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When and Why is Tooth Extraction Necessary
Everyone wants to be able to smile with ease and confidence. Maintaining a healthy smile should be simple with proper oral care and regular dental appointments. However, occasionally a tooth extraction is a necessary part of achieving or maintaining that healthy smile.
Tooth extraction is neither as complicated or frightening as it may sound. As a matter of fact, some tooth extraction procedures are quite common. A perfect example is wisdom tooth removal. Usually, wisdom teeth are removed due to overcrowding, impaction, partial immersion, infection, or preventatively. Most adults require wisdom tooth removal at some point in their lives.
Other reasons for tooth extraction might include abscesses, excessive decay, tooth injury, or periodontal disease.
When a patient has braces applied, they may also need to have one or more teeth removed to allow other teeth to shift into the proper positions. Finally, patients undergoing chemotherapy, or those scheduled to receive an organ transplant, may need to have compromised teeth extracted to prevent serious infection, as their immune systems will be compromised following surgery.
The Procedure
While tooth extraction sounds like a long and difficult procedure, it is actually fairly simple, painless, and usually completed in just one appointment. It’s also an outpatient procedure, so patients are able to recover in the comfort of their own homes.
A tooth extraction is performed by a dentist or an oral surgeon. Local anesthetic, or anesthesia, will be used during the procedure. When the tooth is removed, it may be removed in pieces or whole, depending on its location and the health of the tooth. The dentist or oral surgeon may also need to cut into the gumline and/or remove some bone surrounding the tooth in order to safely and completely extract it.
The Recovery Period
Recovering from a tooth extraction procedure is not as daunting as it may sound. There are certain recovery tips that should be followed to speed up healing, all of which are simple and easy to accomplish.
Patients should avoid hard or chewy foods, like candy or gum. Using a straw or sucking on lollipops/popsicles/etc. is not recommended either, since the sucking motion can disturb the blood clot that forms over the extraction site.
Patients should also avoid hot beverages, alcohol, chewing tobacco, and smoking, as all of these things can impede healing. To speed up the recovery process, it is important to keep the extraction site from drying out, bleeding, or becoming irritated.
Steps patients should take to stay healthy and avoid infection include changing their gauze regularly, taking any medications that were prescribed by their doctor, and keeping their head elevated. Patients should always avoid lying flat directly after a tooth extraction.
Finally, patients should eat foods that are easy to chew, drink plenty of fluids, and indulge in milkshakes and ice cream.
River North Family Dentist
If you are searching for a trusted family dentist in the Loop, look no further than Windy City Family Dental. From tooth extraction, to cosmetic dentistry, Windy City Family Dental is here to provide you with quality dental care when you need it.
