There are several reasons for surgical tooth extractions. Tooth decay, damage, infections and overcrowding are some common causes that lead to surgical extraction. Extraction of wisdom teeth is another example of surgical extraction. Those who get braces or aligners usually need to have one or more teeth removed for a perfect alignment.
Why You Can’t Save a Tooth
You have to remove your tooth when there is trauma, disease, or severe decay. Due to an accident or extensive decay, there is no way to save a tooth with filling, crowning, and dental procedures except surgical extraction. When you have an impacted wisdom tooth or want to eliminate the risk of having one, surgical extraction is the only option. For the treatment of overcrowding tooth, dentists usually have to pull out your teeth.
Simple Extraction vs. Surgical Extraction
Simple extraction and surgical extraction are different from each other. When the sides of the tooth are visible above the gum line, the extraction is simple. Your dentist would easily pull out the tooth using forceps. However, the dentist has to make incisions in the gums and bones either to remove an ingrown tooth or an overcrowded one. This is called a surgical extraction.
Procedure for Surgical Extraction
Before the surgical extraction, the dentist might take an X-ray of your mouth. You must tell your dentist about any supplements or medications you take, especially over the counter medicines. You must also tell them if you will take any other medication shortly after the surgical extraction. Treatment with bisphosphonate can lead to chances of osteonecrosis or bone death shortly before and after the surgical extraction.
In most cases, local anesthesia works perfectly for a surgical extraction. But if the surgeon feels that the extraction can cause severe pain, they will set you up with general anesthesia or sedatives.
Your dental surgeon will begin with an incision in your gums to reveal the bone. The dentist will make an incision in your bone as well. They may need to remove the bone around the tooth for easy extraction. For the previous case, the dentist will make a further incision in the bone to separate it into pieces. Then they will cut the tooth into pieces and remove the bone and teeth debris from your mouth. The dentist will then stitch your gums and place a gauze pad over it.
What to Do After a Surgical Extraction
Your dentist will ask you to bite down on the gauze for the next thirty minutes after the surgery. It would help stop the bleeding. You are to avoid eating, drinking, and unnecessary talking for the next two hours. However, you may take a few sips of water. Apply ice pack on the cheek to relieve the swelling.
Do not brush your teeth or rinse for at least 10-12 hours. You should brush your gently afterward, avoiding the surgical area. However, you can rinse with lukewarm water containing a pinch of salt or diluted mouthwash.
When the bleeding stops, take plenty of cold or lukewarm liquids. For the next three days take soft foods. Do not spit forcefully, smoke, and use a straw for at least a week. It is better to avoid smoking for two weeks.
Surgical extraction may seem a daunting experience, but with modern and advanced tools and anesthesia methods, we provide a comfortable and convenient experience. If you need to have surgical extractions, then give us a call at 718-535-1196.
Learn more about our services and talk live to our dentists about your dental issues.