A guide to extractions from our dentist
Have you been told you need to have a tooth extracted? Are you concerned about it?
At Coptfold Dental, our dentist Brentwood performs multiple extractions a day and can assure you of a comfortable experience when you come to us for this procedure.
Here is a brief guide from our dentist Brentwood about dental extractions.
Enjoy!
Why would I need a dental extraction?
There are many reasons why our dentist Brentwood may suggest a dental extraction.
The first and most well-known example is to do with decay; if you have a tooth that has been hurting for some time and you haven’t attended a check-up, our team may opt to have it removed as it has decayed beyond repair.
Depending on the severity of the decay, this may be a simple or surgical extraction, which we will talk a bit more about later.
Secondly, we may need to extract teeth if you are having orthodontic work; braces often require a bit of wiggle room to move teeth and so, we may decide to remove teeth to make this process easier. If you are having problems with your wisdom teeth, then we may also choose to extract them.
Types of dental extraction
In dental care, there are 2 standard types of extraction; the first is a simple extraction.
This is used when the tooth crown (the bit you can see) is above the gum line and our team can easily grip it and remove the tooth without it falling apart or cracking as they do. For a simple extraction, an anaesthetic is applied underneath the tooth and we can usually remove it in about 10-20 minutes.
If you are having a surgical extraction, then we will need to use a few more tools and it will probably take longer. This type is used when the tooth has decayed under the gumline or if the crown of the tooth is broken. For this, we will obviously numb the area but will also need to use incisions to remove the tooth and may even need to use stitches after the treatment is completed.
Aftercare
Once you have had a dental extraction, irrespective of the type, you will need to avoid putting pressure on the extraction site for a few days.
Take care to brush your teeth with a soft-bristled brush and keep the extraction site clean and free of debris by using saltwater. Although it may be tempting to use a mouthwash at this stage, try not to, as it will hurt and may lead to further inflammation.
To control discomfort, take over the counter pain relief such as paracetamol; do not take ibuprofen or aspirin, as these can thin the blood and may lead to worsening bruises.
Dry socket
When you have a tooth removed, a clot will form in the open socket; this is normal and part of the healing process.
As tempting as it may be to try to remove this clot, it is best to leave it alone as disrupting it can cause a dry socket to form. This is an uncomfortable condition in which bone is exposed to the air without a cushion (the blood clot) and can lead to lots of secondary complications.
If you suspect you have a dry socket, call our team.