Tooth Extraction

A tooth extraction involves removing one or more of your natural teeth.

Your dentist may recommend extraction for several reasons, although it is a last resort, and is performed if restorative treatments fail to save your tooth. Following a tooth extraction, we are happy to provide you with one of our excellent tooth replacement options to restore your smile!

What are dental extractions?

Tooth extraction is a dental procedure that involves the complete removal of an infected, damaged or otherwise problematic tooth from its socket in the bone, to help prevent further damage and to preserve good overall oral health.

There are two methods for tooth extraction:

1. Simple procedure

A simple extraction procedure can be performed in a short amount of time using a few dental instruments as minimum planning is involved. Overall, the experience is rather mild, and you will typically feel almost nothing at all.

2. Complex/surgical procedure

However, in some circumstances, a surgical procedure may be required to remove the tooth. Especially if a tooth has broken beneath your gum line or if there is trouble with an impacted wisdom tooth.

This treatment process entails more time as extra attention and planning is required, compared to a simple procedure.

What are the advantages of a tooth extraction?

Less Infection – An impacted wisdom tooth will make it harder for you to clean those areas between your teeth causing the bacteria to remain and to damage not only the wisdom tooth, but it also harms other nearby teeth.

No more foul smell – If your tooth is misaligned such as your wisdom tooth, this may cause bad breath. The accumulation of food that you have been eating throughout the day gets stuck between the teeth and gives you bad breath.

Contributes to the Stem Cell Treatment – Aside that you may feel relieved from the pain that your wisdom teeth bring, this benefit may convince you to proceed with the extraction. Can you believe that by removing your painful wisdom teeth, it can help someone in the future?

Say Goodbye to Pain – By removing these set of molars, your other set of teeth will be able to occupy enough space preventing them to overcrowd your gums. Stopping your teeth to grow before it will result to

Orthodontic treatment – Removal of teeth for braces is necessary when your jawbone does not have enough space to hold the teeth that cause overcrowded, protruded, or misaligned teeth. However, in certain circumstances, you may not require extraction for orthodontic treatment if you already have enough space to move teeth to align them.

Why does my tooth need to be extracted?

Conditions that may require an extraction to treat successfully include:

• Advanced dental pulp infection – Sometimes infections are ignored and with time it becomes worse and spreads throughout the mouth. So, it is necessary to remove the infected tooth to protect the remaining tooth/teeth from infection.
• An impacted wisdom tooth – Our wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are up to four new teeth that erupt in our late teens and early 20s. The arrival of these teeth could mean infections, damaged teeth, discomfort, and a painful partial eruption known as impaction. You could also be more likely to develop dental misalignment. Fortunately, we can use extraction to address them prior to eruption.
• Overcrowding  – The extraction of one or several teeth may be necessary to eliminate the overcrowding in the mouth. This is also recommended when the patient must undergo orthodontic treatment and there is no room for the teeth to move and realign.
• An orthodontist will check on how crowded your teeth are, and if there is enough room for them to move and give your set of teeth a better alignment. Teeth extractions are recommended when there is not enough space to straighten the alignment of your teeth.
• Trauma – If a patient has experienced trauma which has impacted their tooth or teeth, the initial option is always to save the preserve the teeth. However, if the dental issue is unregainable, tooth extraction may be required.

It is important to have and maintain good oral hygiene to prevent the above problems. Discussing tooth replacement options with your dentist is the next step after an extraction as further leaving the empty space may have a significant impact on your surrounding teeth, such as movement requiring orthodontic treatment, dental bridgeor adenture. However, we want to reassure you, the goal is always to preserve your existing teeth for as long as possible.

How will I feel after a tooth extraction?

DO

As the local anaesthetic may take a few hours to wear off. It is important to take care not too:

1. Numbness – bite your lips or tongue since the anaesthetic will also numb these. You might experience some discomfort for a few days after the procedure. Normally, this can be managed with over-the-counter medication.
2. Rest – Make sure to get some rest after your tooth extraction. You may feel great, but you probably should avoid exercising or performing any strenuous activity for at least 24 hours. While you are resting, ensure your head is slightly upright.
3. Ice Packs – Applying icepacks to the side of your face where the extraction was performed will help reduce swelling. Though, this may only be necessary for an involved surgical extraction. The ice pack should be applied for 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off for 1-2 hour period for the first 24 hours following the extraction.

*Your dentist will provide you with some gauze to bite down on to help a blood clot form in the empty socket.

DO NOT

1. No smoking or drinking – Avoid smoking or drinking through a straw for at least the first few days after a tooth extraction. The suction could dislodge the blood clot and expose the bone underneath, a condition called “dry socket” that can be uncomfortable.
2. Brushing – Take care when brushing the teeth on either side of the extraction site.
3. No touching – Do not touch the healing area with your finger or tongue.
4. Spitting and rinsing – Avoid spitting as this can also dislodge the blood clot.

For more information on tooth extraction and to book an appointment call us on 01474 352 990 or email info@noveldentalgroup.com.