth becomes a surgical procedure. The dentist must make an incision in the gums and remove part of the bone to reach impacted wisdom teeth.
Recovery From A Tooth Extraction Procedure
The main goal during recovery is to keep the blood clot in place. If the clot dislodges, it causes a painful condition called dry socket. Your dentist or oral surgeon makes sure the clot begins to form by applying pressure after the extraction. You must gently bite down on the gauze to keep this pressure constant for up to two hours after tooth extraction. Once you get home, change the gauze until the bleeding stops. Eat soft foods, avoid straws, and avoid the area during teeth brushing. After the first day, you may need to rinse with salt water. You can use ice packs on your face and pain relief medication to control swelling. Most dentists require a follow-up visit to check progress, especially after surgical removal.
Tooth Extraction Bleeding
You can expect to have some tooth extraction bleeding throughout the first day after your extraction. The dentist should send you home with gauze in place. You must change these as they become soaked with blood. If the bleeding becomes heavy or continues after 24 hours, call your dentist for advice. You may need to have a follow-up visit quickly.
Conclusion
Tooth extractions become necessary when a tooth has significant damage that the dentist cannot repair. Some patients also need extraction when teeth do not fit in the mouth or remain impacted. Most tooth extractions take minimal time, and you should only need a local anesthetic. Surgical extractions usually happen with wisdom teeth; however, teeth broken at the gum line may also require a surgical incision. Dentists follow up with patients 1 or 2 weeks after extraction to check the healing process. Make an appointment with Edge Dental to treat your damaged tooth today.
Removing a Decayed or Broken Tooth — FAQs
How are teeth extracted?
During an extraction treatment, the dentist usually numbs the area with lidocaine. Some patients may also need nitrous oxide gas to help them stay calm and reduce pain. Dentists use tools called elevators and forceps to enlarge the socket, loosen, and remove the tooth.
How long does a tooth extraction take?
Tooth extraction can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 1 hour to complete. Your dentist or oral surgeon can discuss the procedure and expected time frame with you at your first appointment. Surgical extractions and broken teeth take the longest.
What is the surgical removal of residual tooth roots?
At times, some of the roots remain after extraction. Once your extraction site heals, the dentist must surgically open up the space to remove the residual roots that remain.
How long does it take to heal from getting your teeth pulled?
You can expect to feel the effects of your tooth extraction for up to 2 weeks. During this time, remain careful with food and beverages. Complete restoration of the area can take several months, especially if you had bone removed.
After tooth extraction, how long does it take for the hole to heal?
The hole may not completely fill in for about six months. You should only need to exercise caution with eating and activities for two weeks, however.
