Sometimes, people need to have a tooth pulled out. This is called a tooth extraction. This tooth extraction is usually done by a dentist or an oral surgeon. There are various reasons why you might need to have a tooth pulled. Learn what to expect during and after this dental procedure.
At Serena Medical Center, we never spare any effort to maintain healthy, natural teeth. However, there are times a tooth is damaged beyond repair, leaving extraction as our only viable option. Dr. Smigiel and his team are committed to ensuring your time with us is always positive and comfortable.
The tooth removal recovery period will roughly take 4-5 days. Your dentist will provide you with a post-treatment care to help speed the process.
Usually, a single tooth extraction does not change the face shape. Still, if posterior teeth are lost over a long period, the jawbone may shrink, resulting in very subtle facial alterations. Hence, tooth replacements such as dental implants are advised by dentists to keep the bone intact and maintain the natural face shape.
Depending on the number of teeth removed or replaced, the long-term effects of tooth extraction can vary. If left untreated, the gap can cause the surrounding teeth to tilt, causing problems with biting and changes in alignment. Loss of bone around the jaw occurs with time, which may tilt toward a compromise in chewing and facial aesthetics. After extraction, solutions such as dental implants are chosen to avoid these possibilities from occurring.
Eating soft foods is advised for a few hours after tooth extraction, generally until the anaesthesia has worn off. For an initial 1 or 2 days after, the patient should consume only cool, soft foods and avoid anything spicy so as not to disrupt healing. Anything hard, crunchy, or hot should be avoided until the dentist gives a green light on recovery. Sticking to these safeguards can help in the prevention of post-tooth-extraction complications.
The first phase of healing after tooth extraction typically takes about 1–2 weeks, but proper healing of the jawbone and tissues around the site may take a few months. Keeping up with oral hygiene practices, resting, and following the instructions provided post-extraction should smooth the healing process. Generally, discomfort from the extraction site improves within a few days; however, healing of the bone itself may take up to 12 weeks.
There are a few precautions one should take during those initial days after tooth extraction to prevent delayed healing. Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, or consuming hard and spicy foods for at least a couple of days following an extraction. Otherwise, you may dislodge the blood clot from the extraction site and develop a very painful condition called dry socket. Strictly following your dentist’s after-extraction instructions will enable quick healing and help avoid complications.