Permanent teeth potentially last for a lifetime, but unforeseen damage or decay can lead to the extraction of a tooth or a few teeth. In some other cases, a mouth is overcrowded, and extraction of a tooth or more can help a set of teeth align better. In short, extraction helps prepare a patient for orthodontics, i.e., proper alignment of the teeth.
Tooth extraction can be caused by infection or even a risk of infection in a specific tooth, as well. Other scenarios when one might require tooth extraction are the case of periodontal disease and wisdom teeth extraction. Overall, teeth extraction is a common dental treatment that one might have to undergo in a lifetime. Following is a review of the entire process of tooth extraction and recovery. Let us take a closer look:
Understand the Basic Steps of Tooth Extraction
There are several levels of tooth extractions. Both dentists, as well as oral surgeons, can perform tooth extractions at their infirmaries. Kitchener Dental is a one-stop address for all your dental consultations and treatments.
The dentist provides a local anesthetic to the patient before the extraction. The anesthesia numbs the place of tooth extraction. If the tooth in question features an impact, the gum and bone tissues covering the concerned tooth, are cut away by the dentist. The dentist will now use a pair of forceps to grip the concerned tooth and carefully move it backward and forward such that it loosens. Once the tooth is loose enough to pull out from the ligaments and the jaw bone, the surgeon extracts it.
However, the tooth could show some difficulty in extraction. In such a case, the tooth is extracted in pieces. After the process of extraction, blood emission takes place. Small gauze is placed on the site of extraction into the socket to suppress the bleeding. The patient closes his/her mouth to keep the gauze in place. In some rare cases, the doctor might place a few self-dissolving stitches to seal the ends of the gums at the site of extraction.
Precautions
While the tooth extraction process is harmless, the procedure might let micro-organisms like bacteria into the bloodstream. There are also chances of your gum tissue getting infected. Any patient, who stresses a state of health that makes him/her a high-risk patient, might have to take a course of antibiotics before and following the treatment of tooth uprooting. It is essential to inform your doctor about your medical history, supplements you use, and medications in advance. Letting your dentist know your medical history in advance would help them prepare you better for your tooth extraction procedure.
Recovery
The period of recovery lasts for a few days. There can be bearable pain but if the pain seems unbearable, the patient can seek to consume painkiller tablets. In the case of bleeding from the extraction spot, one can use gauze to suppress it. Leave the gauze in the place for the duration prescribed by your dentist. There can be some swelling on the outer side, reflecting on your face. You can minimize swelling by applying an ice bag to the injured region. If you undergo tooth extraction, the dentists prescribe relaxing for a minimum of 24 hours after the process. Do not spit out fluids or rinse your mouth for a minimum of six hours after the extraction such that the clot stays intact.
Restrict smoking for the recovery duration as it hinders the healing process. Doctors at Kitchener Dental prescribe consuming soft edibles like yogurt, soups, jello, juices, and puddings for almost a day after the process of extraction. You can incorporate solid edibles into your diet as soon as the site of extraction shows gradual improvements.
If you are seeking help with a tooth extraction in and around Canada, you can head to Tooth Extraction Kitchener for all your consultations and treatments.