Does the mere thought of a visit to the dentist get you worried? And even imagining a tooth extraction makes you wince with the anticipated pain? Unfortunately, it cannot always be avoided.
You may require a tooth extraction for various reasons such as:
Grossly decayed/damaged teeth.
A fractured tooth that cannot be saved by conventional means.
Preparation for orthodontic treatment.
Complications due to an impacted tooth.
Supernumerary tooth causing a delayed eruption of a permanent tooth.
Periodontally compromised tooth with mobility.
Tumour of the jaw involving the tooth.
A requirement before or after head and neck radiation therapy.
The extraction of the tooth from the bone socket is known as exodontia. Dental extraction can be done in two ways, a simple extraction with elevators and forceps under local anaesthesia or surgical extraction under general anaesthesia as it involves cutting of the bone to remove the impacted tooth/teeth.
Points to Consider Before Extraction
Make sure you are medically fit. Check your blood sugar level and blood pressure on the day of extraction if you are diabetic or a hypertensive/ hypotensive patient.
In case of any known health conditions, discuss your medical history and current medications with your doctor and make sure that you can go ahead with the procedure.
The Dos And Don’ts of Care After Tooth Extraction
After extraction, the dentist will compress the socket, place a cotton gauze pad over the bleeding area, and ask you to bite firmly yet gently for about 30 minutes. This will reduce bleeding and allow for clot formation within the socket.
- Change the gauze pads if they are completely soaked in blood. Else, you can leave the pad in place for about 2 to 3 hours after the extraction.
Apply an ice pack or ice bag on the affected area after the procedure. This will help reduce any swelling in the area. This can be repeated 3 to 4 times on the first day after the extraction.
Do not spit. Instead, keep swallowing your saliva (though it might be slightly blood-tinged) as spitting or rinsing your mouth might dislodge the blood clot and lead to a dry socket which can be extremely painful.
Do not use straws or blow your nose too hard as it can create negative pressure inside your mouth that can cause more bleeding and dislodge the clot.
Eat/drink something cold like ice cream/cold water about 30 to 60 minutes post-procedure, as cold items can minimise bleeding through vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels).
Do not smoke as it impedes healing.
Relax and limit your activity. Avoid gymming or high-intensity physical activity for at least 24 hours post-procedure.
Rinse your mouth gently with a warm salt solution (½ tbsp of salt in about 250 ml of warm water) after 24 to 48 hrs. This mixture helps reduce the risk of infection and thereby facilitates the healing process.
Eat soft foods like soup, yoghurt, idly, dosa, curd rice, dal rice, scrambled eggs, smoothies, etc. during the healing process (7 to 10 days post-procedure). As the extraction heals, you will be able to add more solids to your diet.
Take painkillers and other medications prescribed by your dentist without fail as this will help alleviate pain, discomfort and reduce the risk of infection.
If your discomfort does not subside within 2 to 3 days after the procedure or the pain suddenly worsens after a few days, it is recommended that you contact your dentist to rule out infection or any other cause of your symptoms.
Disclaimer: This article is written by the Practitioner for informational and educational purposes only. The content presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.