For as long as people have had teeth, teeth have been getting pulled. And that’s a very long time. So many teeth have been getting pulled for so long that dentists have gotten very good at it, and the technology for extracting teeth quickly, as painlessly as possible, and with an extremely low risk of complications has come a long way. The very notion of undergoing tooth extractions in Aldergrove is understandably stressful and something most people would rather avoid. You might be surprised to hear it, but dentists agree! Dentists will do and recommend anything possible to avoid extracting a tooth, but there are situations in which extraction is the best and only reasonable option to ensure your health.
Are all tooth extractions the same?
The precise process that your dentist in Aldergrove will follow to pull a tooth depends on whether the tooth to be pulled is intact (or broken) and visible (or still beneath your gums). While the procedure for all tooth extractions near you varies from one to the next, they do fall into two categories: Simple extractions and surgical extractions.
A simple extraction is the pulling of a tooth that is visible above your gums and in a single piece. They call it a “simple” extraction because it’s, well, simple (for your dentist). After completely numbing the area around your tooth, your dentist will lift the tooth from and out of its position in your jaw using instruments called elevators and forceps.
Surgical extractions are performed in more complex situations, such as when the tooth broke beneath your gums, has fractured into more than one piece, or is impacted beneath your gums (such as unerupted wisdom teeth). Surgical extractions involve many more steps than simple extractions, including incisions into your gums to expose the roots of teeth and the bone of your jaw; removal of bone and/or gum tissue to enable access to the tooth; sectioning (reducing the tooth into smaller fragments) of the tooth; and extraction. If necessary, your dentist in Aldergrove will close up your gums with self-dissolving stitches and will ensure that a blood clot has developed in the extraction site to ensure infection-free recovery. Your dentist will give you detailed instructions about how to maintain that clot throughout your recovery process to avoid the development of a painful potential complication called dry socket.
How to manage post-extraction discomfort
While the extraction process itself will be pain-free — which is not to say you won’t sense pressure, movement, vibrations, or sounds unless the procedure is performed under sedation — you should anticipate some discomfort during your recovery period. Here are several simple tips to follow to minimize discomfort as you recover while minimizing the risk of developing complications:
- Use cold compresses and ice to reduce swelling
- Use over-the-counter pain medications if necessary, but always follow directions
- Minimize your physical effort and exertion during the recovery period
- Don’t use straws or spit during recovery; both activities produce suction that can dislodge your clot
- Don’t smoke or drink alcohol during recovery; both activities delay your body’s normal healing processes. Smoking also produces suction that can dislodge your clot
- Eat only soft, bland, and lukewarm foods until your dentist advises otherwise. It’ll be boring for a while, but it’s the best way to protect the sensitive tissues around your extraction site during recovery
- Don’t neglect your oral hygiene during your recovery. Keep brushing and flossing, but avoid your extraction site until your dentist tells you otherwise.
If you ever experience any sensations or symptoms that you did not expect or were not prepared for during your recovery period, get in touch with a dentist near you right away. Getting a tooth pulled is a simple process. By following these instructions, you’ll be able to ease your own natural worries and avoid the development of complications that might make your recovery, well, more complicated.