Understanding the Tooth Extraction Process: What to Expect

Oral health is a crucial thing for people to stay on top of. In the United States, it is estimated that about 25% of adults have untreated dental issues. 

One thing that people may need to do for the sake of their oral health is to have a tooth extraction. 

What can lead to this? Why is this necessary? What can you expect from this procedure? 

This guide will answer all of those questions and more. 

What Is a Tooth Extraction?

Before we can dive further into this process, you must understand what this is. Essentially, a tooth extraction is when a dentist removes a tooth from your mouth completely. 

It gets taken out of its socket and you will temporarily have a space in that socket. After that, depending on what tooth has to be removed, some people may elect to get a dental implant to take its place. 

What Leads to This? 

The next thing you need to be aware of is what can lead to a tooth extraction. The reason why this is important to know is so that you can prepare for a potential situation where you may need to do this.

Understanding the necessity of a procedure can help you get it done sooner rather than later. Depending on what your specific issue is, taking action quickly may even prevent you from having further damage to your oral health. 

So, what does lead to a tooth extraction? There are a few main factors that can drive this action. 

One of the main things that leads to this is severe tooth decay. It can make it so that the tooth is practically falling apart or it is just plain broken. 

Another thing that you have to look out for is a severe amount of cavities. If you have enough of them, it could lead to a tooth extraction. 

Gum disease is something else that you have to look out for. If your gums are in a bad enough state, they can impact your teeth along with your overall oral health. Sometimes, it leads to tooth extraction being necessary to prevent the spread of that gum disease. 

Sometimes, it could be something that is no fault of your own. An example of this is if you have crowded teeth. 

Teeth that are too close together can impact your entire jawline. It can lead to some severe discomfort along with more negative health issues for your neighboring teeth. At times, removing a tooth from that crowd can give the rest of your teeth some room to breathe. 

Before the Procedure

One thing that your dentist may do before you have this type of procedure is take an x-ray of your mouth. This can help the dentist get a better idea of what they are dealing with before they can go through this procedure. 

However, having an x-ray can also help you better understand why you may need a tooth extraction in the first place. The x-ray can be a visual aid that allows a dentist to properly explain to you what the status of your tooth is and what kind of impact it can make. 

Visual aids tend to be the best resource to get people to understand situations like this. That is because people remember 65% of what they see compared to just 10% of what they hear. 

Something else that a dentist has to do before you have this procedure is to give you some pain relief. This tends to be an invasive procedure that may be painful if you do not have the proper relief before you go through this. 

Luckily, there are a few options for patients here. 

The first is for them to take some laughing gas. They can breathe this in through a mask and it can help them relax before going through this procedure. 

Patients also have the option to do this orally. A dentist can provide them with a pill that they can take shortly before this procedure begins. This also helps patients relax before the procedure. 

Then, for those who need a stronger dose, you have the option of getting an IV to help your body relax. Typically, this is only recommended for people who have a difficult time with the dentist. It is stronger than the other options so it is recommended to have assistance getting to and from the dentist.

After the Procedure 

Immediately after the tooth is removed, a dentist will clean the empty socket to help prevent any possible infections. This is a vital part of the tooth extraction aftercare process. 

You may start bleeding after the tooth is removed. A dentist will help clean that up and contain it before you return to your home. 

To do this, they will likely give you a gauze to put over that area. Not only should that help you contain the blood but it can also help settle your socket until you know what you want to do with it. 

You are likely going to experience some sort of bleeding regardless. Give this a day or two to slow down. 

On top of this, you are likely going to experience some sort of discomfort during the first day or two. Considering that you are just coming out of an invasive oral procedure, you should not be alarmed by this. 

Just give your body some time to rest and be careful of what food you eat along with what you have to drink until that socket properly heals. 

Get a Tooth Extraction 

These are the main things that you need to know about a tooth extraction procedure.

You must understand why this procedure may be necessary. This can help with significant tooth decay, gum disease, and crowded teeth. 

If you are nervous about this procedure, there are plenty of options available for you when it comes to sedatives. After the procedure is done, just take it easy for a couple of days and give your body the time it needs to heal. 

Do you need a dentist in Macedonia, Ohio? Make an appointment with Q&A Dental Care today.