Extractions

What is an extraction?

A tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone.

There are two types of extractions:

A simple extraction is performed on a tooth that is a routine procedure to remove a visible tooth. A local anesthetic is given to the patient to numb the area. The tooth is loosened with specialized instruments and grasped with forceps. The tooth continues to be loosened until the tooth "slides out" of the bone socket. In some cases a suture is placed that will close the extraction site so that the area can heal faster, but in most cases a suture is not needed at all.

A surgical extraction involves teeth that cannot be seen easily in the mouth. They may have broken off at the gum line or they may not have come in yet. To see and remove the tooth, the dentist or oral surgeon must cut and pull back the gums. Pulling back the gum "flap" provides access to remove bone and/or a piece of the tooth. This allows for the tooth to be removed more easily. The gums are then stitched back together to promote healing and to completely close the surgical site. Usually the suture will be removed in 7-10 days at your post-op visit.

Why do I need an extraction?

If a tooth has been broken or damaged by decay, Dr. Warren will attempt to fix it with a filling, crown or other treatment. Sometimes, though, there's too much damage for the tooth to be repaired. This is the most common reason for extracting a tooth.

Here are other reasons:

A tooth that cannot be saved with a root canal procedure
Elective extraction that will replace the tooth with an implant rather than restoration with a post and crown. A post significantly reduces the prognosis of a tooth and in most cases an implant is a more predictable and cost effective procedure
Teeth with significant bone loss due to poor gum health (Periodontitis).
Some people have extra teeth that block other teeth from coming in.
People getting braces may need teeth extracted to create room for the teeth that are being moved into place.
People receiving radiation to the head and neck may need to have teeth in the field of radiation extracted.
People receiving cancer drugs may develop infected teeth. These drugs weaken the immune system, increasing the risk of infection. Infected teeth may need to be extracted.
People receiving an organ transplant may need some teeth extracted if the teeth could become sources of infection after the transplant. People with organ transplants have a high risk of infection because they must take drugs that decrease or suppress the immune system.
Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are often extracted either before or after they come in. They commonly come in during the late teens or early 20s. These teeth often get stuck in the jaw (impacted) and do not come in. They need to be removed if they are decayed or cause pain. Some wisdom teeth are blocked by other teeth or may not have enough room to come in completely. This can irritate the gum, causing pain and swelling. In this case, the tooth must be removed.

Follow Up Care

Most simple extractions do not cause much discomfort after the procedure. You may take an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and other brand names) for several days. You may not need any pain medicine at all.

Because surgical extractions are more complicated, they generally cause more pain after the procedure. The level of discomfort and how long it lasts will depend on the difficulty of the extraction. Your dentist may prescribe pain medicine for a few days and then suggest an NSAID. Most pain disappears after a couple of days.

A cut in the mouth tends to bleed more than a cut on the skin because it cannot dry out and form a scab. After an extraction, you'll be asked to bite on a piece of gauze for about 20 to 30 minutes. This will put pressure on the area and allow the blood to clot. It still may bleed a small amount for the next 24 hours or so and taper off after that. Don't disturb the clot that forms on the wound.

You can put ice packs on your face to reduce swelling after the operation. If your jaw is sore and stiff after the swelling goes away, try warm compresses. Eat soft and cool foods for a few days. Then try other food as you feel comfortable. A gentle rinse with warm salt water, started 24 hours after the surgery, can help to keep the area clean. Use one-half teaspoon of salt in a cup of water. Most swelling and bleeding end within a day or two after the surgery. Initial healing takes at least two weeks.

If you need stitches, they usually disappear (dissolve) on their own. They should disappear within one to two weeks. Rinsing with warm salt water will help the stitches to dissolve. Some stitches need to be removed by the dentist or surgeon.

You should not smoke, use a straw or spit after surgery. These actions can pull the blood clot out of the hole where the tooth was. That causes more bleeding and can lead to a dry socket, which occurs in about 3% to 4% of all extractions. Dry socket occurs 20% to 30% of the time when impacted teeth are removed. It happens more often in smokers and women who take birth control pills. It is also more likely after difficult extractions.

Risks Involved

Infection can set in after an extraction, although you probably won't get an infection if you have a healthy immune system.

A common complication called a dry socket occurs when a blood clot doesn't form in the hole or the blood clot breaks off or breaks down too early.

In a dry socket, the underlying bone is exposed to air and food. This can be very painful and can cause a bad odor or taste. A dry socket needs to be treated with a medicated dressing to stop the pain and encourage the area to heal.

When To Contact The Office

Call Dr. Warren or your oral surgeon if the swelling gets worse instead of better. Also call if you have fever, chills, redness, trouble swallowing or uncontrolled bleeding in the area. If you have an infection, Dr. Warren will usually prescribe antibiotics. It is important to take the entire dosage of the antibiotic as this will help to combat the swelling caused by the infection and promote a faster healing time. If the extraction site becomes extremely painful after one to two days post-op, you may have a dry socket (alveolar osteitis). Contact immediately if you suspect this so that we can apply a dressing that will help to control the pain. Feel free to contact us if you feel that any other complication has occurred.

» Contact us for more information on Extractions

- Click here to view our dentistry animations. -