Tooth Extractions for Pain Management
Vineland, NJ
 My Dentist Friend carries out tooth extractions if your teeth are damaged beyond repair. Teeth needing to be removed can cause a lot of pain, especially if they are decayed or infected. If you need to have teeth removed, it is understandable that you may feel anxious. However, tooth extraction is a routine procedure, even if it requires a surgical extraction. We can make it stress-free for you, and help you find the best tooth restoration option for your circumstances.
Tooth extractions are typically only carried out on teeth that have been so damaged that they cannot be restored with other dental treatments, such as fillings or crowns. If you do need an extraction, it is worth knowing there are two types; simple extractions and surgical extractions.
Simple Extractions
A simple extraction is carried out when the tooth has broken through the gum and can be seen in the mouth. During a simple extraction, the area around the tooth is numbed with a local anesthetic. You won’t feel any pain, but you will feel backward and forward pressure on the tooth as the dentist loosens it using a hand tool, called an elevator. Once the tooth is sufficiently loosened, it will slide out fairly easily using forceps.
Surgical Extractions
Surgical extractions are used if the tooth does not protrude through the gum line, such as impacted wisdom teeth, or if the tooth has broken off below the gum line. The dentist will usually take an x-ray to determine if a simple or surgical extraction is indicated. The main difference between a simple and surgical extraction is that an incision will be made in the gum during a surgical extraction, requiring sutures to close the wound.
Surgical extractions may also require that the tooth is taken out in pieces, for example on impacted wisdom teeth or teeth with long, curved roots.
Aftercare for Extractions
Our dentists will give you aftercare instructions following your tooth extraction to help manage your recovery and avoid complications. You may be asked to bite down on a piece of gauze for up to half an hour after the extraction to stem the bleeding, and you shouldn’t eat, drink, or talk unnecessarily for a couple of hours after the extraction. Drinking plenty of lukewarm liquids and eating soft foods is recommended until the bleeding subsides.
The mouth should be rinsed with salted lukewarm water or diluted mouthwash. You can brush your teeth the day after your extractions as long as you avoid the surgical area. As smoking inhibits the healing of tissues, it is best to avoid it.
Surgical extractions may cause more swelling and bruising to the face and jaw than simple extractions, and it may be several days before things start to settle down.
Although you may feel dismayed at the thought of losing any teeth, there is no need to feel worried about the procedure itself as the range of anesthesia options will ensure you are entirely comfortable throughout the procedure. If you have a damaged or infected tooth beyond repair, it is likely causing you pain and discomfort and it is best to have it removed as soon as possible. You do not have to be embarrassed about having a gap in your teeth either—just talk to us about the various treatments available to restore your smile to its best.
Schedule an appointment with us at My Dentist Friend to discuss tooth extractions with us. Call us at 856-484-4114.
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