Why is this procedure done?
Having a tooth pulled is another name for a tooth extraction. There are many reasons you may need to have this done. You may have: ‚
- Damaged your tooth so badly that it cannot be fixed
- A lot of decay in a tooth. This may cause you to have an infection in the nerves and blood vessels of your tooth.
- Very bad gum disease
- An impacted tooth that is stuck in the gum, tissue, or bone
- Extra teeth that are blocking other teeth from coming in
- Very crowded teeth. Teeth may need to be removed prior to braces.
View OriginalView Original
View OriginalView Original
What will the results be?
If you have any pain from the tooth, it should go away. If your mouth was crowded, you will have more space in your mouth. ‚
What happens before the procedure?
- Your dentist will take your history. Talk to your dentist about all the drugs you are taking. Be sure to include all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and herbal supplements. Tell the dentist about any drug allergy. Bring a list of drugs you take with you.
- Any bleeding problems. Be sure to tell your dentist if you are taking any drugs that may cause bleeding. Some of these are Coumadin ‚ ®, ibuprofen, Aleve ‚ ® (naproxen), or aspirin. Certain vitamins and herbs, such as garlic and fish oil, may also add to the risk for bleeding. You may need to stop these drugs as well. Talk to your dentist about them.
- Your dentist will study your teeth and take x-rays as needed of the mouth.
- In some cases, your dentist may give you drugs to prevent infection. You may need to take them before and after the procedure.
What happens during the procedure?
- Your dentist will help you stay pain free and comfortable during the procedure.
- Most people get a shot to numb the mouth. Sometimes, you may have a drug to make you sleepy and pain free. This may happen if you are having many teeth pulled or your teeth are harder to pull.
- The dentist will remove any gum tissue or bone that is in the way and gently remove the tooth. You should feel pressure, but not pain.
- Blood will clot in the empty socket. Your dentist will put a gauze pad into the socket.
- Your dentist may need to make a few stitches to close the gum edges.
- The procedure most often takes about 20 minutes, but may take longer.
What happens after the procedure?
- Some bleeding is normal and should get less and less until it stops the next day.
- You should bite firmly but gently on the gauze pad to stop the bleeding. Bite on the pad for 45 minutes. Then replace it. You may need to repeat these steps until the bleeding stops.
- Your dentist will give you drugs to help with pain.
What drugs may be needed?
The dentist may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Prevent or fight an infection
Talk to the dentist about the best drugs for you to take to help you. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Numbness
- Sinus perforations on upper tooth extractions if the tooth is close to the sinus
- Sometimes, there is a problem with the blood clot in the empty socket. It may not form at all or it could break away too early. This is called a dry socket and can be very painful. Doing things that cause suction can make this more likely to happen. Do not smoke, spit, or drink from a straw.
- Your gum may heal faster than your jaw bone. If this happens, you may feel sharp edges of the bone with your tongue. You may also notice small splinters of bone coming out as you heal. This is normal.
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Brush your teeth after every meal or at least 2 times a day. Do not rush when you brush and spend 2 full minutes cleaning all of your teeth. Use a toothpaste with fluoride.
- Use dental floss to clean between your teeth at least every day.
- Try to stay away from foods and drinks that are high in sugar and starch, such as chocolate, sweets, cakes, and fizzy drinks that have sugar.
- See your dentist for regular cleaning and checkups.
Where can I learn more?
American Dental Association ‚
http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/e/extractions.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚