There are many reasons why someone might need to get a tooth extracted. One of the most common is overcrowding in the mouth which could lead to your wisdom teeth being removed. Infections caused by tooth decay that cannot be repaired by a root canal is another cause for extractions.
When you go to the dentist to get your tooth removed, a local anesthetic is administered to numb the area where the tooth will be removed. If more than one tooth is being removed, a stronger anesthetic may be used.
After your tooth has been removed, stitches may be put in to close the wound. Your dentist will have you gently bite down on the area with a gauze pad to help stop any bleeding. If your extraction was not caused by overcrowding, you can replace your missing tooth with an implant, denture or bridge once the area has healed.
Care After Surgery
Your dentist will provide you with a prescription for medication to help with any pain you might feel. Even with the medicine, you might still feel some pain or notice some swelling and applying an ice pack to the outside of your mouth can help reduce these feelings. Another way to reduce any swelling and to relieve pain is to rinse your mouth with 1 teaspoon and 8 ounces of warm water several times a day, starting 24 hours after the surgery. It is important that when brushing your teeth, you do it carefully, making sure to not scrape the wound. Because it could be painful for the first few days after the surgery, make sure you eat soft foods like gelatin, pudding and soup.
