Tooth extraction is associated with several general post-surgical effects such as pain, inflammation, bruising, bleeding, and infection. Some pain, swelling, and bruising in the area can be expected for most patients, which will subside with time.
Surrounding teeth may shift or move into the space where the tooth is missing. This can cause issues with your bite and oral hygiene. Missing teeth can affect speech and your ability to bite and chew. There is a risk of an infection at the extraction site.
Nerves and blood vessels can be damaged during the procedure. This can cause bleeding and usually temporary numbness in the tongue or face. In very rare cases serious infections may occur. Up to 1 out of 100 people may have permanent problems as a result of the procedure, such as numbness or damage to nearby teeth.
When should a tooth be extracted? When a tooth becomes infected, damaged or decayed beyond repair. If a tooth cannot be repaired with a crown or dental filling because of trauma caused by an accident or extensive decay, tooth extraction may be your only option.
Dry socket is the most common complication following tooth extractions, such as the removal of third molars (wisdom teeth). Over-the-counter medications alone won't be enough to treat dry socket pain. Your dentist or oral surgeon can offer treatments to relieve your pain.
Expect some soreness from a surgical extraction for at least three days and, in some cases, up to two weeks. Some patients experience a slight increase in pain right around the five-day mark, but in general, you can usually manage this with over-the-counter medications.
In most cases, root canal therapy is a better way to treat an infected tooth than an extraction. However, there are exceptions, such as if the tooth has suffered extreme damage. Your dentist will carefully analyze your oral health before making a treatment recommendation.
After you undergo a tooth extraction, you will need to replace the missing tooth or teeth. If the teeth are not replaced, the bones in your mouth can weaken and lose density. Other teeth also might shift, and you might experience trouble eating. Fortunately, you have several replacement options for missing teeth.
The teeth are placed in a hazardous waste container and then incinerated once it's picked up at the dental office. The CDC has different guidelines for teeth containing metal fillings. Because the metal might release toxic fumes during incineration, they need to be sent to a specialized recycling center instead.
You may need to have a tooth extracted if: Periodontal disease has badly infected the tooth. The tooth is badly damaged and cannot be restored by a filling or a crown. You are suffering from pain even after a filling, crown, or treatment for a root canal.
Wisdom teeth — the third molars in the very back of your mouth — may not need to be removed if they are: Healthy. Grown in completely (fully erupted) Positioned correctly and biting properly with their opposing teeth.
While it is always preferable to save a tooth, there are times when extraction is a better option. When a tooth is cracked, especially if it is cracked below the gumline, or in several places, an extraction may be required. If the tooth is too weak to be restored, it may also be best to have it pulled.
The nerves that are most likely to be damaged are the alveolar nerve and the trigeminal nerve, which can be injured or traumatized during an extraction procedure and affect the sensation in the chin, the bottom lip, and the tongue.
How many teeth can I have extracted at once? There is no limit to the number of teeth you can have extracted at once. While having multiple teeth extracted during the same procedure is rare, it is sometimes the only option for patients with severe tooth decay.
A small uninfected root tip can sometimes be left inside the jaw after a dental extraction if its removal might be too difficult or cause too much trauma for the patient.
Tooth extraction costs in Australia can range from $75 to $3,000. At Green Door Dental, the cost of wisdom tooth extraction varies depending on the location of the tooth and the complexity of the case. Below, you'll find a handy table outlining how much wisdom tooth removal costs.
Yes, dental implants can still be placed years after extraction.
After the tooth removal procedure, you might experience little pain when you bite down on the socket. However, you will not experience any more toothaches since the cause of pain is eliminated after extracting the tooth. The recovery period is between two days and a week.
An implant can be placed right after an extraction if you have healthy gums and sufficient jawbone density. Once the tooth has been removed, your dentist can immediately insert the titanium post into your jaw. Then, it gradually fuses with the bone to provide a reliable foundation for a custom dental crown.
Root canals are considered to be the most painful because they require removing the nerve tissue on a tooth's root. The removal of the nerve tissue is not only excruciatingly painful but also commonly leads to infection.
A dead tooth can stay in your mouth for up to several days or months; however, keeping a dead tooth may lead to problems with your jaw and also result in the spreading of decay and bacteria to other teeth. Most dentists will recommend having the dead tooth extracted and replaced with a denture, bridge, or implant.
Extracting or removing a tooth that has died is a relatively simple relatively painless form of treatment. You should expect to receive either local or general anesthesia for the procedure, depending on your preference or the recommendation of your dentist.
The swelling will build over the first 48 to 72 hours and then plateau for 2-3 days making the 3rd-5th days the worst for pain and swelling. However, the swelling may be minimized by the immediate use of ice packs.
Always sleep with your head elevated for the first few nights after the wisdom tooth extraction surgery. If you struggle to put yourself in that position, get support from a few pillows. Keeping your head elevated at a 45-deg angle while sleeping ensures faster recovery. It also minimizes swelling in the surgical area.
Within the first 24 hours after tooth removal surgery, you should avoid consuming anything that involves chewing. Try to limit yourself to liquids exclusively. If they don't fill you up and you want to consume solid food, go for soft meals that don't need much chewing, like pudding or oatmeal.