Extractions
You and your doctors at The Mogelof Dental Group, LLC may determine that you need a tooth extraction for any number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed; others may have advanced periodontal disease , or have broken in a way that cannot be repaired. Other teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth), or in preparation for orthodontic treatment.
The loss of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint, and shifting teeth, which can have a major impact on your dental health. To avoid these complications, in most cases, Drs. Mogelof will discuss alternatives to extractions as well as the best method for replacement of the extracted tooth.
The Extraction Process
At the time of extraction the doctor will need to numb your tooth, jawbone and gums that surround the area with a local anesthetic.
During the extraction process you will feel a lot of pressure. This is from the process of firmly rocking the tooth in order to widen the socket for removal.
You feel the pressure without pain as the anesthetic has numbed the nerves stopping the transference of pain, yet the nerves that transmit pressure are not profoundly affected.
If you do feel pain at any time during the extraction please let us know immediately so we can make you as comfortable as possible.
Sectioning a tooth
Some teeth require sectioning. This is a very common procedure done when a tooth is so firmly anchored in its socket or the root is curved and the socket can’t expand enough to remove it. The doctor simply cuts the tooth into sections then removes each section one at a time. Although this technique may take a few more minutes, it is less traumatic and allows us to avoid other surgical issues.
After Extraction Home Care
Bleeding
Some bleeding is expected for as much as 24-48 hours after the surgery. Placing a piece of moist gauze or teabag ( hot then cold water ) over the empty tooth socket and biting down firmly for 45 minutes can control this. If the bleeding is not easily controlled, please call our office Mogelof Dental Group Phone Number 203-378-5588 to speak to one of the doctors or to page us after regular office hours.
Blood clots that form in the empty socket.
This is an important part of the healing process and you must be careful not to dislodge the clot.
- Avoid rinsing or spitting for 24 hours after the extraction.
- Avoid use of a straw, smoking (interferes with healing), hot liquids or hot foods (will cause you to swell), or alcohol (dissolves the clot) for a minimum of 24 hours.
- For most extractions just make sure you do your chewing away from the extraction site.
Swelling
If swelling occurs you can place ice on your face for 15 minutes and off for 15 minutes. Repeat this cycle as you feel necessary for up to 24 hours. After 24 hours, moist warm compresses should be applied several times per day for 3 days.
Pain and Medications
If you experience pain you may use non-prescription pain relief medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If the pain level is very high, please call the office at Mogelof Dental Group Phone Number 203-378-5588 to speak to, or page the doctors so they can phone in a prescription to your pharmacy.
If you are taking medications prescribed by your physician and, because of the surgery, you were instructed to stop taking these medications prior to surgery, please follow the directions given by us or your MD as to when to resume taking these medications.
Brushing and Cleaning
After the extraction avoid brushing the teeth near the extraction site for one day. After that you can resume gentle cleaning. Avoid commercial mouth rinses, as they tend to irritate the site. Beginning 48 hours after the extraction you can rinse with salt water (1/2 teaspoon in a cup of water) after meals and before bed.
Dry Socket
Dry socket occurs when a blood clot fails to form in the socket where the tooth has been extracted or the clot has been dislodged, and the healing is significantly delayed.
Following the post extraction instructions will reduce the chances of developing dry socket. Dry sockets manifest themselves as a dull throbbing pain, which doesn’t appear until three or four days after the extraction. The pain can be moderate to severe and radiate from the extraction area. Dry socket may cause a bad taste or bad breath and the extraction site appears dry.
The doctors of Mogelof Dental Group, LLC will apply a medicated dressing to the dry socket to soothe the pain and improve the healing process.
Healing
After a tooth has been extracted there will be a resulting hole in your jawbone where the tooth was. In time, this will smooth and fill in with bone. This process can take many weeks or months. However, after 1-3 weeks you should no longer notice any inconvenience.