Dental technology has made phenomenal advances over the years, and dentists have been able to do things that their earlier counterparts would never have dreamed of doing. With all of the strides that have been made in dental medicine, from time to time, teeth need to be extracted.
A tooth may need to be extracted because of issues with impacted wisdom teeth. An extraction may be necessary if a patient’s mouth has too many teeth, and tooth-crowding needs to be relieved. If a patient needs braces or other orthodontics, teeth may need to be removed to accommodate the dental work.
In some cases, a tooth may be too damaged by trauma or decay to be viable. In this case, the dentist may perform a simple extraction, and discuss tooth replacement options with you during a later visit.
In a simple extraction, the dentist will loosen the tooth with a tool called an elevator, before removing it with a pair of forceps. If necessary, the dentist may close the socket with a single, dissolvable stitch, and may send you home with a prescription for a pain reliever or antibiotic.
You will probably not feel like eating for the 24 hours after the extraction. But if you do get hungry, eat soft, cool foods and keep your food on the side of your mouth opposite the extraction. You can brush your teeth, but you should rinse the extraction site with a warm salt water solution. Do not use a straw, and do not smoke for those 24 hours.
A blood clot will form over the socket, and it will protect the exposed jawbone and nerves. If that clot is ruptured or removed, you will experience a very painful condition known as dry socket. You will also be vulnerable to infection.
If you have a tooth that has been causing you discomfort, our dentist, Dr. Honey Fiasconaro will be happy to see you for an exam and a consultation. To make an appointment at Cenla Dentistry in Pineville, Louisiana call 318-640-3200.
