About Extractions
The Extraction Process
Should a tooth extraction be the best option for you, fear not. The tooth, jawbone and surrounding gums will be numbed with a local anesthetic.
During the extraction process you may feel a lot of pressure. This pressure is the result of firmly rocking the tooth, which is necessary to widen the socket for removal.
You’ll be glad to know that you feel this pressure, but no pain. That’s because the anesthetic has numbed the nerves, impeding the transference of pain. However, the nerves that transmit pressure are not profoundly affected; hence, you feel pressure during the procedure.
If you feel any pain during the extraction procedure, please let us know right away. We will address this immediately.
Sectioning a tooth
Some teeth require sectioning. Sectioning is done when a tooth is firmly anchored in its socket, or the root of the tooth is curved and the socket can’t expand enough to remove it. This requires Dr. Funderburk to cut your tooth into sections then removes each section one at a time.
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After Extraction Home Care
Bleeding
Some bleeding may occur after your tooth extraction. Just place a piece of moist gauze over the empty tooth socket and bite down firmly for 45 minutes. This should do the trick.
Blood clots that form in the empty socket.
Blood clots are an important part of the healing process. You must be careful not to dislodge the clot.
- Avoid rinsing or spitting for 24 hours after the extraction.
- Avoid the use of a straw.
- Do not smoke.
- Forego all hot liquids.
Swelling
If swelling occurs, you can place ice on your face for 10 minutes then remove it for 20 minutes. Repeat this on-off cycle as you feel necessary, for up to 24 hours.
Pain and Medications
If you experience pain, you may use non-prescription pain relief medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Eating
After most extractions, you can eat. You simply chew your food away from the extraction site. What you shouldn’t do: drink hot liquids or consume any alcoholic beverages for 24 hours. In the case where chewing isn’t advisable, a liquid diet may be recommended for the 24 hours following your extraction.
Brushing and Cleaning
After the extraction, you will want to avoid brushing any teeth near the extraction site for one day. After that 24-hour period, you can resume gentle cleaning. However, you should avoid using commercial mouth rinses, as they tend to irritate the site. After the initial 24-hour period, you can rinse with saltwater instead (1/2 teaspoon in a cup of water). You will want to use your saltwater rinse after meals and before bedtime.
Dry Socket
A dry socket occurs when a blood clot fails to form in the socket where your tooth has been extracted, or when a formed clot has been dislodged. Regardless of the cause, a dry socket significantly prolongs your healing. Dry sockets are usually the result of not following post-operative instructions so follow our instructions and avoid this painful, unnecessary setback!
Following your post extraction instructions will reduce the chances of developing dry socket. Dry sockets manifest themselves as a dull throbbing pain and don’t usually appear until three or four days after the extraction. The degree of pain can range from moderate to severe, and will radiate from the extraction area. Additionally, dry socket may cause a bad taste in your mouth, or cause you to have bad breath, and the extraction site appears dry.
Dr. Funderburk will apply a medicated dressing to the dry socket to soothe the pain.
Healing
Unless socket preservation is done, there will be a resulting hole in your jawbone where the tooth was. In time, this will smooth and fill in with some bone. This process can take many weeks, or even months; however, after 1-2 weeks you should no longer notice any inconvenience.