Tooth Extractions Centennial CO
You and Dr. Barney may determine that you need a tooth extraction for any number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed; others may have advanced periodontal disease, or have broken in a way that cannot be repaired. Other teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth), or in preparation for orthodontic treatment.
The removal of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint, and shifting teeth, which can have a major impact on your dental health.
To avoid these complications, in most cases, Dr. Barney will discuss alternatives to extractions as well as replacement of the extracted tooth.
The Tooth Extraction Process
At the time of extraction, the doctor will need to numb your tooth, jaw bone, and gums that surround the area with a local anesthetic.
During the extraction process, you will feel a lot of pressure. This is from the process of firmly rocking the tooth in order to widen the socket for removal.
You feel the pressure without pain as the anesthetic has numbed the nerves stopping the transference of pain, yet the nerves that transmit pressure are not profoundly affected.
If you do feel pain at any time during the extraction please let us know right away.
Sectioning a Tooth
Some teeth require sectioning. This is a very common procedure done when a tooth is so firmly anchored in its socket or the root is curved and the socket can’t expand enough to remove it. The doctor simply cuts the tooth into sections then removes each section one at a time.
After Tooth Extraction
For details on home care after tooth extraction, see the page “After Extractions” under “Surgical Instructions”.
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Tooth Extractions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Tooth Extraction?
- How Painful Is a Tooth Extraction?
- Do’s and Don’ts After a Tooth Extraction
- What Happens When You Get a Tooth Pulled?
How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Tooth Extraction?
The time of recovery after a tooth extraction depends on the size of the tooth and the type of extraction. A few weeks (to several months in extreme cases) is all the time needed for the hole left by an extraction to close and for complete healing to occur. Regardless, healing begins as soon as the tooth has been removed. New gum tissue immediately forms in the hole, a blot clot forms to cover it, and bleeding typically stops within 24-48 hours.
How Painful Is a Tooth Extraction?
Your comfort is our top priority, so we do everything we can to ensure you’re relaxed and the area in question is numb before we begin extracting your tooth. You may feel a pinch when we use a tiny needle to numb your gums and a little pressure as we loosen up your tooth, but do not expect to feel any discomfort during the procedure.
Do’s and Don’ts After a Tooth Extraction
The recovery period after an extraction is quite straight forward, but there are some key items you’ll want to keep in mind.
Blood clots are a good thing when it comes to healing after an extraction. Help form a strong blood clot in the surgical site after an extraction by biting on a gauze pad for about an hour.
Straws and smoking are the two things you want to make sure to avoid post-op. They have the potential to dislodge the clot, resulting in a very painful condition called dry socket.
As the anesthesia wears off, manage any soreness or pain with over-the-counter pain medications, such as Ibuprofen. We will discuss with you any necessary prescription medicines prior to your surgery.
We will give you specific tooth extraction home care instructions prior to surgery and will be happy to answer any additional questions you have.
What Happens When You Get a Tooth Pulled?
The process of a tooth extraction includes the administration of local anesthesia so that you are relaxed and don’t feel any pain. We may administer additional anesthesia as needed to keep you comfortable throughout the surgery. The procedure itself typically takes less than an hour, and as it is a very routine treatment that our oral surgeons do every day, your results and recovery will be very safe and predictable.
Again, saving your natural teeth is always our preference. They play a significant role in the health of your jawbone, which requires regular stimulation to maintain bone structure. A missing tooth can quickly lead to jawbone loss.
If we discover that your jaw has lost bone mass, we may recommend a special grafting procedure at the same time as your extraction to prevent further jawbone loss and provide favorable conditions for an implant down the road.