Dr. Elizabeth Duling offers tooth extractions to her Owens Cross Roads, AL patients. Tooth extractions are needed when teeth are severely infected, damaged, or overcrowded. Impacted wisdom teeth may also need to be removed as they cause pain and tooth overcrowding for some patients.
As a general dentistry treatment, tooth extractions help remove the source of patients’ dental issues and often prevent problems from worsening. Patients may feel afraid that extractions are painful. However, we use local anesthetic and can also use nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation. We always want our patients to feel comfortable receiving treatment in our dental office.
Simple Tooth Extractions
Dr. Duling provides simple extractions, which remove teeth visible in the mouth. We first examine the tooth and surrounding tissues to start the process. We may use dental x-rays if you have impacted teeth or if we need to see the extent of the damage for a broken or decayed tooth. When we know the exact circumstances, we can craft a treatment plan that’s unique to your situation.
We’ll talk you through the treatment and let you know of any potential risks. The mouth is numbed during treatment, and the patient is under dental sedation or anesthesia. Dr. Duling gently rocks the tooth back and forth, loosening it for extraction. Simple extractions are typically used for overcrowded, damaged, or infected teeth. For more complex needs, we will refer you to a local surgeon.
Do I Need a Simple Tooth Extraction?
Whenever possible, we believe in helping you keep your natural tooth structure. We’ll only recommend an extraction if we believe it’s necessary for oral health. Typically, this is for a tooth that’s severely infected or damaged. The infection from your tooth can spread to the bone if it’s severe. If we see this being a problem, we advocate extracting the tooth. It’s also possible for you to have a tooth so damaged that it can’t be repaired.
We may also recommend extraction with severe overcrowding. Clear braces and other methods can help with crowded teeth. But there are cases where your jaw isn’t big enough to fit all of the teeth you have. In children, this can usually be remedied with an orthodontic appliance. But as an adult, you don’t have that option. When your mouth is done growing, it’s hard to create more space.
Removing Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth typically begin to grow during your late teens or early twenties. Also known as the third molars, wisdom teeth emerge in the very back of the mouth. However, most wisdom teeth do not have enough space to fully erupt. This causes impaction, which means they cannot come in vertically. Wisdom tooth impaction causes pain and can lead to overcrowded teeth.
Dr. Duling will take x-rays to monitor your wisdom teeth and determine if they need removal. She will often recommend dental sedation for this extraction. Following your treatment, avoid hard or chewy foods. We also recommend that patients take over-the-counter pain medication and use ice packs on their cheeks.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
Though this procedure is common, you have to take care of the extraction site properly to ensure it heals well.
The Day of the Procedure
Immediately after the extraction, we’ll instruct you to bite down on gauze we put on the extraction area. It helps stop the bleeding and the blood clot start to form. You should gently bite down on that gauze for about 30 minutes after you leave our office. If you take the gauze out and the bleeding is continuing, swap out the gauze and continue to bite down on a new piece until bleeding slows.
Over-the-counter pain relievers should help with any pain and discomfort you may have. A cold compress can help this, along with bruising and swelling, too. For the first 24 hours after the extraction, use the compress for 15 minutes at a time, with at least 15 minutes between each session. You can use this at your discretion. If you ever experience extreme pain or bleeding, call our office immediately.
The Days After
Be very careful with brushing your teeth after the extraction. Avoid brushing or rinsing anywhere near the extraction site so that it doesn’t disturb the blood clot. After the first day, begin gently rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater. Use this a few times a day, especially after meals, to promote healing and keep the extraction site clean.
Avoid any consumption of tobacco products for at least 72 hours after the procedure. Nicotine restricts your blood vessels and can impact how the blood flows. It’s essential that blood flows properly to the extraction site so that a clot can properly form. You should also avoid drinking from a straw. These things increase the chance you’ll suffer from dry socket, a painful condition.
Stick to a soft diet for the first few days after the procedure. Eat foods like mashed potatoes, yogurt, and soup. Avoid chewing at all in the area where the tooth was extracted. You can slowly start introducing more solid foods as you feel up to it. Don’t consume anything that’s very hot or very cold, either. This can cause sensitivity in the extraction site.
Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for at least 24 hours after the extraction. If you strain too much, it can trigger bleeding or disrupt the blood clot, which is essential for healing. Use this time to rest and avoid any activities that can cause increased blood flow in the face and neck.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tooth Extractions
Tooth extractions are routine procedures we often perform in our office. Learn more by reading the answers to these commonly asked questions.
Can I be sedated for a tooth extraction?
Dr. Duling offers sedation dentistry for patients suffering from anxiety or fear surrounding dental treatment. If you require an extraction, you may request the use of sedation. We offer nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas, and oral conscious sedation. These sedation methods will put you in deep relaxation to have your tooth pulled without anxiety or fear.
What is a dry socket?
A dry socket is a condition that can occur after a tooth is pulled. It can be very painful. It is caused when a blood clot at the extraction site does not form or falls out. The best way to avoid this condition is to follow all your aftercare instructions. This includes not using a straw and not smoking. Any action that requires suction should be avoided at all costs. We also suggest eating soft food and avoiding all food that has small particles that can get lodged in the socket.
Do I have to have my wisdom teeth removed?
Wisdom teeth do not need to be removed if they are not causing problems. However, it is suggested to have them removed because they are hard to take care of. Teeth located far back in the mouth are difficult to clean, and sometimes your toothbrush cannot properly brush them. This leads to occurrences of tooth decay. On the other hand, if you can keep them clean and they are not causing any dental issues, then there is no reason to remove them.
Receive Dental Care Today
Do you need to remove your wisdom teeth? Are you looking for treatment for overcrowded teeth? Call Dr. Duling for treatment by calling 256.202.4186. You can also request an appointment with Dr. Duling on our website.