Visit to a dentist is mostly treated by trepidation by most people. And why not? Because it’s in human nature to explore and witness, such is the burden of inquisitiveness. So, it is natural to say any event which can’t be seen, is most often treated with hesitation and fear.

If you visit a dentist and they recommend on having your tooth extracted -when a tooth becomes badly damaged and in all probability, cannot be saved or if your mouth is so crowded that some teeth cannot protrude the gum- you may have some concerns or hesitation regarding this procedure. Rensselaer Family Dentistry has taken this initiative to spread awareness about the procedure of tooth extraction; that you need to know before, during and after Tooth extraction.

1: First up, why is it recommended in the first place?

If a tooth becomes damaged or decayed and is unable to be repaired, the best option is usually to get it removed. But that is just an overview, it doesn’t answer the why? To put it simply, experts from Rensselaer Family Dentistry classify the following reasons as the root cause of tooth extraction

1: A tooth could become irreparably damaged through decay or trauma (in certain cases)

2: You may want to alleviate over-crowding of your mouth from having larger than usual teeth, which could cause severe pain as the tooth cannot break through the gum because there is no room for it.

3: A tooth can become infected from decay reaching the pulp (center) of the tooth

4: If your immune system is compromised from receiving chemotherapy or an organ transplant then a bad tooth can be a cause to severe infection

5: Periodontal diseases can also be attributed as the root cause to this solution, as they can affect the bones supporting your teeth.

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2: Next up, how to prepare for tooth extraction?

1: It goes without saying that your dentist should be made aware of your complete medical & dental history, which not only paints a complete picture of what sort treatments you have received but it also highlights important details such as; blood group, allergies etc

2: Inform your dentist if, in the week before surgery you develop a cough, cold, stuffy nose, nausea or vomiting. You might be advised to reschedule your planned anaesthetic or postpone surgery for another time.

3: Rensselaer Dentist strongly recommends not eating or drinking 6-8 hours prior to the surgery.

4: Do not smoke on the day of the surgery, as this could lead to a painful dry socket.

5: And more importantly, ensure that you have arranged for someone to drive you home afterwards, as you won’t be able to drive due to the anaesthetic.

3: The big day, what your dentist will do?

In a nutshell, your dentist will:

1: Administrator anaesthesia to numb the surrounding area around the tooth, which is to be extracted. For patients with a dental phobia, the dentist may also provide laughing gas or sedation to ease their nerves

2: If your tooth is impacted and hard to reach, your dentist may have to remove bone and gum tissues covering the tooth

3: The tooth is gently moved back and forth so that the fibres between the tooth and jawbone are broken down.

4: Your dentist will use several tools, such as forceps to extract the tooth from the socket

5: And lastly, once the extraction is complete, your dentist will use sterile gauze to pad the site of the extraction

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4: And last but not the least, what do to after extraction?

Rensselaer Dentist recommends that it is better to

1: Not to drink or eat for at-least 2 hours after the procedure

2: Not to drink from straw for at-least 24 hours

3: Try consuming soft, easily digestible food such as yogurt, and soft pudding

4: Avoid any strenuous activity for at-least a few days

5: Take care while brushing your teeth, and try not to accidently brush the extraction site

6: Take pain killers, as prescribed by your dentist

7: Use ice packs to reduce swelling and pain

8: Try not to spit forcefully, as it could be a potential cause of bleeding due to the removal of premature blood clot from the extraction site

9: When lying down, try to keep your head elevated with pillows, as lying flat could prolong bleeding

10: Schedule an appointment with your dentist if the bleeding persists after a few days

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