A tooth which is very decayed or damaged, or loose because of gum disease, may have to be extracted (taken out of the mouth).
At Carton Dental we are all experienced dentists. It is very rare that we have any problems taking teeth out. However some teeth are easier to take out than others. Not all dentists can take out all teeth. There are significant risks involved with taking out some teeth such as nerve damage or damage to the bone below the sinuses. In some cases we may refer you to an oral surgeon to have a tooth removed.
In some cases, for children or nervous patients, or where a tooth might prove difficult to remove, sedation (something to make you drowsy) with a local anaesthetic may be used. On rare occasions a general anaesthetic may be considered. If a general anaesthetic is needed, you will have to go to a hospital (you will normally be able to go home the same day).
When we take out a tooth out:
If you have any problems after an extraction, we will see you for aftercare promptly.
Take it easy for the rest of the day. Take as little exercise as you can, and rest as much as you can. Keep your head up to avoid any bleeding.
Avoid hot food or drinks until the anaesthetic wears off. This is important as you cannot feel pain properly and may burn or scald your mouth. Also be careful not to chew your cheek. This is quite a common problem, which can happen when there is no feeling.
If you do rest, try to keep your head higher for the first night using an extra pillow if possible. It is also a good idea to use an old pillowcase, or put a towel on the pillow, in case you bleed a little.
Do not be tempted to rinse the area for the first 24 hours. It is important to allow the socket to heal, and you must be careful not to damage the blood clot by eating on that side or letting your tongue disturb it. This can allow infection into the socket and affect healing.
Avoid alcohol for at least 48 hours, as this can encourage bleeding and delay healing. Eat and drink lukewarm food as normal but avoid chewing on that area of your mouth. Avoid eating for 4 hours after an extraction. You should not smoke for a minimum of 48 hours.
It is just as important, if not more so, to keep your mouth clean after an extraction. However, you do need to be careful around the extraction site.
The first thing to remember is that there may be some slight bleeding for the first day or so. Many people are concerned about the amount of bleeding. This is due to the fact that a small amount of blood is mixed with a larger amount of saliva, which looks more dramatic than it is.
If you do notice bleeding, do not rinse out, but apply pressure to the socket using a piece of the cotton gauze that we provided you with. Do this for at least 15 minutes. Make sure this is placed directly over the extraction site and that the gauze is replaced if necessary.
If the bleeding has not stopped after an hour or two, contact us.
It is important not to do anything which will increase your blood pressure, as this can lead to further bleeding. We recommend that you avoid smoking for as long as you can after an extraction, 48 hours at a minimum.
Different people heal at different speeds after an extraction. It is important to keep your mouth and the extraction site as clean as possible, making sure that the socket is kept clear of all food and debris. Don't rinse for the first 24 hours, and this will help your mouth to start healing.
After this time you may consider using a salt-water mouthwash, which helps to heal the socket. A teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water gently rinsed around the socket twice a day can help to clean and heal the area. You can keep this up for a week.
It is important to keep to a healthy diet; consider taking a Vitamin C supplement, which will help your mouth to heal.
There will usually be some tenderness in the area for the first few days, and in most cases some simple pain relief is enough to ease the discomfort. What you would normally take for a headache should be enough. However, always follow the manufacturer's instructions and if in doubt check with your doctor first. Do not take aspirin, as this will make your mouth bleed. We would suggest paracetamol and ibuprofen. If you have any significant pain we can prescribe you with stronger pain killers.
As we have said, it is important not to use anything containing aspirin as this can cause further bleeding. This happens because aspirin can thin the blood slightly. Asthma sufferers should avoid Ibuprofen-based pain relief.
Sometimes an infection can get in the socket, which can be very painful. This is where there is little or no blood clot in the tooth socket and the bony socket walls are exposed and become infected. This is called a dry socket and in some cases is worse than the original toothache!
In this case, it is important to see your dentist, who may place a dressing in the socket and prescribe a course of antibiotics to help relieve the infection. You may also feel the sharp edge of the socket with your tongue and sometimes small pieces of bone may work their way to the surface of the socket. This is perfectly normal.
If you have any problems or concerns just contact us.
Please note
If you would like a tooth extracted we will want to assess you first to see how difficult the extraction is and how much time we should allocate to your visit. We will want to assess whether you should consider sedation for the extraction. We will want to discuss with you your medical history and any medication that you may be taking. We will want to talk to you about what your plan is for the space. We will want to check that the tooth definitely can’t be saved.
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There is someone available at reception Mon-Fri 8am- 6pm, Sat 10am-1pm to answer telephone calls. Telephone calls may or may not be answered outside of these times.
Carton Dental
Silken Gardens
Dublin Rd
Maynooth
Co. Kildare
W23 X2T7
Ireland