Extractions explained by our dentist at Northern Beaches

Do you need to have a tooth pulled and have questions?

At Northern Beaches Dental, our dentist Mackay will always endeavour to answer any queries you have about any dental procedure in jargon-free language, so you can make the best-informed decisions about your healthcare.

In the following article, our dentist Mackay answers common questions about dental extraction.

When is dental extraction recommended?

There are a few reasons why our dentist Mackay may recommend a dental extraction.

The first, and most obvious, is if the tooth is decayed beyond repair, which is more likely if you have missed a few dental check-ups. Related to this is if you have a dental infection or abscess and not just a large cavity; this can cause you to need an extraction, but this will usually only be performed after the infection has been treated.

If you are having orthodontic work performed, we may also recommend removing a tooth or teeth, especially if we are treating overcrowding in the mouth. This will make room for the teeth to move as the brace or aligner pushes them.

We may remove wisdom teeth if they are pressing against surrounding teeth as they erupt; this is called impaction and can be very uncomfortable, so we extract the tooth.

What does it involve?

There are 2 types of dental extraction; simple and surgical.

Simple extraction occurs in cases where the crown and root of the tooth are intact and will usually be attempted if a tooth needs to be removed to make room for orthodontic work. This involves the gum being numbed and a bit of wiggling to remove the tooth from the socket.

A surgical extraction is a bit more complicated; if the tooth has broken down due to decay, damage or is impacted, then we will need to numb the area and make some incisions to get it out.

How long does it take the gum to heal?

This depends on the type of extraction you had, your lifestyle, your age and your general health.

In most cases of a simple extraction, the gum should heal just fine on its own within around 2 weeks, assuming there is no issue with infection. In cases of surgical extraction, it can take up to a month and may also involve the removal of stitches.

If you smoke, have a poor diet, are ill or generally discard dental hygiene during this period, it can take longer to recover from extraction.

How can you promote faster healing?

Firstly, don’t poke (or try not to poke!) the extraction site with your tongue or a toothbrush.

This can irritate the gum, cause bleeding and can even introduce bacteria if done regularly enough. Brush around the site gently and keep it free from debris by rinsing it with saltwater.

You mustn’t apply pressure to the extraction site until at least a week post-extraction, so eat softer foods and stay hydrated.

What is dry socket?

When you have an adult tooth removed, there is a gap in which your jaw is now exposed. To prevent issues, your body will attempt to form a clot in the gap. Should this clot fail to form or be dislodged, you will probably develop dry socket, which is where the bone and surrounding nerves are exposed to the air, which is as uncomfortable as it sounds!

DISCLAIMER

All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.