Fullerton Tooth extraction

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Tooth extraction is a dental procedure where a tooth is removed from its bone socket. When a tooth is severely damaged by decay or if it’s cracked, our team of dental experts will try to find a way to fill it, give your tooth a new crown, or any other procedure and treatment that might help. However, if there’s too much damage, the tooth will have to be removed. It also applies to teeth that are very loose and can no longer be saved even by bone grafting.

Tooth Extraction Procedure

Reasons For Tooth Extraction

According to California Dental Association, “Prevention is the key to keeping your teeth healthy and your smile beautiful for a lifetime.”

  • If the extra tooth is blocking a new one from emerging
  • If the baby teeth don’t fall out right in time to let the permanent teeth out.
  • Wisdom teeth removal is also a common reason
  • A dental emergency.
  • To create space for people who are thinking of getting braces
  • For people who are currently receiving radiation treatment to the neck and head
  • People who are currently receiving cancer drugs may be more susceptible to getting infected teeth due to a lower immune system.
  • If the teeth are prone to developing an infection right after undergoing an organ transplant. People who underwent the procedure have a higher risk of infection because of the drugs they are taking to lower their immune system.
  • In cases where the wisdom teeth or third molars are causing pain, decayed or infected. They may also be pulled out to prevent irritating the gums if they are stuck in the jaw and fail to erupt properly. If there’s a need to remove all 4 wisdom teeth, they may be taken out in a single visit to the clinic.

If you’re near Fullerton, CA, come and visit us today!

Preparation

To ensure proper and safe removal, an X-ray of your teeth and mouth is recommended. Your full dental and medical history, as well as a list of all the medicines you are taking, will also be taken. Proper hygiene is needed before any procedure.

In case you’ll be having your wisdom teeth taken out, you’ll be required to get a panoramic X-ray done. This is an imaging study where a picture of all your teeth will be taken. It can serve as a great guide for the procedure as it can show the following:

  • Your wisdom teeth’s impact on nearby teeth
  • The relationship of your upper teeth with your sinuses
  • The relationship of your lower teeth with the nerve on your jawbones. The alveolar nerve enables your lower teeth, lip, chin, and jaw to feel.
  • The presence of infections, bone diseases, and tumors in the mouth

There are dentists who’ll make you take antibiotics prior and right after your surgery. This is typically done when:

  • There’s a presence of an infection during the surgery
  • If the immune system is weak
  • If the procedure lasts longer than usual
  • If you are currently experiencing any special health condition

Once the procedure is done, you’ll need to get someone else to take you home. Your dentist will give you a complete list of instructions you’ll need to follow post-surgery. Make sure that you closely follow them to avoid complications. Having your dental office near Fullerton, CA will be more convenient for you.

How It’s Performed

In general, extractions have two types:

  • A simple extraction is performed by general dentists. In the procedure, your dentist will first loosen up the affected tooth with an elevator. After that, he’ll use forceps to completely remove the tooth.
  • Compared with the first type, a surgical extraction is a bit more complex. Usually, it’s performed when the affected tooth gets broken at the gum line or if a tooth hasn’t come out yet. This procedure is generally performed by oral surgeons but general dentists near you can also perform, too. In the procedure, the dentist will create a small cut into the affected gum. If necessary, a bit of bone removal may also be performed in order to pull the tooth out.

In most cases, an injection of a local anesthetic is enough. If you are feeling a little more nervous and anxious than usual, you may be given drugs to make you feel more at ease. As for surgical extraction, your anesthesia may be given through your veins.

If you are placed under conscious sedation, you’ll get steroids and other necessary medications through an IV line. Steroids are crucial to the procedure to minimize pain and swelling.

While you can expect to feel pressure during the extraction, there shouldn’t be any pain. If you feel that way, don’t hesitate to tell your dentist right away. Go and see our skilled and friendly team if you’re in or near Fullerton today.

Following The Procedure

  • Right after the procedure, you’ll receive a detail instruction on how you can prepare and what you can expect. If you are concerned about your missing teeth, make sure to ask your dentist before leaving his office. Our proficient and caring team will answer any of your inquiries so come and visit us if you’re near Fullerton.
  • Expect minor discomfort even if you just went for a simple extraction. With that, your dentist will prescribe pain relievers to minimize or eliminate the discomfort. You also have the option to take over-the-counter medicines. Some of your great options include ibuprofen like Motrin and Advil. Be sure to ask your dentist about the right dose.
  • Pain should be expected following surgical extractions. The level of pain you’ll feel will depend on how difficult the extraction is. In most cases, the pain goes away after a few days.
  • Since an incision performed in the mouth can bleed more than having an incision on your skin, you’ll be asked to bite on a piece of gauze for about 20 t0 30 minutes to enable the blood to clot. It should completely stop a day after the surgery so make sure you don’t disturb any clot that forms on the affected area.
  • Apply ice packs or warm compresses to minimize any swelling present.
  • Try to eat foods that are soft and cool for several days after the procedure. If you feel comfortable, you can try eating other types of food.
  • At about 24 hours after the procedure, rinse your mouth with warm salt water gently. This is to make sure that the surgical site remains clean.
  • If stitches are required, your dentist will choose one that can dissolve on its own. That process can take about 1 to 2 weeks. If the stitches fail to dissolve, the dentist will need to remove them.
  • Avoid smoking, using straws or spitting after surgery. This can pull the blood clot away from the surgical site. Also, remember not to smoke on the day of the surgery until 24 to 72 hours after tooth extraction.

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Risks Of Tooth Extraction

Dry socket happens in 3% to 4% of extraction cases. It develops when a blood clot fails to form or breaks down way too early. With a dry socket, your underlying bone gets exposed to the external environment, causing pain, bad taste, and weird odor. It usually begins causing discomfort three days post-surgery.

With impacted teeth, dry sockets can happen in 30% of cases. This makes removal a lot more likely. And if you smoke on your surgery day, you’ll be adding greater risk to the procedure. The same thing can happen with women who are taking birth control pills. With that, a dry socket needs to be treated properly with a medicated dressing to eliminate pain, prevent further complications, and promote healing.

The procedure has the potential to cause an infection but you’re not likely to get it if your immune system is in perfect condition. In addition, here are some of the other potential issues you need to keep an eye out for:

  • Damage to nearby teeth, like fractures
  • Incomplete extraction where a tooth’s root remains under. This typically happens when a small root tip is left in place to prevent infections.
  • Development of fractured jaw after application of pressure during removal. This typically happens more in people of old age due to thinning of the jaw bone.
  • An upper back molar surgery typically develops a hole in the sinus due to the procedure. If the small hole doesn’t close in a few weeks, surgery may be required.
  • Soreness of jaw muscles and joints can make it difficult for you to keep your mouth open wide. This can happen with injections or when you are holding your mouth under a lot of pressure.
  • Although uncommon, numbness in the lower lip and chin for a long duration can happen due to damage to the inferior alveolar nerve. It can take 3 to 6 months to fully heal. In some cases, however, the effects can last permanently.

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When You Should Call A Professional

You should give your oral surgeon a call if you experience any of the following:

  • Swelling becomes severe
  • There’s redness, chills, and fever
  • There’s difficulty swallowing
  • Presence of oozing and uncontrolled bleeding after 24 hours
  • Numbness of the lip, chin or tongue 3 to 4 hours post-procedure
  • Presence of severe pain at the extraction site which can signal the development of a dry socket

In the presence of an infection, you’ll be prescribed with antibiotics which you have to take as recommended by your dentist.

Experience a safe tooth extraction from our team of dental experts. You can always give us a call to see if your insurance covers the procedure. You can book an appointment today in Orange County. Visit us if you’re in or near Fullerton, CA. Get appointment for Same day Emergency tooth extraction, give us a call.

Published on August 2, 2018, Updated on March 24, 2023