If one of your teeth is so damaged that it cannot be saved or if one of your tooth is so infected that removal is the only way to halt the infection, your dentist or an oral surgeon will need to remove the tooth. Tooth removal often begins with a local anesthetic to numb the area. If more than one tooth must be removed, your dentist or surgeon will use a stronger, general anesthetic. The dentist will then remove the tooth and give you stitches, if you need them. After the procedure, your Santa Monica dentist or surgeon may instruct you to bite down on a cotton gauze pad to help stop the bleeding. Once your tooth has been removed, your dentist will discuss whether an implant, a denture, or a bridge will be used to replace the removed tooth.
You will need to recover a few days after a tooth extraction. Your dentist may give you painkillers to make this period easier to bear. Your dentist may also instruct you to rinse your mouth out with warm salt water a few times a day to help reduce swelling and pain. To help stop bleeding, you may have to change your gauze pad regularly and eat mostly soft foods at first to give your mouth a chance to heal. Staying out of stress and propping your head up with pillows (so that you are not lying flat) can also help stop the bleeding associated with tooth extraction. Ask your Santa Monica dentist for directions about what you should do after your tooth extraction and follow those directions to the letter.
The main goal with most extractions is to prevent infection from spreading to other areas of your mouth or to remove a damaged tooth that cannot be saved. However, since extraction is a type of surgery, it is not without its risks. Any sort of dental surgery can permit bacteria in the mouth to enter your bloodstream. This can cause infections. If you do not easily fight off infections, talk to your dentist before surgery. You may need to take antibiotics before and after dental surgery. If you have heart problems, diabetes, liver disease, artificial joints, or take steroids for Crohn’s disease, asthma, or some other condition, you need to tell your Santa Monica dentist because you may also need additional antibiotics.
Of course, the best way to deal with a tooth extraction is to avoid it in the first place. Good oral hygiene and regular dentist visits can help you avoid the necessity of having a tooth extraction. If it has been six months since your last appointment, an appointment with West LA Dental can help ensure that your teeth stay healthy.