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.

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.