How to Prepare for a Tooth Extraction Procedure and After Care Tips

An extraction is performed for various reasons, but the most common is to remove a tooth that has become unrestorable as a result of dental trauma, periodontal disease, or extensive decay. When you suffer from such oral problems, you are likely to experience toothaches more often. Furthermore, lack of treatment can give rise to other dental issues such as a bacterial infection. For this reason, dentist in Brookfield, CT, recommend you visit your dental practitioner for a tooth extraction procedure.

Sometimes a wisdom tooth gets stuck as it grows, and it is unable to position itself and develop normally. Such a tooth is known to cause gum infection, and your dentist may recommend a wisdom tooth extraction procedure, especially if other conservative solutions have failed.

When Is Dental Extraction Necessary?

In most cases, dental fillings are generally used to fix damaged or broken teeth, but this procedure becomes futile if the damage sustained is severe and cannot be repaired; thus, calling for extraction. Below are other examples of conditions where exodontia may be necessary:

• An infection – If a person suffers damage to his or her tooth pulp, bacteria can penetrate inside it, leading to an infection. The pulp is a cavity that contains blood vessels and nerves; thus, it will be of importance that the spread is stopped. The Dental Team is a dental clinic offering tooth extraction services in Brookfield, CT. Call and book your appointment today if you need to have your tooth removed.
• Periodontal disease – Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is an infectious disease that affects the bones and tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. Such illnesses cause the teeth to become loose hence the need to pull them out.
• People going for orthodontic treatment, such as braces, may have some of their teeth removed to create room for orthodontia.
• When the milk teeth in children fail to fall out and give way to the permanent set, they may be forced to undergo this procedure.

Preparation

Before your tooth is extracted, your dental practitioner will take a look into your dental and medical history, and then he/she will take an appropriate x-ray. The x-ray will reveal the shape, position, and length of the surrounding bone and tooth. This information will help the dentist estimate the procedure’s level of difficulty and whether or not you should be referred to a specialist like the oral surgeon.

Types of Dental Extraction

A dental professional may recommend either one of the two types of teeth extraction; a simple tooth extraction or a surgical one. Simple extractions are performed by general dentists and are only suggested when the tooth is visible in your mouth. During this procedure, the area surrounding the infected tooth is numbed with the aid of local anesthesia. A dental tool known as an elevator is then used to loosen your tooth, and what follows next is its removal with a pair of dental forceps.

The surgical removal procedure is a complex process used when your tooth has broken-off at your gumline. Oral surgeons are the people to perform the extraction, but general dentists can also do it. Intravenous anesthesia is administered to the patients to put them to sleep. A small cut is made into the gum, and the tooth is removed. Sometimes, your tooth will have to be cut into a half to remove it.

The Do’s and Don’ts After A Tooth Extraction

After the completion of the procedure, your practitioner will place a sterile gauze on the wound to stop the bleeding. The critical thing here is to keep your wound clean and prevent the occurrence of an infection. Keep the dressing for the next 30 to 40 minutes to allow clotting to take place. Here are some of the aftercare tips that you should observe in the next 48 hours after surgery:

• Avoid using straws as they put pressure on a healing wound, causing dislodgment of the clot.
• Avoid spitting or smoking as they both create pressure similar to that of straws.
• Get enough rest.
• Take the medications recommended by the dentist.
• Use pillows to elevate your head as you sleep.
• Take over-the-counter pain killers to reduce inflammation and pain.
• Do not brush your teeth or rinse your mouth before healing.