What to Expect with a Tooth Extraction

Do you feel scared when you go to the dentist? This is a perfectly normal feeling to have. The tools used and the idea of not knowing what to expect can lead to fear and anxiety surrounding seeing a dentist. However, you can alleviate much of this fear by educating yourself on what you can expect.

Tooth extractions are procedures that induce a lot of fear and nervousness within people. Losing a tooth as an adult is a stressful experience. Being aware of the cost, what happens during the procedure, what happens after the procedure, and how to prepare yourself for it are the best way to reduce stressful feelings. Consulting with an affordable and experienced dentist in Yonkers will help you find the answers you need to feel at ease about your procedure.

A broken, loose, or damaged tooth may need to be extracted by a dental professional. A tooth extraction involves a dentist taking the tooth out of the bone socket. Your dentist can help you know what to expect throughout your procedure.

When your dentist decides to extract a tooth, he or she will first take an x-ray. This allows your dentist to develop a detailed plan on extracting the tooth. Your medical history will be taken into consideration as your dentist decides which method of sedation to utilize for your procedure. It’s important that you communicate with your dentist. In the week before your extraction, you will need to tell your dentist if you have a cold, nasal congestion, nausea or vomiting. If you do experience any of these conditions, your extraction procedure may need to be rescheduled for a later date.

What Happens Before a Tooth Extraction

Before your procedure, your dentist in Yonkers should be notified of any medications or supplements you are taking. If you have a medical condition that could increase your risk of an infection, you need to let your dentist know. Some of these conditions are:

• Liver disease (cirrhosis)
• Damaged or man-made heart valves
• Congenital heart defects
• History of bacterial endocarditis
• Impaired immune system
• Artificial joints, such as hip or knee replacements

The complexity of your case will determine what kind of extraction procedure you will need to have done. A simple extraction is utilized when the tooth is visible. This type of extraction involves your dentist loosening and gently taking out the tooth from the bone. A surgical extraction is utilized when the tooth is still under the gum line. This type of extraction involves your dentist cutting your gum and removing the tooth that way.

You will be under a local anesthetic throughout your procedure. This means you won’t feel any pain. In some cases, your dentist may choose to use an intravenous anesthetic. Regardless of the type of anesthetic used, you should let your dentist know if you feel any pain during your procedure.

What Happens After a Tooth Extraction

After your tooth has been extracted by a dentist in Yonkers, you will need to bite down on a piece of gauze placed over the extraction site. This lessens the amount of bleeding and assists in the formation of a blood clot at the site. The site may be closed via the use of self-dissolving stitches.

You will need to follow the below instructions to ensure that your extraction site heals properly:

• Rest for 24 hours after your procedure.
• Keep the gauze in your mouth for three hours. Change it when necessary.
• Apply ice to the surrounding area. Continue doing this every 10 minutes.
• When you lay down, prop your head up with pillows.
• Don’t forcibly spit, rinse or use straw for a minimum of 24 hours after your procedure.
• After the first 24 hours, rinse your mouth out with a solution of 8 ounces of warm water and ½ teaspoon of salt.
• Eat soft foods. Once your extraction site has healed you can add solid foods back to your diet.
• Don’t brush or floss near the site of the extraction.
• Follow your dentist’s advice when it comes to painkillers.

It’s normal to have a little pain, bleeding and swelling afterwards. If you experience any of the following issues, contact your dentist in Yonkers as soon as possible:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Coughing, shortness of breath or chest pain
• Severe pain, swelling or bleeding
• Redness, swelling or excessive discharge
• Fever, chills or other signs of infection

Call your dentist in Yonkers immediately if you experience excessive pain, uncontrolled bleeding, intense swelling, difficulty swallowing, redness, fever or chills.

Your extraction site should be fully healed within one to two weeks. After you have healed, you may return to your normal dental care activities.

What to Know About Wisdom Tooth Extraction

The wisdom teeth are an additional set of molars that emerge in the back of the mouth during early adulthood. These teeth are often extracted as a preventive measure, but it is not always necessary. Speak to your dentist in Yonkers about the benefits, risks, and expenses involved in having your wisdom teeth removed.

Did you know that not everyone has their wisdom teeth grow in? There are other people who have their wisdom teeth grow in without any problems. However, there are some people who don’t have enough room in their mouths for their wisdom teeth. When this happens, the teeth grow in crooked, become painful or can become impacted. In these cases, it is necessary for the wisdom teeth to be extracted.

Preventive extraction of the wisdom teeth is a hotly contested topic in the dental profession. Some believe that removing them is best to avoid even the possibility of issues occurring further down the road. Others believe that it’s not worth the expense or risk until there are issues. Consult with your dentist in Yonkers about whether this is necessary for you.

Wisdom tooth extractions are recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA) under the following circumstances:

• Pain or discomfort
• Tooth decay
• Infection
• Damage to nearby teeth
• Development of gum disease
• Tumor or cyst development

Preventive wisdom tooth extraction is frequently performed under the following circumstances:

• Potential for disease: Wisdom teeth that become impacted can cause infections.
• Safety: Extracting the wisdom teeth can assist in preventing future complications.
• Age: Tooth extraction becomes riskier the older a patient is.

To find out more about the pros and cons of having your wisdom teeth extracted, consult with a dentist in Yonkers today.