All About Tooth Extractions
Dental extractions are a fairly common procedure. While saving your natural tooth is our primary goal, in certain instances, extractions may be necessary to preserve your overall oral health and prevent toothaches.
During your comprehensive dental exam, your dentist will examine your teeth and gums. They can evaluate your situation and determine whether a tooth extraction is necessary or whether another treatment, such as a root canal, would be more beneficial to your oral health.
If you’re in discomfort and dealing with tooth or jaw pain, come see us for a thorough exam to determine next steps.
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When Is an Extraction Necessary?
Our goal is to keep your teeth and gums healthy. In some cases, we need to remove one or more teeth in order to support your overall oral health.
Extractions may be performed for a variety of reasons, including significant tooth decay that is not restorable, a fractured tooth, severe gum disease that affects the supporting tissue and bone structures, and in preparation for certain orthodontic treatments.
We also provide tooth extractions for wisdom teeth in individuals who do not have sufficient space to accommodate these extra molars.
The Tooth Extraction Process
Once your dentist has determined that an extraction is necessary, we will follow this general process to complete the procedure.
Before the Extraction
You and your dentist will review your medical history, including any medications you are taking. You’ll also discuss anesthesia options for the procedure, such as local anesthetic or general anesthesia. Based on your overall health and current medications, your dentist may recommend the most appropriate option for you.
During this time, you can ask your dentist any questions about the process, including additional information about your oral health, to make sure you have a complete understanding of the procedure and why it is necessary.
The Tooth Extraction
The procedure typically begins with your dentist checking your blood pressure and administering the anesthetic treatment you selected. A local anesthetic is administered directly to the area and numbs or “freezes” the area around the tooth. You may feel some pressure during the procedure, but you shouldn’t feel any pain.
If you prefer general anesthesia, you’ll be sedated during the procedure. Regardless of which type you pick, your dentist will walk you through the procedure and explain what to expect.
Once your anesthetic is administered and takes effect, your dentist will carefully remove the tooth and take care of the affected gum area.
After the Extraction
Your recovery after tooth extraction can vary depending on which tooth was removed, how many teeth were removed (such as for wisdom tooth removal), and whether the surrounding gum and bone areas were impacted before the extraction, for example, due to gum disease.
In general, you may experience some swelling, bleeding, or discomfort that gradually decreases in the following days. Our team will discuss aftercare instructions with you to help your mouth heal. This may include over-the-counter pain medications or a prescription.
During your initial recovery, we typically recommend eating soft foods and being careful not to irritate the extraction site while brushing and flossing.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
It’s common to need some or all of your wisdom teeth removed. Wisdom teeth often cause problems as they emerge, causing pain and other issues. In some cases, wisdom teeth grow at an angle rather than straight through the gum line, which is known as an impacted wisdom tooth. This can create a pocket in your gums that harbours bacteria.
Wisdom teeth can also cause overcrowding. Many people do not have sufficient space in their jaw to accommodate wisdom teeth, which forces their other teeth to shift to make room. By removing wisdom teeth early enough, we can prevent your teeth from shifting out of alignment.
Wisdom teeth can also cause pain and headaches, which can be relieved upon removal.
The wisdom teeth removal process is similar to a general tooth extraction. You can decide whether to undergo general anesthesia or use a local anesthetic. Your dentist will walk you through the procedure and recovery process if you decide to get your wisdom teeth removed.
Tips for Healing After a Tooth Extraction
We will provide you with thorough aftercare instructions following your procedure. These instructions promote smooth healing and help prevent complications. Most patients feel back to normal within 1–2 weeks.
We’ll book a follow-up appointment with you after the procedure to monitor your healing. In general, we recommend eating soft foods and being mindful of extreme temperatures. Don’t eat or drink anything too hot or ice-cold. You should also avoid using a straw during healing to prevent dry socket.
As part of your aftercare instructions, we’ll also provide advice on pain medications. If you have any questions before or after your procedure, please call our office. We’re happy to answer any questions or schedule an additional appointment to make sure you feel comfortable about the procedure.
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Find us in the Beacon Hill shopping centre, near the Starbucks and just across the parking lot from Sport Chek and Mark’s.
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There is plenty of free parking, including accessible stalls, right outside our clinic.
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