Extractions

At Pure Dental Care, we focus on providing compassionate, patient-centered dental care for your entire family. Our office is warm and welcoming, and our team of dental professionals will take the time to listen to and address all your questions and concerns. We look forward to earning your trust and building a long-term dentist-patient relationship with you.

What Is a Dental Tooth Extraction?

A tooth extraction in Silver Spring, MD, is a dental procedure used to remove a tooth and the root from its socket. Sometimes, the tooth’s root will break off during a tooth extraction, at which time the root will need to be removed separately.

When Is a Tooth Extraction Needed?

A tooth extraction might be needed if you have an abscessed tooth (a deep infection in the tooth), your teeth are overcrowded, you have loose teeth caused by gum disease, or you have impacted teeth that are causing problems with your other teeth.

Additionally, if you are preparing for a dental implant or other dental procedure like dentures or a bridge, your dentist in Silver Spring, MD, will perform a tooth/teeth extraction before these treatments as well.

The Two Types of Dental Extractions

There are two types of dental extractions: simple and surgical.

A simple dental extraction is performed at your dentist’s office on teeth that are visible in your mouth. The dentist will apply a local anesthetic to your gum to numb the area so that you won’t feel pain. Next, a tool called an elevator is used to loosen the tooth. Then dental forceps are used to pull the tooth up and out of its socket and remove it from your mouth.

A surgical dental extraction is usually performed in the hospital under general anesthesia by your dentist or an oral surgeon, depending on the severity of your case. A hospital visit is usually required because of the complex nature of surgical extractions and the pain associated with them.

How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Tooth Extraction?

How long it takes to recover from a tooth extraction will depend on the complexity of your case. However, most people can return to their normal activities within 48 – 72 hours or so. But, with that being said, it will usually take your jawbone several weeks before it heals completely.

The only exception to this is if you’ve had a dental implant procedure, in which case it will take longer to recover. Your dentist will go over the recovery time for a dental implant with you.

Post Extraction Recovery

After your tooth extraction, there are some things you will probably want to do to ensure you don’t end up with dry socket (a painful condition that occurs when the blood clot dislodges from your tooth’s socket) and to help reduce the pain until the area has healed.

• Leave the gauze over your tooth and gently bite down. Do this until a blood clot has formed (about three or four hours) or the gauze is soaked with blood. Your dentist will give you exact instructions on this step.
• Place an ice pack directly on your cheek to help reduce the pain and swelling. Don’t leave the ice pack in place for more than 10 minutes at a time.
• Take all medications your dentist prescribed, including the over-the-counter medications recommended.
•  Avoid smoking.
• Don’t drink out of a straw for at least 24 hours.
• Use a pillow to help keep your head propped up while lying down.
• Rest and relax for the first 24 hours.
• Don’t do any rigorous exercise for a few days.
• Brush and floss like normal while avoiding the extraction site.
• Don’t rinse your mouth out for the first 24 hours, just gently spit.
• Only eat soft foods like yogurt, pudding, etc. for the first 24 hours.
• After the first 24 hours, you can slowly add other foods back into your diet.
• After the first 24 hours, you should use a saltwater rinse. Take a half teaspoon of salt and add it to eight ounces of warm water. Then gently rinse your mouth and spit it out.

If you are still experiencing pain after a few days or if you have signs of an infection (fever, pain, drainage, or pus from the affected area), contact your dentist immediately.

Contact Us – A Reputable Dentist in Silver Spring, MD

If your teeth are bothering you or if you need a new dentist, please Contact Pure Dental Care today to schedule a consultation and exam. We would love to show you just how comfortable and easy going to the dentist can be.