Tooth Extractions

Dentists and oral surgeons (dentists with special training to perform surgeries) perform dental extractions. Before pulling the tooth, your dentist will give you an injection of a local anesthetic to numb the area where the tooth will be extracted. If more than one tooth is removed or if a tooth hits you, your dentist may use a strong general anesthetic. This will prevent pain throughout the body and will cause you to sleep during the procedure.

If the tooth is affected, the dentist will cut the gum and bone tissue that covers the tooth and then, with tweezers, grasp the tooth and gently rock it back and forth to loosen it from the jaw bone and ligaments that they keep it in place. Sometimes, a tooth that is difficult to extract must be removed in pieces.

Once the tooth has been removed, a blood clot usually forms in the alveolus. The dentist will pack a gauze pad in the socket and have it bite to help stop the bleeding. Sometimes, the dentist will place some points, usually self-destructive, to close the edges of the gums over the extraction site.

Occasionally, the blood clot in the alveolus is detached, exposing the bone in the alveolus. This is a painful condition called dry socket. If this happens, your dentist is likely to place a sedative dressing over the socket for a few days to protect it as a new clot forms.

If you need someone to take you home from our surgical center after your procedure depends on the type of sedation you choose. If you only use local anesthesia, you can drive home. If you have general anesthesia or sedation, you will need a friend, relative, or loved one to help you get home and get comfortable.

The follow-up procedures depend on the reason for which a tooth was extracted and on whether the extraction was successful. If you remove a wisdom tooth or remove a tooth due to overcrowding, you may not need other procedures. However, if your teeth are removed due to trauma, decay or infection, you may consider having a dental implant, partial dentures or a bridge. Talk to your surgeon about these options.

The type of anesthesia used during the extraction of your tooth will be discussed in your practice. You can receive local anesthesia, sedation or general anesthesia, depending on your procedure and your own comfort levels. No matter what type of anesthesia you choose, your operation will be painless. While patients often report pain, swelling and tenderness after extraction, our medical team will ensure that you feel minimal discomfort with over-the-counter or prescribed pain relievers.

There is a debate about the optimal time to remove wisdom teeth if you do not have any problems. Doing it while you are younger, before turning 18 or 20 years old, will result in a faster recovery but, more importantly, a safer and more predictable intervention. Also, early elimination often avoids problems that may arise in the future, allowing patients to never experience the possible consequences of problematic third molars.

Another advantage of eliminating wisdom teeth preventively is to allow patients the luxury of choosing the ideal time of year to do so with the least interruption in their busy schedules. Therefore, summer is usually the most popular time for this procedure in the student population. This allows patients to recover comfortably without the additional stress and strain of school responsibilities.

If we define recovery as the end of the symptoms of the procedure, this is approximately 7 to 10 days. The discomfort tends to disappear after the third day and the inflammation usually ends around the seventh day. Of course, the more the wound frosts in the first 48 hours, the faster the inflammation disappears!