What to Expect During a Tooth Extraction
Our dentists will do everything in their power to save your tooth. But they may recommend extraction as a last resort if the tooth is beyond repair.
Under these circumstances, tooth extraction would prevent further harm to your oral health. For example, we may need to extract an abscessed tooth before the infection spreads to your jawbone.
It’s important to remember that each patient is different. But here are some general guidelines of what you can expect during your appointment.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our office in Grand Rapids. We’d be more than happy to help.
Comfortable, Pain-Free Dentistry
It’s perfectly normal to feel anxious or even scared about needing a tooth extraction. But we want you to know that we’ll do everything we can to ensure you always feel comfortable, safe, and pain-free during the procedure.
Before we do anything, one of our dentists will speak with you about what you can expect during your appointment. You’ll also be able to ask them any questions so you can feel peace of mind.
Next, we’ll administer local anesthetic to numb the tooth and surrounding tissue. That way, you won’t experience any pain or discomfort during extraction.
If you’re feeling a lot of anxiety, our dentists may suggest using laughing gas in addition to the local anesthetic. Laughing gas is a mild form of dental sedation that helps patients feel calm and relaxed in the dentist’s chair.
Tooth Extraction
Once you’re properly numb, we’ll use a dental tool called an elevator to loosen the tooth from its socket. Then, we’ll use dental forceps to lift and remove the tooth.
One of our dentists will then place a few stitches over the extraction site. Next, they’ll have you gently bite down on a gauze pad to absorb the bleeding.
At this point, we’ll give you specific after-care instructions so you can recover and heal as soon as possible.
Recovery
It’s important that you follow our aftercare instructions from our dentists. Depending on your situation, they may prescribe you pain relievers and antibiotics to take at home.
After your procedure, a blood clot will form over the extraction site. This blood clot acts like a temporary bandage, protecting the underlying bone and nerve endings. For this reason, it’s vital that you don’t disturb this blood clot until your body has a chance to heal.
In general, we recommend that you eat soft foods and chew on the opposite side of the extraction site. You also need to avoid using straws or brushing the extraction site until you get the okay from one of our dentists.
Disturbing the blood clot may result in a painful condition called . The good news is that you can easily avoid this outcome by following your dentist’s instructions.
Tooth Replacement Options
Once you’ve completely healed from tooth extraction, we recommend scheduling a consultation with one of our dentists. During your appointment, they’ll help you explore your tooth replacement options so you can smile with confidence.
Our include dental bridges, dentures, and dental implants. Be sure to also check out our blog post on the pros and cons of dental implants vs. dentures.
Request an Appointment With Us
Are you experiencing any dental pain or discomfort? If so, please don’t hesitate to call Advance Dental at (616) 956-9183. Our emergency dentists in Grand Rapids, MI, will do everything in their power to restore your oral health. For non-emergencies, you may also fill out our online contact form.
