Tooth Extractions

You and Dr. Holloway may determine that you need a tooth extraction for a number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed; others may have advanced periodontal disease, or have broken in a way that cannot be repaired. Other teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth or in preparation for orthodontic treatment.

The removal of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, your jaw joint, or shifting of teeth, which can have a major impact on your dental health.

To avoid these complications, Dr. Holloway will discuss alternatives to extractions and replacement options for the extracted tooth.

The Extraction Process

At the time of extraction the doctor will need to numb your tooth, jaw bone and gums that surround the area with a local anesthetic.

During the extraction process you will feel a lot of pressure, but no pain.  You feel the pressure without the pain as the anesthetic has numbed the nerves stopping the transference of pain, yet the nerves that transmit pressure are not profoundly affected.

If you do feel pain at any time during the extraction, please let us know right away.

Sectioning a Tooth

Some teeth require sectioning. This is a very common procedure done when a tooth is firmly anchored in its socket or the root is curved and the socket cannot expand enough to remove it. The doctor simply cuts the tooth into sections then removes each section one at a time.

After The Extraction

After the tooth extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. Bite on a gauze pack for 1 hour after the extraction. If the bleeding or oozing still persists, place another gauze pack or tea bag over the area and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times to stop the flow of blood.

After the blood clot forms it is important to not disturb or dislodge the clot. Do not smoke, blow your nose, use a straw, or do any heavy lifting for 24 hours. These activities may dislodge the blood clot in the extraction site that is needed for healing and hinder the healing process. Also, limit vigorous exercise for the next 24 hours, as this increases blood pressure and may cause more bleeding from the extraction site.

After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and experience some swelling. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the area will keep swelling to a minimum. Take pain medications as prescribed. The swelling usually subsides after 48 hours.

If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time even if signs and symptoms of infection are gone. Drink lots of fluids and eat nutritious, soft food on the day of the extraction. You can eat normally as soon as you are comfortable.

It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This should include brushing twice a day and flossing your teeth at least once a day. This will speed healing and help keep your mouth fresh and clean.

After a few days you should feel fine and can resume your normal activities. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling for 2-3 days, a reaction to the medication, or something occurs that you do not understand call our office immediately.