Procedures

Extractions

You and the Doctors of MLD may determine that you need a tooth extraction for any number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed. Others may have advanced periodontal disease or are broken in a way that does not allow for their restoration. Finally, some teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth) or in preparation for orthodontic treatment.

The removal of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint, and shifting teeth, which can have a major impact on your dental health.

To avoid these complications, the Doctors of MLD will discuss alternatives to extractions as well replacement of the extracted tooth.

The Extraction Process

At the time of extraction the doctor will need to numb your tooth and the tissues that surround the area with a local anesthetic.

During the extraction process you will feel a lot of pressure. This is from the process of firmly rocking the tooth in order to widen the socket for removal.

You feel the pressure without pain as the anesthetic has numbed the nerves stopping the transference of pain, yet the nerves that transmit pressure are not profoundly affected.

If you do feel pain at any time during the extraction, please let us know right away.

Sectioning A Tooth

Some teeth require sectioning. This is a very common procedure done when a tooth is so firmly anchored in its socket or the root is curved and the socket can't expand enough to remove it. The doctor simply divides the tooth into sections then removes each section one at a time.

After Care

Bleeding

Some bleeding or oozing may occur. Placing a piece of gauze over the empty tooth socket and biting down firmly for 30 minutes can control this.

Blood Clots That Form In The Empty Socket

This is an important part of the healing process and you must be careful not to dislodge the clot.

Avoid rinsing or spitting for 24 hours after the extraction.
Avoid use of a straw, smoking, or drinking hot liquids.

Swelling

If swelling occurs, you can place ice on the affected area of your face, alternating placement and removal every twenty minutes. This cycle may be repeated as necessary for up to 24 hours.

Pain & Medications

If you experience pain, you might use non-prescription pain relief medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Eating

Following most extractions, make sure you do your chewing away from the extraction site. Stay away from hot liquids and alcoholic beverages for 24 hours. A soft diet may be recommended for 24 hours.

Brushing & Cleaning

After the extraction, avoid brushing the teeth near the extraction site for one day. After that you can resume gentle cleaning. Avoid commercial mouth rinses, as they tend to irritate the extraction site.
Beginning 24 hours after the extraction, you can rinse with salt water (one teaspoon salt in an 8 ounce cup of warm water) after meals and before bed.

Dry Socket

Dry socket occurs when a blood clot fails to form in the socket where the tooth has been extracted or the clot has been dislodged and the healing becomes significantly delayed.

Following the postoperative instructions provided after your extraction will reduce the chances of developing a dry socket. Dry sockets manifest themselves as a dull throbbing pain that usually doesn't appear until three to four days after the extraction. The pain can be moderate to severe and radiate from the extraction area. Dry socket may cause a bad taste or bad breath and the extraction site appears dry.

A medicated dressing, which can be applied by Dr. Williams, often times soothes the pain of a dry socket.

Healing

After a tooth has been extracted there will be a resulting hole in your jawbone where the tooth was. In time, this will smooth and fill in with bone. In 1- 2 weeks you should notice that gum tissue has covered the exposed areas of the extraction site. The underlying bone will slowly fill in the socket. This process occurs from the bottom up and takes approximately six months for complete bone fill to occur.

Replacing Teeth With