Dentists and orthodontists do all they can to protect and save your teeth. Sometimes, though, a tooth just can’t be saved. It may become infected, putting your health at risk. It may be preventing other teeth from moving into their proper places. It may just be too damaged for proper repair. In these cases, the best solution is often tooth extraction.
Some people hear “tooth extraction” and think the best way to do a cheap tooth extraction is to grab a pair of pliers. In reality, this can cause serious damage to your mouth, not just to the tooth you’re trying to pull. If you have tooth problems, you don’t want just a cheap dental extraction. You want a proper tooth extraction by a licensed professional who knows how to do it without damaging your other teeth, gums, or jawbone. Gairhan Dental Care can take care of your tooth extraction needs, whether it’s through general dentistry or emergency care. Here’s what you should know about tooth extractions.
Signs You May Need a Tooth Extraction
There are a few reasons you may need a tooth extraction. You may have had an accident that nearly knocked out your tooth or broke it into pieces, but it hasn’t completely come out. You may have a tooth that is rotted from tooth decay. You may need to remove a tooth to make room for other teeth to spread out. Perhaps you bit something and broke the tooth beyond normal repair.
These are some of the main reasons we pull teeth:
- Overcrowding: All, most of, or some of your teeth are overcrowded, causing issues in speech or bite.
- Infection: Extreme tooth decay eroding teeth may infect your gums and other teeth if the tooth isn’t removed.
- Damage: Any trauma from sports or accidents may cause severe trauma resulting in tooth extraction.
What the Extraction Looks Like
What is a tooth extraction going to look like? Will you walk around with a huge gap? What happens after the tooth extraction? Once your tooth is pulled, a blood clot will fill the socket. Eventually, your gums will heal over the socket, protecting it and allowing the bone to heal properly.
During the first 24 hours, don’t brush or rinse the socket, or the clot may not form properly. After that, it should be OK to eat and brush, though you might stick to soft foods that don’t require a lot of chewing, as your mouth will still be sore.
The hole should close within a week or two. If it doesn’t, your clot may not have formed correctly, and you may have what’s called a dry socket. Contact Gairhan Dental Care if that’s the case, and we’ll bring you in to medicate the area and try to get it to close properly.
What Your Dentist Does During an Extraction
Tooth extractions involve a lot more than just pulling the tooth. We need to know the extent of the damage and the best way to get the tooth out without damaging the surrounding bone, tissue, and other teeth.
Here is what your dentist will do for a proper tooth extraction:
- Examine the severity of the tooth damage on an initial visit.
- Schedule an appointment for the tooth extraction.
- Administer anesthetics to numb your mouth before extraction.
- Extract whatever is left of the natural tooth.
- Stitch the area and place gauze to stop the bleeding and help with blood clot formation.
We will provide more detailed instructions for care before and after your tooth extraction at your initial visit, so you’ll know what to expect.
How to Heal From a Tooth Extraction
You need to take care of yourself after tooth extraction. Without proper care, the blood clot that will help the socket heal won’t form properly. A dry socket could lead to pain and infection and should be treated right away.
Here are some tips on how to care for your mouth after tooth extraction:
- Don’t use a straw
- Ice the tooth extraction area.
- Use painkillers if needed.
- Avoid smoking or drinking alcoholic beverages after the procedure.
- Don’t eat or drink for a few hours.
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water for constant disinfection, and call Gairhan Dental Care if you’re suffering from severe pain or suspect a dry socket.
How to Prevent a Tooth Extraction
How do you keep from needing a tooth extraction? It can be easier than you think. The first step is an obvious one: Be sure to brush and floss your teeth regularly. Accidents and injuries are harder to protect against because they’re so unpredictable, but there are ways to help well.
Here are some preventative measures you can take to avoid tooth extractions:
- Floss before bed and make sure you floss between each tooth and in hard-to-reach places like molars.
- Brush your teeth twice a day, for two minutes each time.
- Floss at least once a day with dental floss between each tooth, including molars.
- Stop bad habits like tobacco use that can accelerate tooth decay and gum disease.
- Use a mouthguard while playing sports.
- Avoid a high-sugar diet.
Tooth Extractions in Jonesboro, AR
A tooth extraction may be the best solution to ease your dental pain. Patients in the Jonesboro, AR, area can contact Gairhan Dental Care if they’re concerned about a tooth. Once you schedule an appointment, we can examine your tooth and let you know if it can be saved or if a tooth extraction is the best way to go.
