Tooth removal is the last thing you expect your dentist to suggest. But if your dentist determines that your tooth is severely decayed or damaged and will need to be extracted, then you may have no choice but to undergo a tooth removal procedure.
When you have a bad tooth "pulled" or extracted, it's perfectly normal for changes to happen in your mouth thereafter. Here is an overview of what your dentist can do to alleviate your pain and discomfort, limit bleeding and prevent possible infections:
Managing pain and discomfort
To "pull" a bad tooth from its socket, your dentist will need to use a special kind of pliers called forceps. As you can imagine, the procedure can cause excruciating pain if performed without some sort of pain reliever. For this reason, you will need to get your mouth numbed first.
Prior to the extraction, your dentist will give you an anesthetic to alleviate your pain and discomfort. Your mouth will feel numb during the extraction and the feeling will last a few hours post-extraction. During this time, you had better be cautious not to bite and hurt your tongue, lips and cheeks. Your dentist may prescribe medication to help control pain and swelling.
Controlling bleeding
One of the things that your dentist will place within reach in the theatre room is a gauze pack. It is important to have this pack on the extraction site so as to help stop bleeding that will occur after your tooth has been forcibly pulled out of its socket.
Your dentist will ask you to leave the gauze in place until the bleeding has completely subsided. This will help in the formation of blood clot, which is necessary to speed up the natural healing process. But before the blood clot can form, expect to see a small amount of blood leaking — if there's heavy bleeding after the extraction and you have already exited the dentist's office, be sure to contact your dentist.
Preventing infections
The risk of dental infections occurring after a tooth extraction procedure is inherent. To help prevent possible infections from occurring, your dentist will give you instructions on how to clean your mouth and in particular, the area where your tooth has been extracted. Make sure you follow these instructions to the letter.
In case of any tooth extractions developing complications, make sure you see your dentist as soon as possible.
Share17 September 2017
As a mother, I've seen my kids' faces light up after they've lost a tooth – oh, the excitement they feel about getting their grown up teeth! However, I've also seen my kids become extremely scared and anxious after having an adult tooth knocked out. If you're a mom or a dad with a busy kid, chances are you might see a tooth knocked out in a skateboarding accident or a sport pile-up. This blog is dedicated to those moments when you could lose your wits, and it's here to ensure you don't. I am collecting and curating the best information about kids and dental emergencies here so that you will have it when you need it. Best of luck with your kids' smiles!
