The idea of having your tooth extracted may be scary to some people–either due to picturing how painful it can be, or due to fear of going to the dentist in general. In reality, tooth extractions are safe, swift procedures that are necessary for your health. When a tooth is damaged beyond repair, is at risk of infection or decay, impacted during an accident, or causing overcrowding, extraction may be required. Continue reading to know more of the simple process and how to take care of yourself afterwards, thus ensuring that you experience as little discomfort as possible!
There are two types of tooth extractions–a Simple Extraction and a Surgical Extraction.
A Simple Extraction is performed on a tooth that is above the gumline and can be seen in the mouth. By loosening the tooth with an instrument called the elevator, these teeth can typically be removed easily with forceps. This is a simple and quick process, with a fairly short healing time.
On the other hand, a Surgical Extraction consists of additional surgical steps that are not required in a simple, regular extraction. It is a more complex procedure that requires incision, since the tooth may not be visible and easily accessible to the dentist. Some cases may include impacted wisdom teeth or extensively damaged teeth.
To determine which extraction you need, an x-ray may be done beforehand. Whichever extraction you’re having, both processes should be relatively easy without any pain and can take anywhere from five minutes to half an hour.
Tooth extractions are done in the following steps:
1) Numbing Your Tooth with Anesthesia
First, you will be given anesthesia or sedation for the tooth, gum and bone tissue surrounding it. This is done to numb the area and to ensure that you won’t feel any pain during the procedure.
2) Extracting the Tooth
The dentist now has to remove your tooth from its socket by its root. Space will be created by loosening the socket, and the repeated pressure will reach a point where the tooth can easily be pulled out. For more complicated cases where the tooth may be impacted, the dentist may need to cut away gum or bone that is covering the tooth, before proceeding with extraction.
3) Closing the wound
And we’re done! The dentist will then stitch the wound to close it, and you may have to bite down on a piece of gauze to stop the bleeding.
After the procedure, taking care of yourself post-extraction is very important! In the first 24 hours, you are advised not to rinse or brush your teeth. An ice pack may help to manage pain and inflammation, with the help of prescribed painkillers. Do take it easy after your extraction by taking plenty of rest and incorporating soft foods into your meals. Most importantly, it is imperative that you listen to your dentist if they have any additional concerns, they know best and only wish you a swift recovery.
Sit back, relax, and trust your dentist to do what’s best for your health. By following the caring guide, your healing time will be swift and you’ll be fine in no time at all!
