What is Tooth Extraction?
Tooth extraction is a dental procedure in which the dentist removes a tooth from the alveolar socket, with the proper technique after numbing the tooth and soft tissue with local anesthesia. People also know it as tooth-pulling.
Does Tooth extraction hurt?
Tooth extraction is done after numbing the tooth and soft tissues with local anesthesia, so you won’t feel any pain during teeth extraction and don’t need to worry about pain from pulling teeth.
Common reasons for Tooth extraction
Grossly carious tooth : When a tooth is grossly carious and can’t be restored with any treatment its removal is required.
Orthodontic treatment : For Orthodontic treatment procedures many times it becomes necessary to extract teeth for proper alignment of teeth.
Pathologic lesions : When a tooth is connected with pathologic lesions like the odontogenic cyst involved with a tooth, a complete clean-up of the cyst requires tooth removal.
Impacted teeth : Impacted teeth cause pain and other complications that require tooth removal. For example, if an Impacted third molar tooth movement causes pain, then its removal becomes necessary in most cases to relieve pain.
Malpositioned tooth : When such tooth causes trauma to tooth soft tissues and adjacent tooth, and cannot be corrected with orthodontic treatment.
Cracked tooth : When a cracked tooth can’t be treated with any treatment, tooth removal becomes the last option to relieve the toothache.
Supernumerary teeth : Supernumerary teeth are extra teeth that create crowding and hinder oral hygiene. So in such cases, tooth extraction becomes necessary.
Periodontitis : If periodontitis causes excessive bone loss and teeth become loose and cannot be treated with periodontal therapy, mobile teeth need to be removed.
Tooth on the line of Facture : When a tooth is on the line of fracture it should be removed if it interferes with the reduction of a fracture or is the source of infection.
Prosthetic purposes : For prosthetic procedures, if teeth interfere in prosthesis fabrication and its function. For example, If a supra-erupted tooth interferes with prosthesis fabrication on the opposite arch, the tooth should be removed.
Risk and Complications
- Dry socket
- Infection
- Delayed healing
- Bleeding
- Nerve injury
Tooth extraction Aftercare
Aftercare is important for the quick recovery and healing of the extraction socket, so make sure you follow all the instructions given by your dentist.
Things to avoid after Tooth extraction
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Carbonated water or soda
- Hard foods
- Blowing
- Straw usage
- Heavy Gargling and spitting
- Hot food
- Oral contraceptives
All these things interfere with the healing process of the tooth socket after tooth extraction, so you should not do it after the removal of the tooth to avoid a condition called Dry socket in which the socket doesn’t heal.
When can I eat after Tooth extraction?
Dentists numb the soft tissues and teeth before extracting the tooth so you shouldn’t eat until your numbness is gone otherwise it is more likely that you may bite your soft tissue and create soft tissue trauma.
So you can eat after the effect of local anesthesia is fully gone.
What you can eat after Tooth extraction?
You can eat soft or semi-solid food that requires less chewing after extraction, after healing of the extraction socket, and becomes normal after tooth extraction. Don’t use the straw to drink, it may dislodge the blood clot from the socket and affect the healing of the extraction socket.
Make sure you avoid alcohol, Carbonated drinks or soda, and hot, spicy, and hard food until your socket heals.
You can eat hard, solid, and all other food after the healing of your tooth socket.
What to do if Pain after Tooth extraction?
Take pain relieving medicines prescribed by the dentist. If socket pain remains after taking the prescribed medication contact the dentist immediately. The Dry socket may be the cause of such pain.
When to stop using gauze after Tooth extraction?
Pressed gauze over the socket helps in clot formation and controls bleeding. You should keep gauze pressed on the extraction site for 20-40 minutues (at least 30 minutes) after tooth extraction to control the bleeding.
Can I brush my teeth after Tooth extraction?
Oral hygiene is important but you should avoid brushing your teeth for 24 hours after the tooth extraction.
What to do if swelling after Tooth extraction?
Use ice packs on the jaw near the extraction site for 10 minutes with intervals of 20 minutes. It helps to reduce swelling. If swelling is not reduced then visit your dentist.
When to see the dentist after Tooth extraction?
You can reach out to your dentist if bleeding does not stop from the extraction site or socket. If you have a severe toothache after extraction and it isn’t relieved with the prescribed medicines, you can reach your dentist.
In case of large swelling, if it doesn’t reduce after prescribed medications and ice packs, you can visit your dentist for appropriate treatment.
