Imagine waking up in the middle of the night due to a severe toothache. The manageable pain you were experiencing the past few days or weeks is suddenly unbearable. One or more of your teeth are hurting so much that you can almost hear and feel them throbbing.
Do You Need A Tooth Extraction?
After taking a quick peek at the mirror, it dawns on you that you need to have your tooth extracted. Rather than just getting it done, many people choose to take pain medication instead of having a dentist remove the affected tooth. Some worry about the recovery period and having to miss work. Others worry about their appearance after the treatment.
Tooth Extraction
The removal of a tooth, or tooth extraction, is one of the most common dental procedures for adults. This is ironic since adult teeth should be permanent. Some reasons why you may need to undergo a tooth extraction include:
- Crowded teeth
- Tooth decay or infection
- Damage from injury or trauma
- Gum disease
Are you looking to have one or more teeth extracted to achieve beautiful, healthy, and well-functioning teeth and smile? If so, you need to learn everything about tooth extraction and aftercare requirements. This will help you avoid complications that negatively affect your recovery and intended results.
Why You May Need A Tooth Extraction
Your dentist may recommend tooth extraction in the following cases:
- You have a severely broken tooth that the dentist cannot put back together
- Your tooth is too infected, impacted, or painful, which is quite common with wisdom teeth
- You have a large cavity in one or more of your teeth that is beyond repair
- Your dentist needs to create room for a dental implant, denture, or orthodontic treatment
- You have severely weakened bones due to gum disease
- Your tooth is blocking an incoming permanent tooth or will not naturally fall out, which can happen with wisdom teeth
What Happens After A Tooth Extraction?
When you get an adult tooth extracted, it is normal for your tooth socket to bleed. Bleeding may occur even if your dentist puts stitches in place. Following the procedure, your dentist will give you gauze pads and instructions on how to place them on the socket to absorb most of the bleeding and drainage. The purpose is to promote clotting and prevent more bleeding.
You may need to leave the gauze in place for up to four hours following the procedure, changing it as necessary. You should avoid rinsing your mouth and smoking for at least 24 hours to encourage clotting.
Your dentist will likely prescribe pain medication to ease any pain and discomfort. You may also need to apply an ice pack to the side of your face in intervals of around 10 minutes. Moreover, you need to get plenty of rest for at least one day after the tooth extraction and take things easy for at least two days after that.
After The Initial 24 Hours
Brush and floss your teeth gently and rinse your mouth with saltwater. However, you need to avoid the open socket. The recovery period usually takes a few days. However, depending on your specific circumstances, it could take up to two weeks. If you notice any unusual symptoms or infections, you need to contact your dentist immediately.
To learn how to recover from tooth extraction, visit Orange Door Dental Group at our offices in Elkhart or Warsaw, Indiana. You can call 574-347-4793 or 574-406-2115 today to schedule an appointment.
