Permanent Tooth Extraction Although Undesirable Becomes Necessary at Times

No one desires to have their permanent teeth extracted because it brings upon them the significant expenditure of searching for tooth replacement solutions. Teenagers and adults routinely get their wisdom teeth removed, but other reasons also exist to necessitate tooth extraction during adulthood. Let us look at why the removal of permanent teeth becomes necessary during adulthood and what can be expected when undergoing the procedure.

Circumstances That Determine When to Extract Tooth

If you are a victim of excessive tooth decay, infections, or crowding, the situations all require tooth extraction. If you are preparing for orthodontic treatment extracting a couple of teeth may be necessary to make space for your other teeth to shift into place.

People undergoing chemotherapy or expecting an organ transplant may also need to have compromised teeth extracted to keep their mouth healthy.

The procedure of extracting teeth is performed by a dentist or oral surgeon in a quick outpatient procedure with local, intravenous, or general anesthesia. Removal of visible teeth is a simple extraction, while broken teeth below the gum line or impacted teeth require an intensive procedure.

What Can You Expect During the Treatment?

When you contact KK Dental for tooth extraction, the dental professional from the facility will take an x-ray of your tooth and request information about any medications you are taking, including vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs. Information about whether you will be treated for another medical condition with the intravenous drug bisphosphonate must be provided to the dentist. In such cases, the extraction is scheduled before the treatment with the drug to prevent putting your jaw at risk for bone death.

The dental professional must also be provided with all information about your physical health and any conditions that are affecting you. He or she will want to ensure the conditions are stabilized or treated before scheduling the procedures. You may be prescribed antibiotics before the extraction if the surgery is expected to be lengthy, you have a weakened immune system or an infection or any other specific medical condition.

What Is the Extraction Pain Duration?

As mentioned earlier, tooth extractions are performed under local, intravenous, or general anesthesia. The site of the removal is numbed to ensure you feel no pain during the procedure but only pressure. Having undergone a surgical procedure, you will undoubtedly experience some discomfort after the anesthesia has worn off. However, your dentist would have recommended over-the-counter or prescription pain medications to help you find relief from the pain.

If you are undergoing a simple extraction, the dentist uses elevators to loosen the tooth before extracting it with forceps.

If your procedure is surgical, your dentist or oral surgeon will make small incisions in your gums to remove some bone from around the tooth. He or she may also cut the tooth to extract it in pieces.

Recovering after the Procedure of Tooth Extraction

You will require a few days to recover after tooth extraction. The following tips help to ensure your recovery proceeds smoothly:

• After the procedure, apply an ice pack to your cheek directly to reduce swelling. The ice pack can remain on your cheek for 10 minutes at a time.
• The dentist would have placed a gauze pad over the site of the extraction. You must bite down on the pad to reduce bleeding and to help in the formation of a clot. Leave the gauze pad until it is saturated with blood or for 3 to 4 hours.
• Any medications prescribed, including over-the-counter painkillers, must be taken without exceptions.
• During the first 24 hours, give yourselves adequate rest and relax without jumping into your regular routine even on the following day.
• You must avoid smoking because it delays the healing process.
• You can have soft foods the day after the procedure and reintroduce other foods into your diet as you heal over the next few days.

If you are experiencing pain that isn’t subsiding after several days or notice signs of an infection including pain, fever, pus, or drainage from the incision, schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.

If you are advised tooth extraction for any reason, it is suggested that you undergo the procedure without delaying it because it helps to keep your oral health in optimal condition. Dentists only recommend extractions when other methods to preserve the tooth have failed. Therefore despite being undesirable, the removal may be a blessing in disguise.