When your tooth is broken or damaged by decay, it can sometimes be fixed with a filling, crown, or root canal. In some cases, though, the damage is too extensive for one of these procedures, and the tooth must be removed.
Video: Watch Dr. Price explain the reasons tooth extractions need to be performed.
Common Reasons For Tooth Extraction
Other common reasons for tooth extraction include the following:
Infection
Tooth decay or bacteria can enter the center of the tooth (containing nerves and blood vessels), making the tooth incurable through root canal therapy or antibiotics.
Crowding
When baby teeth do not fall out in time for adult teeth to grow in and replace them, the teeth become crowded, and extraction is the only treatment. Positioned teeth or extra teeth that prevent your normal teeth from growing in properly can also cause crowding.
Tooth Loosening
An infection or recession of the tissues and bone surrounding the teeth — also known as periodontal disease — may loosen adult teeth, warranting an extraction to prevent further damage.
Trauma
A tooth that is fractured or damaged below the gum line may need to be extracted if it cannot be repaired
What To Expect During Your Initial Consultation And Oral Examination
Before scheduling your procedure, your doctor will perform a complete oral exam and take an X-ray of the area in which the tooth must be removed. Our surgeons will create a plan for the tooth removal, taking into consideration your age, the presence of gum disease, and your tooth’s relationship with other areas of the mouth, such as your sinuses, nerves, and other teeth. An extraction can be done in a single visit. During your consultation, our surgeons will also discuss options for replacing the missing teeth, including dental implants and bone grafting, which can often be performed at the same time that the tooth is removed.
Tooth Extraction Recovery Process
General tooth extraction is a relatively quick process, with recovery taking one to two weeks. Once the tooth is removed, you will want to be gentle with the surgical site and follow your oral surgeon’s instructions for recovery.
- Immediately following surgery: As the anesthesia wears off, you may want to take an over-the-counter pain reliever and apply an ice pack to your cheek to reduce swelling and discomfort. Leave the gauze pad in place for the next three to four hours.
- The day after surgery: By the next day, a clot will have formed. You can eat soft foods like yogurt, applesauce, or pudding. Avoid drinking from a straw as the suction can dislodge the clot.
- One to two days post-surgery: Begin gently rinsing your mouth with a mixture of half-a-teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water. Brush and floss like normal, but avoid the extraction site.
- Within two weeks: Any pain and swelling should have subsided, and you can slowly reintroduce other foods into your diet.
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Where can I get a tooth extracted?
Utah Facial & Oral Surgery has offices in both Lehi and South Jordan. We offer various oral surgical procedures and treatments, including the extraction of teeth.
Contact our office today to schedule your consultation for Teeth Extraction at (801) 446-4428.
