No Fear: Our Relaxed Approach to Tooth Extraction and Gentle Dentistry

A tooth’s been giving you trouble, and your dentist suggests an extraction may be necessary. You might worry about how serious and invasive the procedure will be. Will it be a simple procedure, or will you need to see an oral surgeon to get it done?

At Beckham Square Family Dental in Cincinnati, many of our patients have questions when we recommend pulling a tooth. We understand that the thought of an extraction can be overwhelming, but when a tooth can’t be repaired or saved, extracting it is best to prevent infection, treat advanced periodontal disease, or halt the progression of bone and jaw deterioration.

No two extractions are alike; therefore, we discuss with our patients the type of procedure—simple or surgical—they’ll need and why it’s right for them. It also helps to understand each method beforehand.

Simple Tooth Extractions

Sometimes a tooth is clearly visible above the gumline, and your dentist can remove it with forceps. This is called a simple extraction, and we perform it for many patients in our Cincinnati family practice.

Dr. Schmerler and Dr. Hynes are experienced in this procedure and use a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable, so you don’t feel anything. There’ll still be pressure during the procedure, but we’ll take several steps to make you comfortable. Like the extraction overall, the instruments we use are also simple. We use a tool called an elevator to loosen and slightly raise the tooth that comes out, and then grasp it with forceps to extract it.

In rare cases, a procedure may start as a simple extraction, but the tooth may break. In this case, you’ll need a surgical extraction to remove the tooth in pieces.

Surgical Tooth Extractions

Surgical tooth extractions become necessary when the tooth is hidden, impacted, broken at the gum line, or too difficult to remove through simple means. At Beckham Square Family Dental, we don’t perform surgical extractions. You’ll need to see an oral surgeon, and we’ll gladly recommend one who is reputable and who embraces gentle dentistry as we do.

Surgical tooth extraction is one of the most common surgeries performed, even though it’s more complex than a simple extraction. Surgery involves using a local anesthetic, usually administered via an intravenous (IV) needle. Except for a slight sting of the IV insertion, you won’t experience any pain. But expect to feel some pressure during the removal process.

During this procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the connective tissue around the tooth to gain easier access to it. The incision is also necessary when the tooth breaks into pieces, which are otherwise difficult to get to with an elevator. Once the tooth is removed, the surgeon stitches up the incision so that it may heal.

Beckham Square Family Dental doesn’t perform surgical extractions, but we’ll refer you to a qualified oral surgeon in Cincinnati if, after examination and an X-ray, we recommend surgery. Surgical extractions are typically necessary for wisdom teeth, which we also don’t perform.

Care After the Procedure

Whether you have a simple or surgical extraction, proper follow-up care is essential for optimal healing. After treatment, we recommend the following aftercare practices:

• Avoid unnecessary talking, eating, and drinking for the first two hours after extraction.
• Drink plenty of lukewarm or cold liquids after the bleeding subsides.
• Maintain your diet, but stick with clear liquids and soft foods for the first day.
• Avoid rinsing or brushing your teeth for 12 hours.
• Avoid the surgical area when brushing. You can gently rinse with a diluted mouthwash or 1/4 teaspoon of table salt in a glass of lukewarm water.
• Don’t use straws, smoke, or spit forcefully as long as there is bleeding.
• Follow your dentist’s instructions on using any prescribed pain medications.

Contact your dentist if your pain persists, you experience continued bleeding, or the swelling increases after 2-3 days. These signs may indicate an infection, which constitutes a dental emergency.

Compassionate Care for Tooth Extractions

It’s natural to feel intimidated by the thought of a tooth extraction, whether simple or surgical. However, most of the patients we see for simple extractions are surprised by how comfortable and pain-free the procedure actually is. If you need surgery, we’ll answer any questions and refer you to an experienced oral surgeon in Cincinnati that we’d trust with our own dental care.

Gentle dentistry has come a long way, and it’s part of our mission at Beckham Square Family Dental. Our goal is to make the process as clear as possible, including how we’ll make you more comfortable. Get started today by filling out our online form. We’ll explain your options and put you at ease.