Allen Dental Center is your trusted dental office that can provide you with a tooth extraction in Allen, TX if you ever need one. There several reasons why a tooth may need pulled however we will always do whatever we can to save your natural tooth. There are simply some cases where a dental filling, root canal, or dental crown are simply not enough to restore a tooth. After an exam, your dentist will determine if you require a tooth extraction or not.
Common Reasons for a Tooth Extraction
- Severe Tooth Decay: A tooth that is beyond repair due to advanced tooth decay will require an extraction. Your dentist will first attempt to save a tooth with a dental filling or root canal. However, sometimes the damage is too extensive and an extraction is the only solution.
- Gum Disease: Advanced periodontal disease can cause the supporting tissues of the teeth to recede or weaken due to inflammation and infection. You can also suffer from bone loss. This causes the teeth to loosen and sometimes they need to be removed. Extractions are also necessary to control the infection and prevent it from spreading.
- Impacted Wisdom Teeth: Pulling wisdom teeth is a common dental practice. Sometimes, that third set of molars does not have enough room to erupt properly and they become impacted. This can lead to pain, infection, or damage to the surrounding teeth. Extracting the wisdom teeth is often recommended in this case.
- Broken or Fractured Teeth: If a tooth is broken or fractured beyond repair, then your dentist will most likely remove the rest of the tooth. This will help prevent an infection from developing or spreading. In these cases, it is easier to remove and replace the tooth.
- Infection or Abscess: When a tooth infection extends into the pulp (the innermost part of the tooth), it can cause significant pain and discomfort. In some cases, extraction is necessary to eliminate the source of infection. If this is not addressed, an abscess can cause the infection to spread to other parts of the body.
- Extra Teeth (Supernumerary Teeth): Some individuals have extra teeth, a condition known as supernumerary teeth. These extra teeth can disrupt the alignment of the existing teeth and may need to be extracted.
Tooth Extraction – What to Expect
There are two types of extractions: simple and surgical. A simple extraction is a fairly easy procedure that is completed during one appointment. Your dentist will use local anesthetic so you will not experience any pain during the procedure. After your tooth is numb, your dentist will use special tools to loosen the tooth and pull it out.
A surgical extraction is more complicated and will require surgical tools to open up the gums around the tooth. Once the tooth is removed, sutures will be used to close the gums. Even though this is considered a surgical procedure, most patients seem to handle it well with local anesthetic.
Recovering From a Tooth Extraction
No matter how your teeth were extracted, it is important to follow all your aftercare instructions. This crucial step will ensure you have zero complications after your extraction. We recommend that you follow these steps to recover effectively:
Follow your aftercare instructions…
Your dentist will provide you with a specific set of instructions to follow. Please read them carefully and follow them including the instructions on how to take your medication, what to eat, how to care for your teeth, and physical activity restrictions.
Control the bleeding…
While bleeding is normal after a tooth extraction, it is important to take the steps to minimize it. We will supply you with a clean gauze pad to bite down on. You should do this for about 30 minutes after the procedure to help control the bleeding. Please avoid spitting the blood out as this can prolong the bleeding.
Manage the pain and discomfort…
Once the numbing medication wears off, you will likely feel uncomfortable and feel some level of pain. We recommend over-the-counter pain relievers to manage the post-extraction pain. However, you should avoid aspirin as it can increase the risk of excessive bleeding.
Control the swelling and bruising…
Swelling is common after tooth extraction. Applying an ice pack to the sides of your face for about 15-20 minutes at a time during the first 24 hours can help reduce swelling. You may also experience some bruising which is perfectly normal and will resolve on its own.
Maintain a proper diet…
Please stick to a soft diet for a few days after the tooth extraction. Eat foods like yogurt, applesauce, pudding, mashed potatoes, soup, or smoothies. Avoid hot, spicy, and hard foods. Most importantly, avoid using a straw because the sucking action can dislodge the blood clot causing a dry socket
Practice good oral hygiene…
Maintain good oral hygiene to prevent infection. Brush your teeth very carefully but avoid the extraction site for the first few days. You can rinse your mouth out with warm saltwater to keep the area clean.
Rest…
Even though it is a simple procedure, it is important to rest and recover. Please avoid strenuous physical activities for a few days after your tooth extraction. Doing so will increase the blood flow to the extraction site and cause bleeding and discomfort.
Avoid smoking and alcohol…
While you are recovering for the first few days, it is best to avoid smoking. The sucking motion will dislodge the blood clot causing a dry socket. Also, avoid alcohol as it can interfere with the healing process and increase your risk of complications.
Wisdom Tooth Removal
Wisdom teeth removal is a common procedure for young adults in their late teens to early 20’s. This is the time frame when they begin to emerge and sometimes cause problems for the patient. As a general dental office, we provide wisdom teeth removal for our young patients to they can avoid the many issues these molars can cause. Wisdom teeth are known to cause issues such as:
- Overcrowding
- Teeth shifting
- Tooth decay
- Impaction
- Bite issues