Tooth Extractions
What You Should Know About Tooth Extraction
Your mouth is a vulnerable part of the body, and external stressors like bacteria and your daily activities can affect your teeth. Whether a patient’s tooth has been compromised by decay or it’s damaged due to an injury, we’ll always try to save your tooth.
But there are times when Dr. Maggie Aleksanyan determines that extraction is the safest treatment option for your health.
If your tooth is causing extreme pain or it’s cracked or broken, get in touch with our office by calling (303) 703-4544. Dr. Maggie will evaluate your situation and determine the appropriate treatment.
The Extraction Process
Tooth extraction is a quick and safe procedure that takes less than an hour. We’ll provide a local anesthetic to ensure the process is pain-free.
Following your extraction, you’ll have an empty socket and a space between your teeth. Dr. Maggie will go over your replacement options. Many of our patients in Littleton, CO choose to restore their missing teeth using a dental implant.
This natural-looking prosthetic tooth will protect your gums and stimulate essential jawbone growth.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Most people are born with a third set of molars called wisdom teeth that erupt between the ages of 18 and 25. These extra teeth frequently grow in crooked, become overcrowded, or get stuck below the gumline (impacted). This can cause severe pain, infection, swelling, and bad breath.
Patients can avoid complications by getting their wisdom teeth extracted.
Emergency Tooth Extraction
Did you recently injure one or more teeth? Extreme situations such as a sports injury or even simple activities like biting into an apple can damage your teeth. Luckily, we offer emergency dental care — we’ll get you in to see Dr. Maggie right away.
We’ll always try our best to save your natural tooth, but sometimes extraction is the best way to protect your oral health.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
Your recovery will depend upon the number of teeth extracted and where they’re located. You’ll be provided with specific guidelines to follow for 7 to 10 days after the procedure. Following these instructions completely is the best way to prevent infection and allow your mouth heal properly.
Post Extraction Instructions
Your mouth will feel sore following a tooth extraction, and it’s essential that you rest for a full 24 hours afterward. This means limiting your activity and refraining from exercise.
We recommend the following aftercare tips to ensure the healing process is as smooth as possible:
- Apply ice — this will help reduce swelling
- Avoid smoking or using a straw — the sucking motion can dislodge the natural blood clot that prevents bleeding
- Don’t rinse or spit — for at least the first 24 hours
- Take medication — if you experience any pain, we can prescribe medication or you can take ibuprofen
- Brush and floss normally — to prevent bacteria from infecting the extraction site
Additional Post Extraction Instructions for Children
The aftercare instructions for children are similar to those of adults, and parents should be as hands-on as possible during the healing process.
It can be harder for kids to rest due to their high energy, so distracting them with activities such as movies or books might be necessary.
It’s essential to provide kids with a diet that consists of soft foods such as applesauce, mashed potatoes, soup, and macaroni and cheese. Also, encourage them not to touch their mouths to prevent bacteria from entering the extraction site.
Tooth Extraction Complications
Resting and caring for your extraction site are crucial parts of the healing process. But complications can still occur following your treatment. Knowing what to do during each situation will help minimize the pain as much as possible.
Nerve Injury
Your mouth contains multiple nerves that are connected to your teeth. If one of them becomes injured during extraction, you can experience tingling or numbness for a short period of time. It’s possible for the feeling to last from a few days to a month depending on the damage, but it should go away on its own over time.
If the tingling persists or gets worse, call our office and we’ll fit you in for an appointment.
Infection
When bacteria enter the extraction site, it can quickly infect the gums. That’s why it’s important to regularly brush and floss around the area to keep it clean. If you experience any pain, swelling, or redness around your socket, let us know right away. We’ll provide treatment such as antibiotics to clear up the infection.
Dry Socket
After a tooth is extracted, a blood clot forms to prevent your gums from bleeding excessively. Actions such as sucking through a straw, smoking, or even spitting too soon after the extraction may cause the clot to become dislodged. This condition is known as a dry socket. It can lead to extreme pain and may even create a bad taste in your mouth.
If you notice pain and inflammation around the empty socket, schedule an appointment with Dr. Maggie right away. She’ll treat the problem and remove any debris that may have entered your socket. Then she’ll apply gauze to allow it to heal properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a tooth extraction take?
Tooth extractions take about 20 to 40 minutes per tooth. Following the procedure, the healing period typically takes 7 to 10 days. If you’ve had multiple teeth extracted, or experience any complications, it may take longer to heal.
Prior to receiving your restoration such as a dental implant, bridge, or denture, you’ll want to wait 6 to 8 weeks for the swelling to completely diminish so that you can ensure a good fit on your restoration.
What are the aftercare instructions following a tooth extraction?
Following a tooth extraction, you’ll want to follow a few tips to facilitate healing and protect the site, including:
- Avoid strenuous exercise
- Avoid smoking and using a straw for 72 hours
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as Ibuprofen and apply ice as needed to address any discomfort and swelling
- Chew away from the extraction site
- Limit your diet to soft foods and avoid any foods or beverages that are too hot or cold
What do I do if the site of my extraction becomes infected?
If your extraction site becomes infected, contact our office right away by calling (303) 703-4544. We’ll arrange for you to see Dr. Maggie at your earliest convenience. In addition to following any recommendations by Dr. Maggie, there are a few ways you can prevent infection and optimize healing, including:
- Rinse with warm saline solution following the procedure
- Avoid touching the area
- Chew away from the extraction site
- Avoid smoking for the first 24 hours
- Avoid strenuous exercise that can disrupt the blood clot
If you experience any green or yellow pus in the area, have a fever, or the area becomes warm to touch, you’ll want to contact our office right away so that we can examine the area and ensure your extraction site is free of infection.
Are tooth extractions painful?
Prior to the procedure, Dr. Maggie will numb your tooth and the surrounding area to ensure you won’t feel a thing throughout the treatment. Dr. Maggie will be in communication with you throughout the process to ensure you’re pain-free.
Following the procedure, you may experience some mild discomfort, but this can be treated with ice and over-the-counter pain relievers such as Ibuprofen to address pain and swelling.
Safe and Friendly Care in Littleton, CO
Teeth that are decayed or injured can damage the rest of your smile if not given the proper care. Contact us at (303) 703-4544 to learn more. Dr. Maggie will safely treat your condition and make the pain go away.