Tooth extraction can sometimes become necessary in adulthood. Aside from getting your wisdom teeth removed, you may need it to treat crowding, tooth infections, and advanced tooth decay. Tooth extractions to remove compromised teeth can also be a part of treatments like chemotherapy and preparation for an organ transplant. Whatever your reason for getting your tooth pulled by a Fairfield, CA family & general dentist, here is what you should expect.
Preparing for A Tooth Extraction
During your first consultation, your dentist will take an x-ray of the affected tooth and review your medical history, including your current prescriptions and conditions. They may prescribe antibiotics if you have a weakened immune system, an infection, or a medical condition that could affect your healing process. On your side, you should:
- Avoid smoking for several days or weeks before the procedure.
- Wear loose-fitting or short-sleeved clothing to allow for IV anesthesia placement.
- Avoid eating or drinking for 6 to 8 hours before the extraction of IV anesthesia.
- Plan for someone to drive you home if you will be going under general anesthesia.
- Discuss any worrying symptoms like nausea or vomiting that appear the night before.
- Tell your dentist if you have a cold – they may need to reschedule.
Procedure
A tooth extraction can be a simple removal or a surgical procedure, depending on whether the tooth is impacted or visible. During the former, a technician will apply a local anesthetic to numb the area around your tooth. This should help you feel pressure instead of pain during the removal. Your dentist will then use an elevator and forceps to lose and remove the tooth, respectively.
If you require surgical removal, a technician will administer a local and IV anesthetic to help you not feel pain and to keep you relaxed. Some preexisting medical conditions may also qualify you for general anesthetic, where you are unconscious during the extraction. After the anesthesia sets in, your oral surgeon or general dentist will make a small incision in your gum. They may need to cut your tooth or remove some bone around it before extracting it.
Recovery
Usually, it takes several days to fully recover after tooth extraction. You can take the following steps to ensure you do not compromise your healing process:
- Avoid resuming your normal activities before 24 hours have passed.
- Avoid smoking
- Take your prescribed medication as instructed
- Apply an ice pack every 10 minutes to your cheek to prevent swelling.
- Avoid the extraction site when flossing or brushing your teeth
- Only eat soft foods like applesauce and yogurt for the first 24 hours
- Prop your head on pillows when you lie down
- Spit gently during the first 24 hours following the extraction and avoid rinsing
Contact your dentist if you experience pain or signs of infection – pus, fever, drainage, etc. – which doesn’t go away after a few days.
Tooth extractions can seem like a bother and unnecessarily painful procedure. However, they are sometimes the best way to restore your oral health and relieve your pain or discomfort. They are also not as painful as you would believe as sedation in dentistry has come a long way. If you have a tooth that needs extracting and live in California, contact Freedom Dental’s Fairfield office to set up an appointment with the experienced Cheng Zhu, DMD.
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