What To Expect From A Tooth Extraction Procedure

Well, it happened. Your dentist told you that a tooth extraction is necessary. Whether you let a cavity go too long, you chipped a tooth past the gum line, or you need a tooth extraction to make room for other teeth, the idea is kind of daunting. Will it hurt? What will happen after? How do you know what you should expect?
First, know that a tooth extraction is performed with the utmost safeguards for the patient. The procedure begins with an x-ray of the area surrounding the tooth. This will help the dentist or the oral surgeon to determine the best plan for removing the targeted tooth. The x-ray will also show any unusual conditions that may need to be considered during the procedure.
Most of the time, a tooth extraction only requires local anesthesia. The patient may be given an intravenous anesthesia to create a mild sedation. If appropriate, the patient may be given general anesthesia. The patient will be given instructions to follow, and in most cases, a local injection of a pain medicine will suffice.
The Tooth Extraction Process
There are two types of tooth extractions. The first is a simple extraction, which is generally used when the tooth is easily seen. Observing the position and condition of the tooth is essential. In this case, the dentist uses an instrument to loosen the tooth, and then dental forceps are used to remove the tooth. Of course, the patient will be given post-surgical instructions and many times just over the counter medication can be taken to help with any discomfort.
The second type of extraction is a surgical extraction, and as you may expect, this is a more complex extraction. An oral surgeon usually performs this extraction, but a general dentist can also perform these as well. Surgical extractions are performed when a tooth has broken off at the gum line. In these cases, a small incision is made in the gum. It may be necessary to follow with other surgical procedures for a tooth that is difficult to extract. For instance, if there is an infection underneath the tooth, you may need anything from a root canal to a tissue graft and a regiment of antibiotics.
Either type of extraction will cause the patient to feel a little pressure, but this doesn’t necessarily mean the patient will feel uncomfortable.
What do I do After my Tooth Extraction?
The dentist or the surgeon will provide instructions about what needs to be done after the extraction. If necessary, the patient will be given recommendations for medications that will decrease the pain that may occur following the extraction. Any pain that occurs should not last more than a few days. You should stay hydrated, swish (gently!) with warm saltwater every once in a while, and make sure not to eat any hard foods that may cause the site of the tooth extraction to open. Keep your head above your heart as much as possible for the first couple of nights.
Problems after an extraction are uncommon, but any problem should be discussed with the dentist or the oral surgeon before your tooth extraction at the consultation. There are some signs you can spot at home that you need to go back to your dentist. If the site of the tooth extraction is swollen, your face is swollen, you have sudden bleeding or pain that OTC pain medications can’t relieve, these are all reasons to seek an emergency dentist. If you have a sudden fever or nausea/vomiting, these are all reasons to go see an emergency doctor. But those are worst case scenarios. Our Cincinnati family dentistry practice does thousands of pain-free tooth extractions every year. We have a deep understanding of how the mouth works, and the different needs of patients of any age or oral health. Tooth extractions are a cinch for us.
If you are in need of a tooth extraction, or it has been years since you have been seen by a dentist and you hare having some concerns, please contact us at Beckham Square Family Dental, the Cincinnati dental office of Dr. Paul Hynes, D.D.S. and Dr. Andrea Schmerler, D.D.S. in Blue Ash, Ohio, by calling 513.489.7800 or using our contact form.