There are many different reasons why a tooth may need to be extracted. For example, teeth with advanced decay, severe periodontal disease, poor positioning, or irreparable damage may need to be taken out. Some orthodontic treatment also requires tooth removal.

The loss of a tooth can have negative impacts on oral health, so Dr. Lowenguth only does tooth extraction when absolutely necessary and discusses replacement options before the procedure.

The Extraction Process

Before extraction, the doctor will numb the tooth and the surrounding area. During extraction, you may experience pressure in the area. This is because the tooth must be rocked to widen the socket. Though you feel pressure you should not feel pain at any point during the procedure. If you do, please let the staff know immediately.

Sometimes teeth require sectioning to be safely removed, typically when the tooth is too firmly placed in the socket or when the root is curved. The doctor simply cuts the tooth into sections and then removes each section one at a time.

After Extraction Home Care

After extraction, some bleeding may occur. You can place a piece of wet gauze on the socket and press firmly for a short period, and the bleeding should stop. As an important part of the healing process, blood clots form in the empty socket, you must be careful not to dislodge the clot. Avoid rinsing or spitting for 24 hours after the extraction, as well as the use of a straw, smoking, or hot liquids.

If swelling occurs, you can place ice on your face for 10 minutes and off for 20 minutes. Repeat this cycle as you feel necessary for up to 24 hours. If you experience pain, you may use non-prescription pain relief medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. To mitigate pain, we recommend a liquid diet for 24 hours post-procedure and afterward special effort to keep food away from the wound.

Immediately following the procedure, do not brush for 24 hours. After one day, you can resume gentle cleaning, but continue to avoid commercial mouthwash. Beginning 24 hours after the extraction you can rinse with salt water (1/2 teaspoon in a cup of water) after meals and before bed.

Dry Socket

Dry socket occurs when the wound after extraction doesn’t clot or does clot, and the clot becomes dislodged. A dry socket delay healing and can cause severe pain. Usually, this begins three to four days post-procedure. If you experience dry sockets, please call our office and Dr. Lowenguth can apply a medicated dressing to the site to aid healing.

Healing

After a tooth has been extracted there will be a resulting hole in your jawbone where the tooth was. In time, this will smooth and fill in with bone. This process can take many weeks or months. However, after 1-2 weeks you should no longer notice any inconvenience.