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Extractions


 

Extractions can range from a single tooth, to removing all four wisdom teeth at once. Based on the preference of the doctor and/or the patient, a local anesthetic could be used to numb the areas where the teeth will be extracted.

The gum tissue around the wisdom tooth is cut open to reveal the tooth. The tooth is loosened by gripping it tightly and wiggling it back and forth until it can be lifted out of the gums. Sometimes a tooth may be impacted so tightly that it cannot be simply lifted out of the gums. In cases like this the tooth will be broken up into pieces first before being removed. Depending on the incision and extraction site, sutures may be needed to close the area. Soluble sutures are the best option, which will dissolve on their own.

After the surgery you will need to rest. You need to be driven home by a friend or family member because of the anesthesia. You can expect for the extraction site to bleed for a little while after the surgery. Gauze will be applied at the completion of the surgery, and you will need to change it when it becomes soaked. If bleeding continues for longer than 24 hours you should call your dentist. Rest when you return home, but do not lie flat. This could prolong the bleeding. Prop your head up on a pillow when lying down. Your dentist will prescribe you pain medication, so if you become sore take as directed. You can also use an ice pack for the pain. Your dentist might also provide you with a cleaning solution to clean the extraction site.

You will be limited to soft foods for a few days after your surgery. Some recommended foods are:

  • Gelatin
  • Pudding
  • Yogurt
  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Ice Cream
  • Thin Soups
  • …and other food you can eat without chewing.

When drinking, make sure you do not use a straw. The sucking motion can loosen your sutures and slow the clotting process. The same goes for smoking. If you have prolonged pain, bleeding, irritation, or don’t feel that the extraction site is healing properly call your dentist for a follow up.

Extraction Site Preservation

When extracting a tooth it is important to consider what will be done with the empty space after the tooth is removed. When a tooth is extracted, the socket and remaining bone will slowly begin to collapse and degenerate.

If a patient wants to replace the extracted tooth with a dental implant, we highly encourage a procedure called socket preservation.  This procedure is done immediately following the extraction and entails filling the empty socket with bone particulate.  We then cover the site and secure it with stitches.  This procedure helps prevent bone loss and aids in ideal implant placement after the bone has healed.  Further, the patient will hopefully avoid any further surgical procedures, such as bone block grafts or sinus elevations, which are much more aggressive.

Location

Brite Smiles Dental Care
8977 Hunters Way
Apple Valley, MN 55124
Phone: 952-900-6086
Fax: 952-891-1256

Office Hours

Get in touch

952-900-6086