Tooth extraction is all about a process involving removal of the problematic, damaged and infected tooth from the patient’s mouth. Here in this blog, you will come to reveal some of the hidden facts of emergency tooth extraction.
When you need tooth extraction
Dental crown, cap or filling is not sufficient at all when the tooth damages. Sometimes, you may need full tooth removal or what we call tooth extraction. Multiple reasons are there for extraction some common of them are:
- Damaged teeth due to trauma
- Gum disease
- Decay or infection to single or more teeth
Other causes for extraction are:
- Having extra teeth leading to problems of overcrowding (difficulty eating and sore gums)
- Baby teeth which not fallen off on time
- Extraction to make place for braces
- Medication affecting a tooth
- Medication suppressing immune system leading to tooth infection
- Pain in wisdom teeth with cysts or infection
Prior the process
Both orthodontist and general dentist have proper training to conduct the tooth extraction process. However, before the commencement of process you need to share such medical information which can interfere with the process. If you are taking any strong medication which can put you at risk, share it to the dentist. Other instances are:
- Heart defects
- Liver disease
- Compromised or impaired immune system
- Artificial joints (hip, knee or more)
Sharing important information to the dentist is essential to ensure that you can attain full recovery post extraction.
What involves in tooth extraction procedure?
Depending on surgical extent, the dentist will administer general or local anaesthesia. For simple extraction, the dentist makes use of local anaesthesia. They inject the dose of anaesthesia to the site of affected tooth. After some time, the mouth will feel numb and the dentist will confirm it. Then they will widen the socket of the tooth for loosening it before removal.
Once the tooth removes, it makes a pocket of blood clot dentist will apply gauze pad and stitch the area for healing. Slight sensation of pulling is more like to experience during removing of tooth. However, anaesthesia will play its role for alleviating the pain. For any discomfort inform about it to the dentist as they will numb the spot again.
Conditions which change the procedure’s nature
In case the tooth is not visible, broken off, affected or erupted then you may need surgical extraction. The oral surgeon will carry out the procedure with the help of some dentists. It slightly differs from simple extraction. The dentist will create small incision in gum for removing the tooth gently. Many times they remove the tooth in small parts for efficient removal of affected tooth.
Distinguish between simple and surgical extraction?
Distinguish within the surgeries is use of anaesthesia and procedure types. Surgical extraction will consume more time in contrast to simple one due to position of the affected tooth. In case the tooth is visible the process becomes faster than ever.
What’s wisdom tooth extraction?
It is a kind of extraction process helps in removing multiple or single wisdom tooth which has the ability to lead to discomfort and pain.
What’s wisdom tooth?
Being refers as 3rd molars it is the very last tooth to rise and position at the back of tooth set. It appears on lower and upper jaw in early 20s and late teens. However, not all of them create problems. People sometimes find it arises numerous issues like problem in eating, infection and pain during development.
Dentist carries out this procedure when:
- Eruption accompanies with discomfort and pain
- Eruption happens partially
- Don’t erupt fully
- The tooth affects other molars
Understand the time to visit the dentist
It’s really hard to keep an eye on wisdom teeth development as it possesses different development patterns. Some typical symptoms are infection, gums and teeth damage, overcrowded teeth and pain. You must visit the dentist to treat these symptoms. In case, you don’t have disturbing wisdom teeth you must undergo the check up once in every 6 months.
Aftercare of tooth extraction
The dentist shares aftercare instructions. It may comprise of the following:
- Floss and brush avoiding the site of extraction
- Refrain from smoking and alcohol
- Prescribed painkillers
- Resting the gauze into the site for 4 hours
- Rinsing the mouth with the help of salt solution after one day
- No rinse the first day as gauze can lead to dislodge
- Avoiding the strenuous exercise and resting for a week
Healing and process time of tooth extraction
The aftercare routine entirely relies on the kind of tooth extraction process you have! However, the healing can take maximum 2 weeks. In the meantime, you need to ensure the blood clot into the socket. If it removes somehow, you will suffer from dry socket. Soon, the bone and gum tissue will develop into the socket to close it up.
Then you can get back to regular drinking and eating regime. But, keep in mind that there is the gap of missing tooth and other adjacent teeth can shift their position. So, you can have biting and chewing problem. Hence you need to visit the dentist for having implants post extraction.
What to eat and what not post tooth extraction
You must avoid all sorts of hard foods after the process. Any trauma or pressure at the site can linger down the healing. Here is a list of foods you should and shouldn’t consume.
Do drink and eat:
- Yogurt
- Smoothies
- Ice-cream
- Soup (not too hot)
Don’t drink and eat
- Straws
- Crunchy foods (carrots, chips, nuts and more)
- Hot spicy items
Pain post tooth extraction
The usual complexity accompanies with extraction is dry socket. After the extraction when the clot of blood dislodges before its healing, it refers to dry socket. As there is no protection to nerves and bone with exposure there is excruciating pain. Due to the sensitivity, debris can trap in the space so gauzing is important till it recovers completely.
Dry socket symptoms
- Unpleasant or strange taste in mouth
- Bad breath
- Visibility of bone in socket (results of blood clot loss)
- Intense pain for 2-3 days after extraction
Is tooth extraction painful?
You will experience every pain after the extraction of tooth. That’s why dentist uses general or local anaesthesia for elimination of pain at the time of procedure. Once it wears off you will start experiencing slight soreness at the site.
Fortunately, you can manage the pain easily by using OTC (over-the-counter) pain medication. However, you can follow other ways for alleviating the pain like:
- Taking proper rest
- Consuming soft foods
- Applying ice pack in sore area (not more than 10 minutes as it can lead to tissue damage)
- Rinsing the mouth using saltwater after one day of the procedure
How long the pain last after tooth extraction?
After the process is over, you will experience the pain for 2-5 days. From 10th day onwards there is no severe pain at all. In case of yours, pain persists for more than 2 weeks then dentist advice is must as you can have dry sockets.
What is the cost of tooth extraction?
The cost of tooth extraction in London starts from £235 for the simple ones. However, the complex one costs more. The price can rise if there is any need of extra fixture like veneers, bridges and crowns. So, before undergoing the treatment, it is pivotal to consult with the dentist.
When you need to go last check up?
As per dental recommendation, every patient should go for general dental checkups twice a year (one at an interval of 6 months). It ensures the proper oral health and hygiene. Also they look for potential oral issues and underlying causes behind it. As a result, there is no chance to pay hefty for oral restoration in future.
By undergoing regular checkups you can ensure health teeth, gums and mouth in the long run.