Tooth extractions are often necessary for severe decay, advanced periodontal disease, impacted wisdom teeth, and other oral health issues. Our doctors are experts in the procedure, helping patients recover quickly and without complications.
After your procedure you may experience bleeding or oozing in the area. This is normal and should subside within 48 hours. Avoid rinsing vigorously, suck on straws, or smoking as this can dislodge the blood clot and cause more bleeding.
Same-day extractions
In many cases, tooth dental extraction Bowling Green KY can be done on a same-day basis. However, your health condition and the complexity of the procedure may affect this. During a same-day extraction, the doctor will numb the tooth, jaw bone and gums that surround the tooth with a local anesthetic. You will feel pressure during the removal, but you won’t experience pain. This is because the anesthetic numbs nerves that transmit pressure, not nerves that transmit pain. After the tooth is removed, you will need to bite down on some dry and sterile gauze for 72 hours to help form a blood clot and speed healing. Avoid smoking, drinking through a straw and vigorous rinsing of the area as these could dislodge or dissolve the clot. This could cause additional bleeding and prolong the healing process.
Surgical extractions
A surgical extraction is performed when a tooth is so damaged that root canal treatment is not viable. This procedure involves making an incision in the gum tissue to access the underlying tooth. The tooth is then removed. This type of extraction is more complex than a simple one, but it can still be completed in a single office visit.
After a surgical tooth extraction, it is important to keep the site clean and protected. Bite firmly on a piece of gauze for about 45 minutes after the appointment to control bleeding and oozing. Do not rinse, suck on straws, or smoke in the area for 72 hours as these activities can dislodge or dissolve the blood clot and interfere with healing.
Pain is usually minimal after a surgical extraction, and swelling should subside in about a day. A cold compress or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn placed on the affected area can help reduce discomfort and swelling. Take pain medications as directed and keep the area clean to speed up recovery.
Extracting a single tooth
After applying a local anesthetic, we use tools to elevate and sever the periodontal ligament that holds the tooth in place. The tooth is then gently removed with dental forceps. Surgical extractions are necessary when a tooth has not fully erupted or is trapped in the jaw bone. We may use a drill and a drill to create an incision to access and remove the tooth.
After a tooth dental extraction Bowling Green KY, it is important to keep the blood flow at a minimum in order to promote healing. It is normal to experience slight oozing or bleeding, but it should not last longer than 48 hours. You can control the bleeding by placing a gauze pad over the treatment site and biting down firmly.
You can also opt for nitrous oxide or oral sedation before your appointment to ease anxiety and help you relax. These methods wear off quickly, so you can return to normal activities soon after your visit.
Extracting multiple teeth
Many patients need multiple teeth extracted for a variety of reasons. Deep decay, impaction of wisdom teeth and even the presence of extra teeth can cause pain, discomfort and other issues that require tooth removal.
A tooth extraction begins with the doctor numbing your tooth, jaw bone and surrounding gum tissue with a local anesthetic. A tool called an elevator is then used to loosen ligaments and pull the tooth free of its roots. The procedure is fairly quick and often complete in less than 15 minutes.
After the tooth is removed, you may experience some bleeding or oozing at the site. This is normal and can be controlled by biting on a damp gauze pad for 30 minutes or by using a moistened tea bag (the tannic acid helps blood vessels contract).
To avoid dislodging the clot, do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws or smoke after your appointment. These activities increase blood flow to the head and can disturb the forming clot.
