Tooth Extractions
Our primary aim is to preserve your natural teeth, but in some situations, tooth extraction becomes necessary for your well-being. During such cases, we strive to make the extraction process as comfortable as possible, enabling you to focus on a fast recovery.
Your Tooth Extraction Dentist in Mount Vernon, WA
Tooth extraction is typically a quick process that involves the use of anesthesia to ensure your comfort. However, the most crucial part of the process is the recovery phase. It’s essential to control the bleeding and encourage proper healing immediately after the tooth extraction. This requires biting down on a gauze pad for 30 to 45 minutes to form a blood clot. It’s crucial to avoid disrupting the blood clot for the next 24 hours. To manage swelling, we suggest using an ice pack on the outer cheek and, later, when the swelling reduces, using a warm compress on the same area for comfort. Additionally, gentle rinses with warm salt water can help keep the extraction area clean.
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How do I prevent dry socket after tooth extraction?
When a tooth is extracted, your body forms a blood clot in the socket to begin healing. If this blood clot is dislodged before your mouth fully recovers, it can cause pain and delay healing. This condition is called a dry socket.
Here are six tips to prevent dry sockets:
- Avoid using straws or anything that creates suction, as this can dislodge the blood clot.
- Avoid smoking tobacco, as the chemicals can prevent healing or cause an infection.
- For the first one or two days, eat only soft foods, such as applesauce, yogurt, and mashed potatoes.
- Please consult your doctor or dentist about your medications to ensure they won’t interfere with healing.
- Maintain proper oral hygiene, including brushing and flossing, and consider using an antibacterial mouthwash.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions on oral care to improve your recovery time.
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When and why are wisdom teeth removed?
Wisdom teeth are the last set to develop, growing in the back of the mouth. They usually start to emerge during the late teenage or early twenties. Due to less space available for these teeth, they tend to grow at a diagonal angle and can disrupt other teeth, causing crowding. Therefore, almost everyone gets their wisdom teeth removed, as they can create problems. About 85% of adults end up getting their wisdom teeth removed.
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What causes the need for tooth extraction?
Tooth extraction removes a tooth from its socket in the bone. It is usually done when a tooth has been damaged by decay or broken, and the damage is too extensive to be repaired with a filling or crown. However, tooth extraction may also be necessary for other reasons, such as when extra teeth grow in and block others, when baby teeth do not fall out in time for the permanent teeth to come in, when braces are needed, or when wisdom teeth are causing medical problems.
More Questions?
If you have more questions about tooth extractions, please contact our office and we will be happy to discuss further.
