You and Cullinan may determine that you need a tooth extraction for any number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed; others may have advanced periodontal disease or have broken in a way that cannot be repaired. Other teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth) or in preparation for orthodontic treatment.
Removing a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint, and shifting teeth, which can significantly impact your dental health.
To avoid these complications, in most cases, Dr. Cullinan will discuss alternatives to extractions as well replacement of the extracted tooth.
The Extraction Process
At the time of extraction, the doctor will need to numb your tooth, jawbone, and gums that surround the area with a local anesthetic.
During the extraction process, you will feel a lot of pressure. This is from the process of firmly rocking the tooth to widen the socket for removal.
You feel the pressure without pain, as the anesthetic has numbed the nerves, stopping the transference of pain. Yet the nerves that transmit pressure are not profoundly affected.
If you feel pain at any time during the extraction, please let us know right away.
Sectioning a tooth
Some teeth require sectioning. This procedure is very common when a tooth is so firmly anchored in its socket, or the root is curved that the socket can’t expand enough to remove it. The doctor cuts the tooth into sections and removes each one at a time.
After Extraction Home Care
Bleeding
Some bleeding may occur. Placing a piece of moist gauze over the empty tooth socket and biting down firmly for 45 minutes can control this.
Blood clots that form in the empty socket.
This is an essential part of the healing process, and you must be careful not to dislodge the clot.
- Avoid rinsing or spitting for 24 hours after the extraction.
- Avoid the use of a straw, smoking, or hot liquids.
Swelling
If swelling occurs, you can place ice on your face for 10 minutes and then turn it off for 20 minutes. Repeat this cycle as you feel necessary for up to 24 hours.
Pain and Medications
If you experience pain, you may use non-prescription pain relief medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Eating
For most extractions, make sure you chew away from the extraction site. Stay away from hot liquids and alcoholic beverages for 24 hours. A liquid diet may be recommended for 24 hours.
Brushing and Cleaning
After the extraction, avoid brushing the teeth near the extraction site for one day. After that, you can resume gentle cleaning. Avoid commercial mouth rinses, as they tend to irritate the site. 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
A dry socket occurs when a blood clot fails to form in the socket where the tooth has been extracted or the clot has been dislodged, and the healing is significantly delayed.
Following the post-extraction instructions will reduce the chances of developing dry sockets. Dry sockets manifest as dull, throbbing pain that doesn’t appear until three or four days after the extraction. The pain can be moderate to severe and radiate from the extraction area. Dry sockets may cause a bad taste or bad breath, and the extraction site appears dry.
To soothe the pain, Dr. Cullinan will apply a medicated dressing to the dry socket.
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.
