While a tooth extraction is sometimes the best way to preserve a patient’s oral health, learning that you need one might be quite scary. While it’s only natural to feel apprehensive about having a tooth removed, modern extractions are performed with special care to ensure that patients remain comfortable throughout the procedure. Here’s a brief guide to the tooth extraction process and how your dentist will keep it as stress-free as possible.
Why Are Tooth Extractions Performed?
While human teeth are remarkably durable, they can become compromised by decay and trauma. While these issues can often be addressed with restorative dental procedures, it will sometimes be necessary to remove a tooth that cannot be saved to prevent further infection and injury. Some patients may not have enough space in their mouths to accommodate their emerging wisdom teeth, which makes extracting them necessary to prevent future oral health complications like jaw pain and dental misalignments.
How Will My Dentist Keep Me Comfortable During Tooth Extraction?
To remove a tooth, your oral surgeon will administer a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable before using a special device called an elevator to lift the afflicted tooth partly out of the gum tissue. If you need extra help staying calm and still during the procedure, you may also receive oral sedation.
Once your tooth is elevated, your oral surgeon will grasp it with forceps and gently rock it back and forth until it comes loose from its connective tissue. If impacted wisdom teeth are being extracted, this process may also involve making small incisions in the gum tissue or breaking the tooth into smaller pieces. Thanks to the anesthetic and sedation methods used, you can expect to feel no pain throughout the process.
How Can I Stay Comfortable After Tooth Extraction?
After your extraction, you may experience some stress in the treated area for a few days afterward. The best way to keep yourself comfortable and your recovery process complication-free is to strictly adhere to your dentist or oral surgeon’s postoperative instructions. You can expect these to include:
- Take special care when brushing and flossing around the treatment area to avoid stressing the healing tissues.
- Avoid foods and beverages that are hot, spicy, sweet, or acidic, as these can irritate the extraction site.
- Refrain from smoking or drinking alcohol, as these can inhibit the gums’ ability to heal and fight infections.
- Don’t spit or drink through straws, as these actions cause pressure shifts in the mouth that can dislodge the protective clot that forms over the surgical site, resulting in a painful condition called dry socket.
Tooth extractions are common and safe procedures, and following your oral surgeon’s instructions will help you stay comfortable as you heal afterward. If your dentist recommends removing a troubled tooth, you can rest assured that it is in your best interest.
About the Practice
Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery offers the finest oral surgical services in Alexandria, Reston, and Burke. Led by Drs. Amir Naimi, Pedram Yaghmai, Amro Shihabi, and Hadi Ansari, the staff does everything possible to ensure that each patient remains comfortable while maintaining a clean and calming office environment. Areas of expertise include dental implants, oral sedation, and tooth extractions. To learn more about tooth extraction aftercare, contact the practice online.