Recovery After Dental Extraction

Our dental practice no longer extracts as many teeth as once was common. As restorative treatment options continue to improve, dental extractions tend to decline. However, there are still circumstances where pulling a tooth is the best option for you. You can rest assured we will provide gentle and efficient care to make the experience as comfortable as possible.

There are several reasons our dentist in Van Nuys may suggest an extraction. One of the most common reasons is that you have no room in your mouth for more teeth. This frequently happens with the third molars, commonly known as wisdom teeth. Another circumstance leading to extraction is a severe injury or trauma to a tooth. If the tooth is rendered unrepairable, our dentist may opt to pull the injured tooth and place a dental implant after the site heals. Excessive periodontal disease is frequently the reason to extract a tooth before it breaks or falls out.

A dental extraction is a straightforward procedure. If you are having a single tooth removed, you will most likely get an injection of a local anesthetic. This will numb the area around the tooth, but you will be awake throughout the procedure. If our dentist is removing several teeth or impacted teeth, you will receive general anesthesia. Once you are numb or asleep, our dentist will use forceps to remove your tooth. You may get a few dissolvable stitches to close the area.

For a smooth recovery, it is essential to follow the direction of our dentist. A blood clot will form over the empty socket. You should avoid disturbing the clot. This aids the healing process and prevents an extremely painful condition known as dry socket.
Additionally, plan on resting for at least 24 hours after the procedure. Do not smoke or use a straw because both are known to dislodge the clot covering the empty socket. Use an ice pack for 10 minutes at a time to reduce pain and swelling. Take any prescribed pain medication as directed. Limit your diet to soft foods for a few days.

A typical extraction takes a week or longer to heal fully. Do not try and rush the healing process. If you experience any unusual bleeding or extreme pain, call our office right away. While no one likes having a tooth pulled, we will do all we can to make it an uncomplicated process.

When is a Dental Extraction the Only Option?

There are few things worse than a toothache. In some cases, the pain is so severe it can prevent patients from doing everyday tasks such as chewing. More often than not, dentists attempt to fix damaged or broken teeth with a filling or crown. Unfortunately, if the damage is irreparable, your dentist may resort to pulling the tooth. Our dentist in North Hollywood is expert in taking preventive measures to preserve healthy smiles.

There are many reasons one may require a dental extraction. For example, a patient with extra teeth may experience overcrowding. Younger patient’s baby teeth do not always fall out in time for their permanent teeth to surface. Wisdom teeth are also removed more often than not, as they can be impacted, decayed or infected, causing the gum to swell. Your dentist must pull very loose teeth if they cannot be saved through bone graft replacement surgery. Likewise, patients receiving radiation to the head and neck, or introduced to certain drugs may develop weak and infected teeth that are past the point of salvaging. Some develop a tooth infection after an organ transplant due to the medication taken to suppress the immune system. In the event that you are required to have a tooth pulled, your dentist will provide you with detailed instructions and guidelines regarding care and follow up.

Reasons for Having a Dental Extraction

Dental extraction, or tooth removal, is a very common procedure. Patients may have teeth extracted in many situations and receive a variety of benefits in the process. Below, you can learn about some of the reasons extracting a tooth may be necessary.

Severe Damage

Extensive damage to teeth or gums can make repair impossible. While tooth decay and physical trauma are among causes of severe tooth damage, gum disease can destroy the tissues that secure the teeth in place.

Patient Preference

Patients sometimes have the option for repair but prefer extraction instead. Extraction can be performed quickly in a single appointment, and can also be more affordable compared to alternatives, such as root canal.

Orthodontic Reasons

When patients are getting ready for orthodontic care at our dental office, they may need to have teeth removed beforehand. This may be done to make room for movement of teeth or to prevent bite irregularities from emerging during normal development.

Extraction is made easier with anesthesia and sedation for eligible patients. After having teeth removed, patients may be offered one or more replacement options, such as dental implants. Patients can schedule a consultation with our expert in dental extraction in Boyle Heights to learn more about how this procedure is performed.

Surgical Dental Extractions

There are several instances in which a tooth is deemed unsalvageable and is scheduled for extraction. When this occurs, there are two levels of extraction: simple and surgical. The surgical option is necessary when access to the entire crown of the tooth is difficult or when the tooth needs to be broken into manageable pieces, for instance.

While these procedures are surgical in nature, they do not necessarily require an oral surgeon. Some surgical extractions can be performed by your general dentist in Beverly Hills.

Wisdom teeth are a popular choice for removal. These can erupt improperly in the jaw, causing crowding or blockage to the surrounding teeth. Wisdom teeth can also develop curved root systems that make their removal difficult. These instances require a surgical extraction, since the doctor would need to do more than just pull the tooth from its socket.

Teeth that have been endodontically treated in the past often develop brittle roots, which can require surgical extraction.

Sometimes teeth are partially or fully buried in the jawbone. In this instance, the dentist would pull back the gums for access and then trim the relevant bone tissue.

Surgical dental extractions can become more common as the patient ages due to increased bone density and a higher instance of calcification.

For more information about surgical dental extractions, contact our expert in dental extractions in Beverly Hills.

When Dental Extraction is a Necessity

Most dental cases can utilize a range of procedures toward restoring or enhancing problem teeth. However, there are outcomes that involve losing a tooth. These should not be seen as traumas, as a tooth is almost always extracted to provide relief. The following are some instances where our Northridge dentists suggest dental extraction may be required.

•    Extreme injury. Car accidents or sports mishaps are common causes of facial injury, which can leave teeth too severely damaged to save.

•    Extreme infection. Often a tooth deteriorates to the point of abscess, which can spread to other parts of the body. If a root canal is deemed inappropriate, the tooth may be extracted.

•    Wisdom teeth or third molars. The last four teeth to appear, or erupt into, the mouth are the back molars. These are typically associated with the period between late adolescence and early adulthood. These teeth can become easily impacted, or they can crowd existing teeth, causing discomfort. Although there is some dispute about whether or not it should be taken for granted, extracting wisdom teeth has imperatively become standard procedure.

Again, dental extraction is perfectly safe and can lead to a risk-free mouth. For more information on dental extraction, contact our expert in dental extraction in Northridge.