Tooth Extractions
When Is Tooth Extraction Necessary?
Patients may need to have a tooth pulled in one of the following scenarios:
- Damage is too great: Decay and acute trauma are the most common reasons a tooth can be too damaged for it to be repaired.
- Infection: Tooth decay may extend to the center of the tooth, known as the pulp chamber. If this happens, the tooth may become infected. Root canal therapy is the preferred option to handle this issue, but if infection is advanced, extraction may be necessary.
- Compromised immune system: Some patients are at such heightened risk of infection that extraction may be necessary if there's even a chance that the tooth will become infected. This is most common in patients undergoing chemotherapy or an organ transplant.
- Gum disease: Also known as periodontal disease or periodontitis. As the disease progresses, it causes the gums to pull back from the teeth. If left untreated, those teeth eventually have to be pulled.
- Mouth is too crowded: In some cases, the mouth is too small to accommodate all of the patient's teeth. In others, the teeth themselves are too large. A crowded mouth may result in there not being enough room for the tooth to erupt, i.e. break through the gum. This is one reason dentists typically recommend pulling wisdom teeth. Extraction may also be necessary to make room for orthodontia in a crowded mouth.
What Happens During a Tooth Extraction?
Dr. Brannon begins by numbing the area. Depending on your individual circumstances, you may need general anesthesia, which will cause you to sleep through the procedure.
In the case of impaction (the tooth cannot break through the gum), the doctor first removes gum and bone tissue. This gives him access to the tooth.
A blood clot forms in the socket where the tooth was. Dr. Brannon packs the area with gauze to staunch blood flow. He may also need to close the area with self-dissolving stitches.
What Happens After a Tooth Extraction?
- Take pain medication as directed by your doctor.
- Avoid rinsing and spitting for at least 24 hours.
- Continue brushing and flossing, but avoid the extraction site.
- Do not use a straw for at least 24 hours.
- Limit activity for at least 24 hours.
- Stick to soft foods for the first day.
- You may need to apply ice or cold packs to the area a few times a day to manage swelling. Do not use ice for more than 10 minutes at a time.
All of these help protect the blood clot at the extraction site and prevent infection. If the blood clot breaks loose, it may expose the bone (known as dry socket). If this happens, call Dr. Brannon as soon as possible. He’ll apply a dressing to protect the area until a new clot forms.